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A review by scribepub
Familiar Things by Hwang Sok-yong
Five stars … Readers expecting this novel to develop into a savage take on Seoul slum life will be disappointed … [Hwang Sok-Yong] wants to tell a different story altogether. Familiar Things turns out to be less about simple disposal than movement between different worlds … resonant.
The Daily Telegraph
Hwang Sok-yong is one of South Korea's foremost writers, a powerful voice for society's marginalised, and Sora Kim-Russell's translations never falter.
Deborah Smith, Translator of The Vegetarian
A powerful examination of capitalism from one of South Korea’s most acclaimed authors … [Hwang] challenges us to look back and reevaluate the cost of modernisation, and see what and whom we have left behind.
The Guardian
Undoubtedly the most powerful voice in Asia today.
Kenzaburo Oe, Winner of the Novel Prize for Literature
[A] vivid depiction of a city too quick to throw away both possessions and people.
Financial Times
Sora Kim-Russell’s translation moves gracefully between gritty, whiffy realism and folk-tale spookiness.
The Economist
In Familiar Things, the great Korean writer embraces the social realities of his country. It is the opposite of the economic miracle that he paints for us here. Beyond simple naturalism, Hwang Sok-yong mixes into the actual, the magic of a popular culture steeped in the spiritual.
Livreshedbo
A great political book, a plea for a country under the boot of a general, a country embroiled in a fierce power struggle, where ideology has been devoured by productivity, where human beings are nothing more than bellies to be filled for the benefit of industrial producers ... Grandma Willow in her dementia rails, “You're despicable! Do you think you live alone here? You men may all disappear, nature will continue to exist!” Let's hope so!
Critiques Libres
Hwang Sok-yong is one of the most read Korean writers in his country, and best known abroad. An activist for democracy and reconciliation with the North, in his books he melds his political fights with the Korean cultural imagination.
Le Monde
Familiar Things is a poignant novel that depicts decay and regeneration … A sense of menace pervades the novel. But the relationship that develops between Bugeye and Baldspot, who he comes to adopt as his younger brother, is heartwarming.
The Big Issue
Hwang Sok-yong is an endearing author. For his perspective on people and things, for the instinctive modesty of his characters as well as his ability to “capture” — to return through fiction — the contemporary history of his country. Even more, to embody it.
La Croix
Reality, fiction and fantasy mix closely, giving his writing unparalleled power. Hwang Sok-yong’s empathy for his heroes is always accompanied by a fierce rage against the powerful.
Le Monde Diplomatique
While it invokes South Korean history, culture, mythology and folklore, this slim novel is unmistakably universal in its reach, contemporary in its appeal, and packs an emotional punch that reverberates long after reading.
South China Morning Post
Familiar Things is both tragic and heartrending.
The Skinny
Galvanized by Nobel Prize-winner Kenzaburo Oe’s resounding endorsement—‘undoubtedly the most powerful voice in Asia today’—and master translator Sora Kim Russell’s exquisite rendition, Hwang’s latest anglophonic import is surely poised for western success.
Terry Hong, Booklist
As one of the country’s most prominent novelists, Hwang has never shied away from controversy ... With Familiar Things, Hwang turns his attention to the underside of South Korea’s remarkable economic development, namely, the vast underclass it has created.
John Feffer, Boston Review
Hwang’s writing is rich with symbolism, cautionary lessons, and the potential for redemption.
World Literature Day
[A] cautionary tale, both a mirror and a portent for our own world.
Fionn Mallon, Los Angeles Review of Books
Familiar Things walks a perfect path between realism and the supernatural.
Annie Smith, A Bookish Type
Familiar Things is a fine little novel, showing a crushing, grim reality in which the resilient human spirit and imagination makes do.
M.A.Orthofer, The Complete Review
[A] quick read with a gut punch at the end. Folklore meets tragic existence.
Lolly Dandeneau, Edelweiss
An absolute delight.
Sarah-Hope Parmeter, Edelweiss
In the tradition of social realism, Familiar Things reveals aspects of our current throw-away system that are intentionally kept out of sight. But it is not only a Jungle-esque activist exposé. It is also an engaging coming-of-age portrait.
Emma Schneider, Full Stop
The Daily Telegraph
Hwang Sok-yong is one of South Korea's foremost writers, a powerful voice for society's marginalised, and Sora Kim-Russell's translations never falter.
Deborah Smith, Translator of The Vegetarian
A powerful examination of capitalism from one of South Korea’s most acclaimed authors … [Hwang] challenges us to look back and reevaluate the cost of modernisation, and see what and whom we have left behind.
The Guardian
Undoubtedly the most powerful voice in Asia today.
Kenzaburo Oe, Winner of the Novel Prize for Literature
[A] vivid depiction of a city too quick to throw away both possessions and people.
Financial Times
Sora Kim-Russell’s translation moves gracefully between gritty, whiffy realism and folk-tale spookiness.
The Economist
In Familiar Things, the great Korean writer embraces the social realities of his country. It is the opposite of the economic miracle that he paints for us here. Beyond simple naturalism, Hwang Sok-yong mixes into the actual, the magic of a popular culture steeped in the spiritual.
Livreshedbo
A great political book, a plea for a country under the boot of a general, a country embroiled in a fierce power struggle, where ideology has been devoured by productivity, where human beings are nothing more than bellies to be filled for the benefit of industrial producers ... Grandma Willow in her dementia rails, “You're despicable! Do you think you live alone here? You men may all disappear, nature will continue to exist!” Let's hope so!
Critiques Libres
Hwang Sok-yong is one of the most read Korean writers in his country, and best known abroad. An activist for democracy and reconciliation with the North, in his books he melds his political fights with the Korean cultural imagination.
Le Monde
Familiar Things is a poignant novel that depicts decay and regeneration … A sense of menace pervades the novel. But the relationship that develops between Bugeye and Baldspot, who he comes to adopt as his younger brother, is heartwarming.
The Big Issue
Hwang Sok-yong is an endearing author. For his perspective on people and things, for the instinctive modesty of his characters as well as his ability to “capture” — to return through fiction — the contemporary history of his country. Even more, to embody it.
La Croix
Reality, fiction and fantasy mix closely, giving his writing unparalleled power. Hwang Sok-yong’s empathy for his heroes is always accompanied by a fierce rage against the powerful.
Le Monde Diplomatique
While it invokes South Korean history, culture, mythology and folklore, this slim novel is unmistakably universal in its reach, contemporary in its appeal, and packs an emotional punch that reverberates long after reading.
South China Morning Post
Familiar Things is both tragic and heartrending.
The Skinny
Galvanized by Nobel Prize-winner Kenzaburo Oe’s resounding endorsement—‘undoubtedly the most powerful voice in Asia today’—and master translator Sora Kim Russell’s exquisite rendition, Hwang’s latest anglophonic import is surely poised for western success.
Terry Hong, Booklist
As one of the country’s most prominent novelists, Hwang has never shied away from controversy ... With Familiar Things, Hwang turns his attention to the underside of South Korea’s remarkable economic development, namely, the vast underclass it has created.
John Feffer, Boston Review
Hwang’s writing is rich with symbolism, cautionary lessons, and the potential for redemption.
World Literature Day
[A] cautionary tale, both a mirror and a portent for our own world.
Fionn Mallon, Los Angeles Review of Books
Familiar Things walks a perfect path between realism and the supernatural.
Annie Smith, A Bookish Type
Familiar Things is a fine little novel, showing a crushing, grim reality in which the resilient human spirit and imagination makes do.
M.A.Orthofer, The Complete Review
[A] quick read with a gut punch at the end. Folklore meets tragic existence.
Lolly Dandeneau, Edelweiss
An absolute delight.
Sarah-Hope Parmeter, Edelweiss
In the tradition of social realism, Familiar Things reveals aspects of our current throw-away system that are intentionally kept out of sight. But it is not only a Jungle-esque activist exposé. It is also an engaging coming-of-age portrait.
Emma Schneider, Full Stop