“What’s the point of cleaning when your days are numbered? she would say, Life is sweeping away the dust that keeps piling up, as she mopped the floor with a rag, and sometimes she would add, Death is nothing more than dust piling up.”
A woman sells her daughter to a beekeeper for two jars of honey. An old crone, who sold simple meals out of her home, is rumoured to have amassed a fortune but dies before anyone can learn the truth. An unusually large baby born in the harsh winter but named ‘Girl of Spring’ is mute, yet she can communicate with elephants. These are the women, connected by time and fate, who set this sweeping, multi-generation fantasy tale in motion.
Whale starts with a young woman returning from prison after completing a sentence for a crime she did not commit. She finds the village that had prospered under her mother now devoid of life, the roaring business in ruins, and nothing left to call her own. The story then steps back to trace the journey of intertwined destinies that began a generation or two ago.
With its themes of motherhood, ambition, fortunes and fate, the author narrates a riveting tale that is brutal but also magical. Even though the story appears to take off in random directions, it continues to hold your attention every step of the way. Certain themes include brutal violence towards women which may be triggering, and often difficult to swallow. However, it bears to acknowledge the value it adds to the story.
The plot references key socio-political events from Korean history. Into this, the author weaves in elements of magical realism to add remarkably stunning twists, giving it the mythical feel of a folk tale. Scenes are written to elicit a laugh every now and then but it is the satirical theme of the larger picture that keeps you intrigued. Even so, the author infuses the narrative with his personal observations on the situation, drawing the reader in with anecdotes that makes you feel like you’re in on the gossip, adding to the humour.
The USP of this book is in the development of the plot. The author adds story upon story, bringing new characters with each one and connects them seamlessly into a spellbinding novel that circles back to the beginning. Despite this being translated from the Korean, the English translation by Chi-Young Kim beautifully captures the nuances of the original work by transporting you to the Korean setting of time and place.
The essence of this books starts and ends with the story of the women struggling to survive in a merciless society. One which judges them for their fate and punishes them for their choices. Every moment is a lesson, an acknowledgement of the true nature of life. The author humorously draws out the irony of every situation to state it as the law – the pillars on which society perches its status and are also responsible for its downfall. What starts from dust, returns to dust.
A defining piece of literature, this is addictive in the complexity of its storytelling. It pushes you to question every choice and decision that fate brings to you and yet, leaves you with hope for a better future.
Whale by Cheon Myeong-kwan. Translated from the Korean by Chi-young Kim. Published in 2023 by Europa Editions (UK).
Book 3 of 2024.
Aquamarine Flavours Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟.
Available on Amazon*.
About the Translator: Chi-young Kim is a literary translator and editor. A recipient of the Man Asian Literary Prize for her work on Please Look After Mom by Kyung-sook Shin, she has translated over a dozen books, including works by Ae-ran Kim, You-jeong Jeong, and Young-ha Kim, among others.
*Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link which means, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Aquamarine Flavours 