[One Sip of a Book] "Life Continues Even After the Novel Ends"

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of the book itself, while others instantly reach the reader's heart, creating a point of connection with the book. We present meaningful sentences excerpted from the book. - Editor's note

This is the author's first essay collection after publishing eight novels including 'Naega Malhago Itjanha', 'Babel', and 'Seolleung Sanchaek'. It was completed by adding the author's creative principles, literary themes, and vivid feelings from when they first started writing novels to the results of a year-long serialization in Minumsa's bimonthly literary magazine 'Litter' from February 2021.

The desire to know is more foolish than the knowledge itself. But it is strong. Although knowledge and information may be lacking at the moment, the desire to know constantly moves toward understanding. It never stops moving. Like the tortoise that beats the sleeping hare, the desire to know eventually comes to know more than any knowledge. Between a person who thinks they know me and a person who wants to know me, the one who ends up knowing me more is the one who wants to know. I want to keep writing novels with that kind of heart.

- From "Impossible Fight," page 46

I felt pain.

I felt sadness.

I wanted to die.

The novel ends like this, but the character's life continues after the novel ends. However, I thought it was wrong to focus only on a moment's emotions and sensations without considering that life.

I felt that it shouldn't end like this. It hurts, but rather than describing or showing how and how much it hurts, I began to think about why it happened this way. I thought about cause and effect, before and after the pain, before and after the sadness, and I pondered the life he would continue to live after the novel ends.

- From "Characters Also Have Tomorrow," pages 87-88

Precious and valuable things should all be like that, shouldn't they? Rehearsing before going on stage. Practicing alone in a room before a presentation. Looking in the mirror before meeting someone you like. Choosing words and voice before confessing. Writing and erasing countless sentences on blank paper before writing a letter.

I don't want to write just as it comes. After finishing writing, even though I clearly wrote it, I don't want to rationalize by reading the novel that has changed from my intention and heart and saying, "Since it was completed like this, this must be my intention and this must be my heart." I don't want to live just as life goes. I don't want to make each day unpredictable with fickle emotions coming and going every moment.

- From "If Asked Whether It Is 'Necessary'," page 137

Long Live Novels | Written by Jeong Yongjun | Minumsa | 212 pages | 14,000 KRW