[A Sip of Books] My Life Turned Out Not to Be My Life

Editor's NoteSome sentences encapsulate the entire content of a book, while others instantly resonate with readers and create a point of connection with the book. Here, we introduce meaningful sentences excerpted from various books.

The popularity of 'Hoebinghwan' (Return·Possession·Reincarnation) continues. The seventh installment of the Ginkgo Tree Publishing House's themed novel series "Baton" takes "possession stories" as its subject, with seven writers each interpreting the genre in their own way. Possession stories go beyond simple fantasy; they can be interpreted within a social context. In modern society, individuals inevitably experience moments when they become someone other than themselves, whether they desire it or not. At times, people are seized by the desire to become someone else. There is also the hope that some transcendent power or foresight might grant the strength to change reality. "Possession stories" stimulate these hopes and provide an imaginary escape route from this ordinary reality to another, unfamiliar world.

Yeeun had experienced moments in her life when her mind or spirit became so fragile that it felt dangerous. This happened whenever something difficult occurred or she was under severe stress. However, she never revealed these feelings to anyone. She simply held them inside and waited for the moment to pass. She endured with all her might, trying not to cross the line and to remain in this world. After listening to Jiwon call her at night in a depressed voice and talk for hours, Yeeun would feel completely drained. Being with Jiwon made her feel as if they might both be swallowed by the waves together. Yeeun was afraid that the enormous wave made up of depression and anxiety would carry her away to a world beyond the line. A year ago, Jiwon seemed to be inside that wave. But now the wave had swept Jiwon away. Jiwon had gone to the world beyond the line. - pp. 25-26, Lee Jongsan, "Two Friends"

The soul is like choux cream. Not that it is sweet. I mean it has a form that can be squeezed in through a nozzle. That's how I see it. At least, my soul must be like that. This is the conclusion I reached after making a great effort to feel myself. Of course, saying it's choux cream or that it feels like being injected through a nozzle isn't exactly accurate, but the image of cream dripping out is the most crude yet intuitive, so I decided long ago to answer that way if anyone asked. Of course, that's assuming I ever have a mouth. For that, I have to wait. The sensation of being injected inside is terrible. It feels like something watery plopping down. No matter how I explain it, there will always be a gap between what I feel and what others understand, so I think it's pointless to try to make anyone understand or accept it, but still, I try to explain. Because without that, I can't feel my own existence. So this story is not for telling, but for existing. - pp. 39-40, Cho Si-hyeon, "How to Weigh Cream"

"When life feels unbearably lonely and painful. I thought I was a soul mistakenly possessed in the body called Earth." K said this to both of them while tidying up the counter for the next shift. "There must have been some mistake. This kind of life can't really be mine. This round is just practice. That's what I thought. But after hearing that story just now, I don't think there's a real place left for me. Someone else must be misplaced there too." - pp. 118-119, Hyun Hojung, "~~Waves~Body~Floating~Soul~~"

There's also said to be a garden where you can view stones. A few stones that have existed for thousands of years, and insignificant humans gather around them, reflecting over and over again. But why do humans always feel the need to reflect? They start wars and then reflect, kill someone and then reflect, fail in love and then reflect. Come to think of it, even I only reflected after losing my younger sister. I didn't mourn. Lee Sun always knew that whenever Yusuke talked about the negative nature of humans, no matter the topic, he was summoning his own guilt. For the bereaved families of those who have died by suicide, perhaps it can't be helped. Lee Sun still felt that way. When Lee Sun said nothing, Yusuke paused for a moment and then spoke. He said, after meeting the goddess, go visit that place too. But don't reflect anymore. Lee Sun, you are not at fault. Then, as if swallowing his words, Yusuke added once more. Just miss her, that's all you need to do. - pp. 148-149, Han Junghyun, "One Day, On the Goddess's Bridge, We"

"You have to see yourself become someone else, and others become you. You have to know that a world full of only yourself is hell, Minhee. Back then and even now, where are we in the videos we watched?"
"...This isn't you or me. So we're talking about putting things back where they belong."
"That's right. The person looking for that video should be called there. Things should be where they fit, where they belong." Sunwoo Minhee covered her face with both hands. I handed her the towel by the pillow and sat there until her sobs subsided. Then, before pulling back the curtains, I said, "We'll keep following. We'll keep chasing. Photos will cover photos, videos will cover videos, and victims will keep being overwritten by perpetrators." - p. 187, Park Moonyoung, "Overwrite"

As I lay down to catch my breath, I went over the reasons why this had to be a dream and the evidence that it wasn't. First, my name is not Inyoung. Second, except during the Winter Olympics season, I have never, not for a single moment, been interested in the sport of skiing. Third, Kang Inyoung, a single woman in her thirties and a member of a ski club, is a character from the novel I was reading the night before. - pp. 197-198, Park Seoryeon, "Why Should I Know Why You're Crazy"

"For 30 days after withdrawal, registration using the same email address is restricted, and identity verification using the same personal information is also restricted for 30 days." Leaving behind this notice, highlighted in blue, I deleted my account. Along with it, I buried all the contract offers for writing I no longer cared about. It was a pseudo-death with the promise of reincarnation. You resolved to die and be reborn over and over until you succeeded. - pp. 259-260, Jeong Suuil, "At This Point, If You Want to Earn a Hundred Million as a Writer, You Have No Choice But to Be Reborn"

My Life Turned Out Not to Be My Life | Lee Jongsan et al. | 268 pages | 17,000 KRW