[This Week's Novels] "89 Horses of Prague, the Disappearing Poetry" and More

89 Horses of Prague, the Disappearing Poetry

To mark the second anniversary of Milan Kundera's passing, Minumsa has published his posthumous collection. The book was compiled by Pierre Nora, Kundera's close friend and the person who helped him during his exile in France, and consists of two essays released after the author's death. These two texts are highly personal writings that Kundera published in the French humanities and politics magazine "D?bat" in 1985 and 1980, respectively. Rather than focusing on the aesthetics of the novel, this collection is considered closer to a "personal dictionary" that gathers words Kundera valued or found troublesome. It is a compilation of words that, at some point, reveal the reclusive Milan Kundera as a person. (Written by Milan Kundera | Minumsa)

Breakfast of Champions

This is a work published in 1973 by Kurt Vonnegut, who sharply captured and satirized the contradictions of American society after World War II. The novel, which Vonnegut gifted to himself on his 51st birthday, centers on Dwayne Hoover, a car dealer consumed by madness amid people obsessed with materialism, lust for power, and primal pleasures. The book incisively exposes the contradictions of American society. Issues such as war, racism, environmental destruction, mental illness, suicide, real estate, inhumanity that does not hesitate at murder and fraud, and the decline of cultural capital are all closely connected to the concerns of our era. (Written by Kurt Vonnegut | Munhakdongne)

What I Do Not Have

This is a new novel by Seo Mi-ae, who has established herself as a leading mystery writer in Korea for over 30 years. It is the final installment in the "Hayoung Chronicle" series, following her previous works "Good Night, Mom" and "Every Secret Has a Name," which explored the theme "Is evil born or made?" In this book, the protagonist Hayoung, who appeared as an eleven-year-old girl and later a high school student in previous works, returns as a twenty-year-old under the name "Na Yujin." The story deals with her confrontation with the voice in her head that has incited her to kill, following a mysterious death after meeting Sena, a Korean student studying in the United States. (Written by Seo Mi-ae | Elixir)

Entropia

This is the first full-length novel by Kim Pilsan, who received an honorable mention at the 2022 Korea Science Fiction Awards. The protagonist is a mysterious figure who awakens in the Korea of the year 2200. Traveling from east to west, the character lives backward through 2,000 years of history, from the future to the era of the Roman Empire in AD 100, breaking the boundaries of time. Structured as an exa-novel, the work offers a fascinating depiction of the relative perception of time beyond human understanding. The palace action of the Khitan imperial family, secret battles, and romance add a unique flavor to the story. (Written by Kim Pilsan | Hubble)

Jambo's Love

This is the story of Jambo, a twenty-year-old who chooses sleep over happiness, life, or even death, and lives a life of avoidance, until he experiences his first love. The protagonist, who inherited a peculiar sensitivity from his father, declares independence simply to sleep and then struggles to secure his right to sleep, humorously depicting the unique aspects of his life. The story of the sensitive protagonist falling in love with Sunsook, a free-spirited older woman who raises a dog suffering from separation anxiety and even abandonment anxiety, offers an intriguing glimpse into various forms of love. (Written by Lee Misang | Bookda)

Kkirikkiri Science

This is an anthology novel collection featuring writers Kwon Haeyoung, Sung Haena, Sung Hyeryeong, Lee Juran, and Han Jisoo. Each story commonly depicts protagonists and characters thrown into various situations as they search for their own identities. The collection includes a wide range of stories, from those that sharply observe the harsh realities of modern society and offer warm consolation, to works that, while rooted in everyday life, possess a Proustian literary depth with delicate descriptions of time, loss, and existence. These diverse themes immerse readers in the joy of reading. (Written by Kwon Haeyoung, Sung Haena, Sung Hyeryeong, Lee Juran, Han Jisoo | And)