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Whale
59,000 TND“A DISTINCTLY KOREAN TAKE ON GREAT EXPECTATIONS.” Financial TimesA woman sells her daughter to a passing beekeeper for two jars of honey. A baby weighing fifteen pounds is born in the depths of winter but named “Girl of Spring”. A storm brings down the roof of a ramshackle restaurant to reveal a hidden fortune.
These are just some of the events that set Myeong-Kwan’s beautifully crafted, wild world in motion. Set in a remote village in South Korea, Whale follows the lives of its linked characters: Geumbok, who has been chasing an indescribable thrill ever since she first saw a whale crest in the ocean; her mute daughter, Chunhui, who communicates with elephants; and a one-eyed woman who controls honeybees with a whistle. Brimming with surprises and wicked humour, Whale is an adventure-satire of epic proportions, by one of international literature’s the most original voices.
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What You Are Looking for is in the Library
59,000 TNDSensing exactly what someone is searching for in life, she provides just the book recommendation to help them find it. We meet five visitors to the library, each at a different crossroads:- The restless retail assistant eager to pick up new skills- The mother faced with a demotion at work after maternity leave- The conscientious accountant who yearns to open an antique store- The gifted young manga artist in search of motivation- The recently retired salaryman on a quest for newfound purpose Can she help them find what they are looking for? Which book will you recommend?
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When the Museum is Closed
69,000 TNDWhen Rika Horauchi accepts an unusual new part-time job, she never expects to fall in love. Rika has been tasked with talking to Venus, to keep her company when the museum is closed on Mondays. As Venus comes to life in the quiet of their surroundings, she opens up new worlds for Rika, and they speak about everything.
But when the museum’s curator, Hashibami, makes it clear he wants to keep Venus for himself, what will Rika do?When the Museum is Closed is by turns charming, funny and surprising, a love story about our perceptions of beauty, overcoming loneliness and breaking free. Translated by Yuki TejimaREADERS LOVE WHEN THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED:’I quickly became addicted”Lyrical and enchanting”Filled with comedy, yet it constantly makes the reader question societal norms”Unlike anything I’ve ever read”Effortlessly blends the everyday with the fantastical”Fun, charming… if you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, anxiety or just feeling like you don’t quite belong you’ll relate to and enjoy’
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Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat
59,000 TNDThe Yeonnam-dong Smiley Laundromat is a place where the extraordinary stories of ordinary residents unfold. It is already a haven of tranquility and reflection for locals, but when someone leaves a notebook behind, the laundromat becomes a place that brings people together. One by one, customers start jotting down candid diary entries, opening their hearts and inviting acts of kindness from neighbours who were once just faces in the crowd.
But there is more to the diary than first appears, and before long the laundromat’s regulars are teaming up to solve a mystery and help the notebook’s former owner find peace. A heartwarming, healing debut that instantly captured the hearts of Korean readers, this is a novel about the preciousness of human relationships and the power of solidarity in a world that is increasingly cold, fast-paced and virtual. Readers love this cosy, slice-of-life K-drama:”Talk to someone.
Help someone. Do a good deed. If this book doesn’t inspire you, nothing will.