First published in Korea in 2004 by Author Cheon Myeong-Kwan, ‘Whale’ has recently garnered global attention, having been translated into English by Kim Chi-Young. The book, hailed as a modern classic in Korea was, not surprisingly, shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2023.
About Whale
The novel was described by the judges of the Booker Prize as being “a carnivalesque fairy tale that celebrates independence through enterprise, a picaresque quest through Korea’s landscapes and history” – and how accurate that is!
‘Whale’ follows three characters whose lives and fates are linked: Geumbok, a one-eyed woman with the ability to control bees, and Chunhui – Geumbok’s mute daughter, known as the Girl of Spring and later celebrated as the Red Brick Queen. They are vivid characters who “are foolish, but wise, awful but endearing, and always irrepressible.”
The first chapter establishes the trajectory of the plot, so there is a lot that happens in terms of fast-paced narrative – but that is the law of writing! In an interview as part of the Booker Prize competition earlier this year, Cheon described the style in which he wrote the book as if it were being dictated to him. The narrative tone felt to me like the kind of generation-spanning stories one might hear sitting around a campfire on a summer’s evening. There is a sense of friendship between the reader and the author (almost teller/listener) a difficult atmosphere to create but so engaging to read. Interestingly, Cheon is also quoted as having said he created the novel he wanted to read.
Set in Korea in the aftermath of the Korean War, ‘Whale’ is written in three parts and for the majority follows the journey of Geumbok. Born the daughter of an abusive, alcoholic father, Geumbok flees her life with a fisherman. As part of her escape, she gets her first glimpse of the ocean– an experience that leaves her on the verge of tears. Then comes the whale, several times larger than the house in which she grew up. As the book tells, Geumbok finds herself overwhelmed by the sight and appearance of this magnificent creature. The experience of the whale appearing and then disappearing back into the ocean may only have lasted for a blink of an eye, but the experience stays with her through the course of her life. Her journey and ambition leads her towards the construction of a Whale shaped cinema, the architectural marvel that features on the book’s cover:
“The projection room was in the tail and the screen was at the head, with the seats in the middle of the whale’s belly.”
Geumbok we are told possesses a “certain calm audacity that most men wouldn’t dare imitate” and would “shrewdly plot how to get away while being dragged off by a tiger”. She has many special attributes, such as being charming, hardworking, resourceful with a good eye for business, a knack for survival and twinkly, clever eyes. Her talents facilitate her rise in status and wealth, despite many setbacks along the way. The author uses Geumbok to explore the political landscape that existed in Korea in the period of time that followed the Korean War.
My review & why this book is worth reading
Starting with an opening that interestingly all but informs the reader of the ending, the author does give the reader quite a lot to take in. One cannot help but feel compelled to see how events unfold and lead the characters to that point. As the journey progresses, we are introduced to recurring characters, telepathic elephants, different ideas, interesting relationships, the occasional unpalatable truth, but generally the reader is taken on a rollercoaster of adventure through more modern Korean history and culture.
Everything isn’t all wonder and marvel and the author also critiques and explores the “dark side” of this era as much as the light. One quote in particular resonates:
“The courtrooms were merely a stage upon which defendants’ fates were toyed with. They had nothing to do with justice.”
As the book progressed, one cannot help but await the next “law of”. The law of this, and the law of that, give way to hints of a wicked sense of humour on the part of the tale’s omnipresent narrator, and wonderful snippets of wisdom.
This book is impressive for many reasons, especially if you consider that it was in fact the author’s first novel, and it is easy to see why it is well-loved and highly regarded in South Korea as a modern classic. The author himself describes the novel, even now, as still being a “propulsive force” in his life.
It is true that some parts of the novel are strange, and there are a few things that happen, especially at the start, that are unpleasant, slightly gruesome, and others that the reader may have difficult relating to, but that is the law of life. There is so much to love about the novel, and the style in which it is written: the clever satire, fun anecdotes, and really interesting characters, strange and conflicted, but fascinating nevertheless.
The book is quirky and exciting. The dialogue is beautiful at times, and bizarre at others, but that is part of the book’s charm. It is hard not to enjoy the jumping around and interweaving of different lives, stories, chance encounters, and strange and interesting lives. There is also a telepathic elephant.
This book is a great example of why translated fiction is important.
“By its very nature, a story contains adjustments and embellishments depending on the perspective of the person telling it, depending on the storyteller’s skills. Reader, you will believe what you want to believe. That is all there is to it.”
My favourite quote: “Alas, the impermanence of material wealth! It didn’t take long for the fishmonger to realise that all of this was merely an illusion. Time changes everything.”