Shin Kyung-sook
Pegasus Books
4 May 2027
204
eBook - PDF
Contemporary Fiction
ARC via Edelweiss
In three corners of the world, three women sit down to write letters.
In New Jersey, an older Korean American woman sits at home during a hurricane, her electricity and water cut off, branches and debris swirling outside her window. She lights candles against the dark and, in a letter to an old friend, reflects on a quiet life scarred by modern history.
In Germany, a younger Korean writer sits restlessly in a hotel room. She has come to this country to visit a dying friend who now cannot bear to be seen. Desperate to show how much she cares, she writes a letter recounting their deep friendship.
In coastal Jeju, an artist sits in a friend's bright, beautiful studio feeling wrung out with grief, to answer the letter she has been avoiding for many years.
Weaving together the lives of three artists to explore creativity, belonging and human connection, On the Eve of Goodbye is a moving, wise and tender novel about both the homes we live in and the homes that live in us, from one of Korea's most loved authors.
On the Eve of Goodbye offered a thoughtful exploration of relationships and a sense of belonging in modern times of increasing globalisation and disconnection. Each of the three stories could be read as a standalone short stories but the same themes wove them together. They were all reflective and emotional pieces that shone a spotlight on the modern age and changing faces of maintaining relationships, establishing a sense of home and seeking to express creativity. I do wonder, though, if this book will resonate as well with English-speaking readers, the reason being that many of the stories reference events in Korean contemporary history, and it's the understanding of those references that add additional nuance to the stories. As someone with a deep interest in Korean culture and history, I was familiar with them all, so even when they were referred to with nothing more than a date, I knew what the event was and what the author wanted to express through mentioning it, but other readers may not have that background knowledge. Perhaps an afterword explaining the events mentioned could have been added. But I guess we will see when the book comes out whether it can still resonate with an audience unfamiliar with all the references being made. As for me, I found this a very sensitive and thought-provoking book, and I am giving it 4.5 stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
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