What We Are Reading Today: A Corpse in the Koryo, by James Church

Updated 14 June 2018
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What We Are Reading Today: A Corpse in the Koryo, by James Church

Secretive North Korea is not an obvious choice as the location for a detective story, not least because it is so impenetrable to the outsider.

But Asia specialists say this novel offers a vivid window into the mysterious country.

One expert called it “the best unclassified account of how North Korea works and why it has survived all these years.”

The protagonist is Inspector O, whose investigation into a murder at the Koryo Hotel pitches him into a deadly contest between powerful factions in the regime.

The nation’s leader is never mentioned by name, but his shadow stalks every chapter. The inspector is a man struggling to hold on to his humanity in a world where humanity has little value.

The depth of detail is perhaps less surprising when you learn that James Church is the nom de plume of a former Western intelligence officer who spent years in Korea.

But it more than justifies the verdict of Newt Gingrich, the former Republican US presidential hopeful, who declared the book “a must-read” for anyone trying to understand the Kim dynasty of dictators.

This truly original thriller is about much more than a crime investigation.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Hunger Artist’

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Updated 1 min 49 sec ago
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Hunger Artist’

  • Kafka’s exploration of the artist’s suffering is a metaphor for the broader human experience — where the search for authenticity and recognition often leads to despair and isolation

Author: Franz Kafka

“A Hunger Artist” is a novella by Franz Kafka, which was published in 1922.

The narrative follows a professional hunger artist whose act is to fast for extended periods, presenting his art as a spectacle for an audience.  

Initially, his performances drew significant attention, and he became a celebrated figure, embodying the artist’s struggle against societal norms and expectations.

As the story progresses, the artist’s popularity wanes, and he becomes increasingly alienated.

The public’s fascination shifts to more modern forms of entertainment, and the hunger artist becomes a relic of a bygone era.

The hunger artist’s ultimate fate is tragic. Despite his dedication to his craft, he becomes a victim of societal indifference.

The book is a poignant 14-page short story that delves into themes of art, isolation, and the quest for meaning.

Kafka’s exploration of the artist’s suffering is a metaphor for the broader human experience — where the search for authenticity and recognition often leads to despair and isolation.

He masterfully captures the conflict between the artist’s inner world and external interpretations, demonstrating the need to understand and appreciate real creative expression.

The story culminates in the realization that true artistry is frequently unrecognized and undervalued.

In “A Hunger Artist,” Kafka crafts a powerful commentary on the complexities of identity, the ephemeral nature of fame, and the often lonely path of the artist, making it a compelling and thought-provoking work that resonates with anyone grappling with the meaning of creativity and existence.

His prose is spare yet evocative, employing a surreal tone that enhances the existential themes.

The story challenges readers to consider the nature of art, the role of the audience, and the sacrifices artists make for their craft.

Kafka is renowned for his surreal and existential narratives that still resonate with readers more than a century later. His best-known works include “The Metamorphosis,” “The Trial,” and “The Castle.”

 

 


What We Are Reading Today: Pandemic Politics

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Updated 08 November 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: Pandemic Politics

  • Health is not an inherently polarizing issue, but the Trump administration’s partisan response to COVID-19 led ordinary citizens to prioritize what was good for their “team” rather than what was good for their country

Author: Shana Kushner Gadarian, Sara Wallace Goodman and Tomas B. Pepinsky

COVID-19 has killed more people than any war or public health crisis in American history, but the scale and grim human toll of the pandemic were not inevitable. Pandemic Politics examines how Donald Trump politicized COVID-19, shedding new light on how his administration tied the pandemic to the president’s political fate in an election year and chose partisanship over public health, with disastrous consequences for all of us.

Health is not an inherently polarizing issue, but the Trump administration’s partisan response to COVID-19 led ordinary citizens to prioritize what was good for their “team” rather than what was good for their country.

Democrats, in turn, viewed the crisis as evidence of Trump’s indifference to public well-being. At a time when solidarity and bipartisan unity were sorely needed, Americans came to see the pandemic in partisan terms, adopting behaviors and attitudes that continue to divide us today.

 


Trump victory renews interest in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and other fictional dystopias

Updated 08 November 2024
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Trump victory renews interest in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and other fictional dystopias

  • Margaret Atwood’s dystopian classic about a country in which women are brutally repressed has been high on the Amazon.com best seller list

NEW YORK: “The Handmaid’s Tale” is selling again.
Since President-elect Donald Trump clinched his return to the White House, Margaret Atwood’s dystopian classic about a country in which women are brutally repressed has been high on the Amazon.com best seller list. “The Handmaid’s Tale” was popular throughout Trump’s first term, along with such dark futuristic narratives as George Orwell’s “1984” and Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451,” both of which were in the Amazon top 40 as of Thursday afternoon. Another best-seller from Trump’s previous time in office, Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century,” was in the top 10.
Pro-Trump books also were selling well. Former first lady Melania Trump’s memoir, “Melania,” was No. 1 on the Amazon list, and Vice President-elect JD Vance’s “Hillbilly Elegy” was in the top 10. Donald Trump’s photo book “Save America” was in the top 30.
At Barnes & Noble, “Fiction and non-fiction books that feature fascism, feminism, dystopian worlds and both right-and-left leaning politics rocketed up our sales charts with the election results,” according to Shannon DeVito, the chain’s director of books. She cited “Melania,” “On Tyranny” and Bob Woodward’s latest, “War,” which covers the responses of Trump and President Joe Biden to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
DeVito also cited “a massive bump in dystopian fiction,” notably for “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “1984.”


Book Review: ‘The Bird Tattoo’ by Dunya Mikhail

Updated 08 November 2024
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Book Review: ‘The Bird Tattoo’ by Dunya Mikhail

Reading Dunya Mikhail’s “The Bird Tattoo,” published in 2020, is embarking on a journey through the intricate layers of identity, loss and hope.

From the very first pages, readers will be drawn into the world of the unnamed protagonist, a journalist returning to her war-torn homeland of Iraq.

Mikhail’s writing envelops you, making you feel the weight of memories and the pulse of a country struggling to heal. One of the most striking aspects of the novel is its unflinching exploration of the painful subject of the sale of Yazidi women as slaves by Daesh.

Mikhail addresses this trauma with a delicate touch, balancing the harsh realities of this atrocity with an exploration of the astonishing world of Yazidi customs and legends.

This duality adds depth to the narrative, allowing readers to appreciate the richness of Yazidi culture even in the face of such unspeakable suffering. Mikhail tells these stories without exaggeration or sentimentality, which makes the emotional weight all the more impactful.

Many readers will find themselves reflecting on their own experiences with home and belonging. The tattoo of the bird, a symbol of freedom and escape, will resonate deeply with them.

It beautifully encapsulates the protagonist’s yearning for liberation from the constraints of her past and the chaos surrounding her.

Mikhail’s prose is both lyrical and haunting, painting vivid images of Baghdad that linger in the mind. Readers will hear the sounds of the city and feel the warmth of the sun, yet the underlying tension of conflict is always present.

This duality will strike a chord with them, as it mirrors the complexities of life — how beauty and pain often coexist.

The flashbacks woven throughout the story are particularly poignant. They allow readers to witness the protagonist’s childhood and the impact of war on her family relationships. They will feel her loss and her struggle to reconcile her past with her present.

One of the most powerful aspects of “The Bird Tattoo” is its exploration of resilience. Despite the heavy themes of loss and trauma, Mikhail instills a sense of hope throughout the narrative.

Readers will find themselves rooting for the characters, marveling at their strength and determination to find their place in a world that often feels unforgiving. This theme will inspire them.

The novel is not just a story about war; it is a profound meditation on identity, love, and the quest for freedom.

The fact that Mikhail, an Iraqi-American, went on to become the English translator of her own work, which is now available in several languages, speaks to her commitment to sharing these stories with the world.

This book left me with a deeper understanding of the complexities of human experience and the enduring spirit of those who face unimaginable challenges.

It has certainly stayed with me, encouraging me to think more deeply about my own journey and the stories that shape who we are.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Artist’s Palette’ by Alexandra Loske

Updated 08 November 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Artist’s Palette’ by Alexandra Loske

What can the palette an artist used or depicted tell us about their artistic process, preferences, and finished works? From traditional wooden boards to paint pots, ceramic plates, and studio walls, these deceptively simple yet potent tools provide vital evidence. “The Artist’s Palette” presents 50 unique palettes alongside paintings by the celebrated artists who used them, gathering expert analysis of color, brushstroke, and technique to offer new histories of these artists and their work.