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Whale cover art

Whale

By: Cheon Myeong-kwan, Chi-Young Kim - translator
Narrated by: Cindy Kay
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Summary

A sweeping, multi-generational tale blending fable, farce, and fantasy—a masterpiece of modern fiction perfect for fans of One Hundred Years of Solitude

Whale is the English-language debut of a beloved and bestselling South Korean author, a born storyteller with a cinematic, darkly humorous, and thoroughly original perspective.

A 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 a few of the events that set Myeong-kwan Cheon's beautifully crafted, wild world in motion.

Whale, set in a remote village in South Korea, follows the lives of many linked characters, including Geumbok, an extremely ambitious woman 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 humor, Whale is an adventure-satire of epic proportions by one of the most original voices in international literature.
©2004 Cheon Myeong-kwan; English language translation copyright 2022 by Chi-Young Kim (P)2023 Tantor
Magical Realism Satire
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Strangely compelling

This is a tale like no other. Its characters are complex, the storyline is dark & there are elements that are grim in the telling. Definitely not for the faint-hearted this novel weaves allegorically to capture something of the mystery of Korea, North & South, and people whose lives have been subject to whims of power & fates beyond their control. The skill of the narrator on this audiobook lead it to be a strangely compelling experience.

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