March’s Book Club pick is “Greek Lessons.” The story follows a young woman and her professor of Ancient Greek, both of whom are alienated from the people around them due to limitations with their physical bodies. As the two become more connected, they share the pain and solace that they experience.
About the South of Seoul Book Club
If you are familiar with the series, skip ahead to learn more about “Greek Lessons.”
Looking for book recommendations? Welcome to the South of Seoul book club. We recommend a book every month. Such recommended books explore topics like 1) South Korean history or culture, 2) the complexity of cross-cultural life, 4) the exploration of life within the diaspora experience, and 5) lenses on Korean culture around the world.
Commitment to Accessibility
South of Seoul volunteers take book accessibility into consideration when recommending titles. We consider:
- Purchasable in English In Korea: Many translated titles can’t actually be purchased in English in Korea,
- Audio Version Available: Many people find audiobooks easier to consume.
- Online Versions.: International residents can’t afford to travel with many books. Also, many books may not be available in digital form from within Korea.
Commitment to Diverse Lived Experiences
South of Seoul volunteers seek to put lived experiences at the forefront of their recommendation choices. When considering authors we look for such things as:
- Korean authors writing about their lived experiences in Korea.
- International residents writing about their lived experiences in South Korea.
- Ethnic Koreans writing about their lived experience in other countries.
Reading about Korean culture from a variety of perspectives may provide readers with a greater understanding of the country and culture.
Commitment to Supporting Mental Health
South of Seoul also includes book recommendations that support the lives and mental health of our community. This means that books may tackle the issues related to living between cultures. This may include topics such as culture shock, language, relationships, and more.
Book Recommendation By Melissa Edwards-Whittington
March’s South of Seoul Book Club recommendation, “Greek Lessons” is brought to you by Melissa Edwards-Whittington of the KimchiRednecks. Edwards-Whittington has lived in Korea since 2017. She and her husband, Chuck, formed the KimchiRednecks YouTube channel to give people living outside of Korea or those coming to Korea, a glimpse of life here in Korea. Together with their three shih tzus, they post weekly videos about places to eat, things to cook, places to visit, or life in general living in Korea.
About The Author of “Greek Lessons”
The author of “Greek Lessons” is Han Kang, a South Korean author. Kang studied literature at Yonsei University and earned a graduate degree in creative writing from Seoul Institute of the Arts. Han Kang is internationally renowned for her 2016 Man Booker International Prize-winning novel “The Vegetarian.” She is the first Korean author to be nominated for the award. Her writing frequently delves into the complexities of human suffering, trauma. and the complexities of the human psyche.
My Experience Reading “Greek Lessons”
“Greek Lessons” left me feeling quite ungrounded. The language of the book is beautiful and it is not a long read. However, I found it to be a more difficult read because of the way it was written. Our story alternates between two characters, sometimes abruptly. The narrative for one character is written more in the first person, whereas the other character is in the third person.
The main protagonist is a young woman who has lost her ability to speak for the second time in her life. Her therapist feels that her loss of language has much to do with the loss of her mother and the loss of custody of her son. She has always been intrigued by language, so she chooses to take Ancient Greek. Then, there is the Ancient Greek professor, who is slowly losing his sight. Both souls are adrift in the world and unable to connect in the city with those around them. In addition to losing his sight, the professor feels torn between the two cultures that he grew up with German and Korean, which increases his disconnect from the world around him.
The build up to the two characters truly interacting and connecting in the story takes awhile. I ended up feeling as if I, too, were trapped within their limitations. However, as brilliant as being able to capture the reader in that way, I felt like it took so long to get to a point of connection that I felt a bit let down when the two finally reach out to each other. The ending felt quite abrupt and unresolved. Also, even though there were glimmers of hope in the book for both characters, I ultimately felt much sadness after reading this which I believe was the author’s intent.
More Commentary And Reviews On “Greek Lessons”
The above review contains my thoughts and opinions. However, make sure to read other reviews to have a more rounded perspective toward the book. We all come to each story with our own social/cultural lens. Therefore, others may have perceived this book in a different manner and may help you decide if this is the book for you.
A Narrator Locked in Silence, Who Finds Solace in an Ancient Language
‘Greek Lessons’ is an intimate, vulnerable portrayal of two lonely people
Two intersecting lives, each grappling with a unique loss
Online Purchasing Link
You can purchase Greek Lessons by Han Kang in English on Amazon.
Find More Book Club Recommendations
Did you like this recommendation? Be sure to explore our other volunteer-recommended books.
Also, check out the selections from South of Seoul Book Club 2023.
The KimchiRednecks channel was created in September 2018 by Chuck Whittington and Melissa Edwards-Whittington. They moved to Korea in July 2017 with their three Shih Tzu daughters, Sookie, Minion, and Mayhem.
The YouTube channel started as a way to share their lives here with their friends and families back in the states. They both have a deep love for Korean culture, people, and food and love being able to share that with others.
Chuck Whittington graduated from Francis Marion University with a Bachelors in Information Systems Management. He has worked in Information Technology roles for over 20 years. Chuck has always had an interest in Korea and has traveled here many times in the past.
Melissa Edwards-Whittington graduated from Mid-Atlantic Christian University with a Bachelors in Bible and a Minor in Elementary Education. She has worked in various roles in customer service and marketing over the years.
The YouTube channel has many interests just like they do because it is an extension of their lives here in Korea. You will often find videos on their channel about daily life in Korea, cooking, foodie adventures, traveling and exploring, computer and tech pursuits, gaming, and working on the Subaru BRZ.
Over the years, many of their friends have joined them for their videos and adventures because they enjoy sharing their lives with those around them. In addition, they add new interests from time to time, like making moonshine in Korea.
Life is about growing and changing, and the longer the KimchiRednecks live in Korea, the more they learn to love this country and culture and all it has to offer.
