April 2021 Reading Challenge - The White Book by Han Kang

 

The White Book by Han Kang

Sand

And she frequently forgot, 

That her body (all our bodies) is a house of sand.

That it had shattered and is shattering still.

Slipping stubbornly through fingers. 

In South Korea, as in many Asian cultures, white is traditionally regarded as a color of mourning. The White Book by Man Booker Prize-winning South Korean author Han Kang describes an assortment of things that are white like sleet, salt, and sugar cubes. This slim, lyrical book features melancholy poetic vignettes that center on a family’s grief over the death of a newborn. Other entries describe city living, the natural world, and life in Korea following World War II. 

I don’t usually read books of poetry but I really enjoyed this thoughtful and beautifully written book. If you’re looking for a somber literary book or want to complete FCPL's April 2021 Reading Challenge – Read a Book of Poetry or a Play, check out The White Book by Han Kang.  

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist
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