세계를 건너 너에게 갈게

Beautiful

This was a such a beautifully written story. While I really enjoyed the suspense of 죽이고 싶은 아이, this book is my new favorite by 이꽃님. Told in a series of letters between a teenage girl in the present and a woman in the 1980s, the story touched on a variety of topics and emotions, with a mix of funny, sad, angry, and heartfelt moments throughout the story. I loved getting to know both of the main characters and their lives.

The ending made me cry for sure, but I'm still very glad that I read this. I did suspect that the woman in the past was going to be her mother from the very beginning, and the payoff was very worth it. The last two letters in particular, from 은유's father and mother, made me very emotional.

From a language learning perspective, this was really helpful for me. It was my third book in Korean, and it exposed me to more informal language as well as many ways to express one's emotions. On a side note, one of my favorite dramas is Reply 1988, and this reminded me of it (even if it was also different for sure) in the best way possible. I was also already familiar with some of the historical events and cultural practices present in the book, which was helpful. For example, the 1988 Seoul Olympics and how Korean people used to use briquettes to heat their homes.

Overall, whether you're looking for approachable language learning material or a heartfelt story, I would 100% recommend this. 5 stars.

나는 지금 여기서 언니를 찾을게.

“그럼 우리는 과거, 현재, 미래 속에서 계속 만나는 거니까. 우리 인연은 계속되고 또 계속되는 거지.”

A short YA novel that explores the topics of parent-child relationships, growing up, and family secrets. Two girls write one another letters that travel through time. The girls each have the own worries and problems, and they try to help one another in the ways they can using their unique opportunity.

This book is short and sweet. It was a slow start, so I almost DNFd, but I’m glad I stuck with it. The ending was thoughtful and worth the slow start. I definitely cried through the last 30 pages.

I was able to extensively read this novel. There may be some unique vocabulary as one character is in the 1980s and sounds like it lol. But the grammar was conversational and not too advanced. I think it would be good for intermediate learners looking to see a lot of useful grammar patterns and speech patterns. It is also written in 반말 for the most part.

I think this may be a good option for someone looking to start reading YA or a starter book for beginning to read in Korean.

This poignant and emotionally resonant novel is the author's most well-known novel (as far as I can tell) and a true tearjerker. The narrative revolves around a young girl engaging in a heartfelt exchange of letters with a woman from the past, a premise that opens up a wealth of creative storytelling opportunities. Despite the emotional depth, the language used is relatively simple, making it an excellent choice for those new to young adult literature.

I read this in just a few days, really just unable to put it down due to compelling storytelling. :) For anyone seeking a moving and accessible YA novel, this novel stands out as an excellent choice.