And the Category Is… The Review of Human Acts

A bizarre paradox that has been slowly creeping into my vocabulary more and more. “This book makes me physically sick; I love it!” This category is inhabited by publications so daunting; you stop mid-sentence, throw the copy to the corner of the room and let it bathe in dust for a month. Yet, it is so captivating, it makes you repeat the process all over again. If you cannot picture what I am talking about, you have not come across such a masterpiece.

The newest addition to this sickening list carries the name of ‘Human Acts.’ The award-winning novel is inspired by real-life events of the student uprising against the dictator government in South Korean Gwangju during the ‘80s. Growing up in the province of Gwangju herself, the author of the piece Han Kang narrates the story of Kang Dong-ho searching for his friend in the midst of the revolt. What changes the perception of the story is a single quote. “Please, write your book so that no one will ever be able to desecrate my brother's memory again.” There is a portion of genuineness in each line. The detailed tale is flooded with blood, haunting violence and unfairness of the historical occurrences. You forget you are not part of the resistance, but a mere reader. Every time, there is a spiritual shift into a supernatural fantasy, the narration hurries back to the cruel reality to remind you of its authenticity. The bond, the pieces of memory and the extensive research transform the book into an informative jewel. Since many citizens still bear in their minds the military government’s negative portrayal of the Gwangju protesters, this work often earns the label ‘controversial,’ even though the writer’s point is to destigmatise this title.

You may wonder whether it is worth reading if you are not closely familiar with Korean culture. Do not worry. Having a lack of knowledge of the East Asian nation is not a problem. The best-seller makes sure that no matter what, it explains itself properly. If you are willing to suffer or have a stomach of steel, Human Acts offers a mesmerising but enlightening view on a valuable part of Korean history.