KOREAN BOOK CLUB (ALMOND BY WON-PYUNG SOHN)
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by
bryanwoo
TIME & DATE:18:00-19:00 (AEST), 26 AUGUST (Thurs)
VENUE: Online Zoom
BOOK OF THE MONTH: Almond (아몬드) by Won-Pyung Sohn and translated by Sandy Joosun Lee
STORY OF THE BOOK:
‘Almond’ is about a boy named Yunjae who was born with a brain condition called Alexithymia that makes it hard for him to feel emotions such as fear and anger. He does not have friends, the two almond-shaped neurons located deep in his brain have seen to that – but his devoted mother and grandmother provide him with a safe and content life.
Then on Christmas Eve, everything changes. A shocking act of random violence shatters his world, leaving him alone and on his own. Struggling to cope with his loss, Yunjae retreats into silent isolation, until troubled teenager Gon arrives at this school, and they develop a surprising bond.
GUESTS: International Studies lecturer in the Macquarie University Dr Sung-Ae Lee and Australian Comedian Harry Jun
FEE: Free admission, bookings essential.
SPEAKERS DETAIL
Dr Sung-Ae Lee is a lecturer in the Department of International Studies at Macquarie University, Sydney in Australia. Her major research focus is on fiction, film and television drama of East Asia, with particular attention to Korea. Her research centers on relationships between cultural ideologies in Asian societies and representational strategies. She is interested in cognitive approaches to adaptation studies, Asian popular culture, Asian cinema, the impact of colonization in Asia, Trauma Studies, fiction and film produced in the aftermath of the Korean War, and the literature and popular media of the Korean diaspora.
Harry Jun described as likeable and cheeky, Harry has performed comedy all over Australia including Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. In 2019 and 2020 Harry was a RAW Comedy NSW State Finalist.
‘Harry has great material and presents his material with expertise.” Phillip Aughey, Director of Newcastle Fringe Festival.
