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Mater 2-10
International Booker–nominated virtuoso Hwang Sok-yong is back with another powerful story — an epic, multi-generational tale that threads together a century of Korean history.
Centred on three generations of a family of rail workers and a laid-off factory worker staging a high-altitude sit-in, MATER 2-10 vividly depicts the lives of ordinary working Koreans, starting from the Japanese colonial era, continuing through Liberation, and right up to the twenty-first century. It is at once a powerful account that captures a nation’s longing for a rail line to reconnect North and South, a magical-realist novel that depicts reflect the lives of modern industrial workers, and a culmination of Hwang’s career — a masterpiece thirty years in the making. A true voice of a generation, Hwang shows again why he is unmatched when it comes to depicting the grief of a divided nation and bringing to life the cultural identity and trials and tribulations of the Korean people.
Centred on three generations of a family of rail workers and a laid-off factory worker staging a high-altitude sit-in, MATER 2-10 vividly depicts the lives of ordinary working Koreans, starting from the Japanese colonial era, continuing through Liberation, and right up to the twenty-first century. It is at once a powerful account that captures a nation’s longing for a rail line to reconnect North and South, a magical-realist novel that depicts reflect the lives of modern industrial workers, and a culmination of Hwang’s career — a masterpiece thirty years in the making. A true voice of a generation, Hwang shows again why he is unmatched when it comes to depicting the grief of a divided nation and bringing to life the cultural identity and trials and tribulations of the Korean people.
486 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2020
About the author
Hwang Sok-yong
70 books288 followers소설가 황석영
He was born in Hsinking (today Changchun), Manchukuo, during the period of Japanese rule. His family returned to Korea after liberation in 1945. He later obtained a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Dongguk University (동국대학교).
In 1964 he was jailed for political reasons and met labor activists. Upon his release he worked at a cigarette factory and at several construction sites around the country.
In 1966–1969 he was part of Korea’s military corps during the Vietnam War, reluctantly fighting for the American cause that he saw as an attack on a liberation struggle.
He was born in Hsinking (today Changchun), Manchukuo, during the period of Japanese rule. His family returned to Korea after liberation in 1945. He later obtained a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Dongguk University (동국대학교).
In 1964 he was jailed for political reasons and met labor activists. Upon his release he worked at a cigarette factory and at several construction sites around the country.
In 1966–1969 he was part of Korea’s military corps during the Vietnam War, reluctantly fighting for the American cause that he saw as an attack on a liberation struggle.
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September 4, 2023
In 2011, welder Kim Jin-suk returned to ground level after over 300 days living on top of a crane in a Busan shipyard. Her feat of endurance was part of a wider protest about massive layoffs by a large, ship-making company. Kim’s action was hailed as successful, but it’s just one example of numerous, high-altitude sit-ins that remain a feature of South Korea’s particular protest culture. Hwang Sok-young’s novel revolves around a similar event, Yi Jino a middle-aged, former factory worker is installed on a narrow platform around a public power plant, located high above Seoul. Yi Jino’s goal is to get his former employers to reconsider policies that cost him his job - along with many of his workmates. As Yi Jino endures months of extreme isolation and exposure to the elements, he’s visited by ghosts of former friends and family, whose experiences are interwoven with Korea’s past, dating back to the early years of the Japanese occupation.
Successive generations of Yi Jino’s family were employed on the railway lines built by Japan using forced labour, across land stolen from Koreans, altering its landscape and infrastructure. Hwang’s original title, roughly translated as Three Generations of Rail Workers, suggests a deliberate counter to Yom Sang-seop’s classic account of colonial era Korea Three Generations which dealt with a rarefied group of middle-class Koreans - relegating ordinary people to the sidelines. Instead, through tales of Yi Jino’s ancestors, as well as their partners, brothers, friends and co-workers, Hwang commemorates countless, nameless, forgotten workers whose labour enabled a modern, industrialised Korea. As family ghosts commune with their living descendants, Hwang blends folkloric, Korean traditions with a dense, docu-style in an approach he refers to as ‘mindam realism.’
Hwang’s novel took over 30 years to produce, which perhaps explains its uneven structure and style. The story’s slow to take off, moving backwards and forwards in time and so meticulously detailed that key events sometimes struggle to emerge from pages of surrounding description. But equally there are numerous, exceptionally vivid episodes, especially the intense middle sections focused on members of the communist resistance movement stalked by Japanese-controlled, Korean police officers. The suffering and the resilience of the resistance is palpable, as is their horrific treatment by Korean collaborators, as Hwang’s characters journey through an era of political awakening that was met by fierce repression.
Throughout his narrative Hwang traces connections between the brutality of the Japanese occupation and brutal methods deployed during later periods – the kind associated with events like the Gwangju massacre. Here represented, in part, as stemming from the activities of the post-WW2, US military government whose investment in an emerging Cold War contributed to the virulent suppression of Korean workers’ rights, along with unions, and any popular, left-wing movement they feared might encourage communism. As with post-WW2 Germany, the American administration retained so-called ‘expert’ individuals formerly instrumental in upholding pre-WW2 Japanese rule. Korean officials who aided the US administration in violently breaking the 1946 General Strike and later Daegu Uprising – something Hwang represents through his characters’ specific experiences. Hwang links the tactics of these Korean forces, with their sophisticated torture techniques first used during the Japanese occupation, to the appalling treatment of suspected Korean dissidents under subsequent, right-wing, militaristic regimes.
Hwang also sets up parallels between the exploitation of workers under South Korea’s contemporary brand of capitalism - with its outsourcing of jobs to non-unionised settings, increasing casualisation, and high suicide rates by redundant workers – and Korean workers in colonial times. Although I think his depiction will resonate with anyone experiencing the fallout from the growing precarity of work under global capitalism. Hwang’s fiercely political novel is in keeping with his own activist background, a fascinating, often moving, portrait of resistance against seemingly overwhelming forces and a refusal to abandon belief in the possibility of change. Translated by Sora Kim-Russell and Youngjae Josephine Bae.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Scribe for an ARC
Rating: 3 to 3.5
Successive generations of Yi Jino’s family were employed on the railway lines built by Japan using forced labour, across land stolen from Koreans, altering its landscape and infrastructure. Hwang’s original title, roughly translated as Three Generations of Rail Workers, suggests a deliberate counter to Yom Sang-seop’s classic account of colonial era Korea Three Generations which dealt with a rarefied group of middle-class Koreans - relegating ordinary people to the sidelines. Instead, through tales of Yi Jino’s ancestors, as well as their partners, brothers, friends and co-workers, Hwang commemorates countless, nameless, forgotten workers whose labour enabled a modern, industrialised Korea. As family ghosts commune with their living descendants, Hwang blends folkloric, Korean traditions with a dense, docu-style in an approach he refers to as ‘mindam realism.’
Hwang’s novel took over 30 years to produce, which perhaps explains its uneven structure and style. The story’s slow to take off, moving backwards and forwards in time and so meticulously detailed that key events sometimes struggle to emerge from pages of surrounding description. But equally there are numerous, exceptionally vivid episodes, especially the intense middle sections focused on members of the communist resistance movement stalked by Japanese-controlled, Korean police officers. The suffering and the resilience of the resistance is palpable, as is their horrific treatment by Korean collaborators, as Hwang’s characters journey through an era of political awakening that was met by fierce repression.
Throughout his narrative Hwang traces connections between the brutality of the Japanese occupation and brutal methods deployed during later periods – the kind associated with events like the Gwangju massacre. Here represented, in part, as stemming from the activities of the post-WW2, US military government whose investment in an emerging Cold War contributed to the virulent suppression of Korean workers’ rights, along with unions, and any popular, left-wing movement they feared might encourage communism. As with post-WW2 Germany, the American administration retained so-called ‘expert’ individuals formerly instrumental in upholding pre-WW2 Japanese rule. Korean officials who aided the US administration in violently breaking the 1946 General Strike and later Daegu Uprising – something Hwang represents through his characters’ specific experiences. Hwang links the tactics of these Korean forces, with their sophisticated torture techniques first used during the Japanese occupation, to the appalling treatment of suspected Korean dissidents under subsequent, right-wing, militaristic regimes.
Hwang also sets up parallels between the exploitation of workers under South Korea’s contemporary brand of capitalism - with its outsourcing of jobs to non-unionised settings, increasing casualisation, and high suicide rates by redundant workers – and Korean workers in colonial times. Although I think his depiction will resonate with anyone experiencing the fallout from the growing precarity of work under global capitalism. Hwang’s fiercely political novel is in keeping with his own activist background, a fascinating, often moving, portrait of resistance against seemingly overwhelming forces and a refusal to abandon belief in the possibility of change. Translated by Sora Kim-Russell and Youngjae Josephine Bae.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Scribe for an ARC
Rating: 3 to 3.5
May 18, 2024
Shortlisted for the 2024 International Booker Prize - which makes me wonder whether the judges read this as satire as per my review as, having now met him, the author certainly has a sense of humour.
The Comintern officialised the Joseon Communist Party’s dissolution via letter, criticising the socialist movement in colonial Joseon for lacking class affiliation and being too factionalised, centred on intellectuals, ideologically chaotic, and idealistically distant from the masses.
Mater 2-10 is the translation from Korean by Sora Kim-Russell and Youngjae Josephine Bae (배영재) of the 2010 original 철도원 삼대 by 황석영 (rather oddly romanised as Hwang Sok-yong, which would normally represent a different vowel for the two syllables of the given name i.e. 속 용)
The original title of which would more literally (if inelegantly in English) be translated as Three Generations of Railway Workers as is likely a nod to the classic novel 삼대 (Three GenerationsT) by 염상섭, but the English edition takes its title from 마터2형-10호 증기기관차 (Mater Type 2-10 Steam Locomotives), manufactured in the US and exported to Korean in the pre-WW2 period of Japanese occupation, the name taken from the English sound of Mountain, as these trains were designed for mountainous terrain. A rusted bullet-riddled example of a Mater 2-10 is, having been abandoned for years in the DMZ, now on display as a cultural exhibit in Imjingak.
The author is one of the most renowned in Korea and this is the 7th of his novels I've read in translation, but his works don't really resonate with me, and (perhaps unfairly) I suspect his renown is, in part, a tribute to his political activism and my lack of connection due to his political views.
Indeed in his afterword, the author says the original of this novel came from a conversation in the late 1980s with someone in a department store in Pyeongyang which he was visiting to admire the goods on sale (which I think one can safely assume were not available for general consumption) on an illegal trip North Korea for which he was subsequently jailed. And this is a very political novel, a deliberate tribute to the labour movements, but also the communist activists, during the colonial history of Korea under Japanese occupation until the early days of the Korean war, with a nod to their role of resistance in the more recent capitalist history of South Korea.
The novel opens in the modern day with Jino, a laid-off worker and union leader, staging a protest at the top of a high industrial chimney, mirroring real-life protests such as this 101 day one at the top of a 70m chimney stack by a union leader at Ssangyong Motors.
Jino is following in the footsteps of three previous generations of his family:
"Picketing has always been in the Yi family’s blood. Remember you’re not doing it to line your own pockets, you’re doing it so all workers can live decent lives."
…
She was echoing the words of Jino’s great grandfather Baekman, grandfather Ilcheol, and father, Jisan. She had believed in those words her whole life, and so did Jino.
...
Jino believed these efforts had meaning. What could have been the meaning his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father tried to pass down to him? It may have been that, no matter how hard things get, life goes on. You just had to take it one day at a time.
“노동투쟁은 원래가 이씨네 피에 들어 있다. 너 혼자 호강하며 밥 먹자는 게 아니구, 노동자 모두 사람답게 살아보자 그거 아니겠냐?"
...
그녀가 하는 말은 큰할아버지 이백만과 할아버지 이일철과 아버지 이지산이 늘 입에 달고 쓰던 말이었다. 그 말은 이진오의 어머니 윤복례도 젊은 시절부터 지금까지 동의했고 자신의 생각이기도 한 말이었다.
...
이 모든 노력들에 의미가 있다고 그는 생각했다. 증조할아버지 이백만에서 할아버지 이일철과 아버지 이지산을 통해 그에게 전해진 의미는 무엇이었을까. 그것은 아마도 삶은 지루하고 힘들지만 그래도 지속된다는 믿음일지도 모른다. 그렇게 오늘을 살아낸다.
Some of Jino's female ancestors had spiritual powers, able to see the dead or predict the future, and in his lonely vigil Jino also finds himself in dialogue with those from his past. These magic realist parts of the novel (a trademark of the author) are successful. Unfortunately, much of the story is told in exposition-heavy historical fiction (close to non-fiction) mode - this a typical passage on the operation of the railway system (if the aim was to replicate the "the monotony of driving freight", as one character describes their job, it certainly succeeded with this reader):
Initial manpower was supplied by Korean civil engineering construction firms contracted by the Gyeongbu Railway Company. Dozens of these firms were created in response to the sudden demand for railroad construction, with the boards of directors filled mostly with high-ranking officials of the former Korean Empire. They supplied everything needed for construction of the railway, from the manpower to the materials, including wood, stone, and coal, and even the workers' daily necessities, such as tobacco, rice, and other food. Employed within the firms were the office managers and staff, and below them were the field managers, crew chiefs, foremen, and labourers. The branch offices had provincial officials and staff, along with those employed to supervise the onsite workers. Japanese firms worked with Korean firms initially, but during the Russo-Japanese War, construction of the Gyeongbu and Gyeongui Lines became rushed, and the Japanese firms began to beat out the Korean firms, who lacked the necessary skill and expertise, and took the lead on most of the construction work. As the Korean firms collapsed, the managers alone were absorbed by the Japanese firms and tasked with recruitment and supervision. During the early days of rail work, most of the workers were there voluntarily, to make a day's wage, and while clashes did happen, the cause was usually that those wages were too low. But as construction continued, the labour system shifted from voluntary employment to forced conscription.
But much of the novel concerns the activity of the communist activists, part of the anti-colonial independence movement, but also ideologically opposed to certain parts of it (even other communists). Indeed large parts of the novel have overtones of The Judean People’s Front vs. the People’s Front of Judea, and give an interesting, if (I suspect given the author's political sympathies) inadvertent, insight into the failings of the activists:
The Comintern officialised the Joseon Communist Party’s dissolution via letter, criticising the socialist movement in colonial Joseon for lacking class affiliation and being too factionalised, centred on intellectuals, ideologically chaotic, and idealistically distant from the masses.
(the Comintern of course themselves being well connected with the 'masses', being not even based in the country)
Often the characters "earnestly discuss" doctrine while their lives are at risk (again I suspect the author's sympathies are however with the characters) - the protagonist in this passage has just escaped from arrest and severe torture but:
He also discussed with Miyake the general direction of Joseons anti-imperialist activities, which had been put off due to the arrest of himself and others. Together, they reviewed the movement's policies, which had remained in draft form since the tense serial strikes, critiqued past activities, and considered the movement's future. They earnestly discussed what the general approach for activists in Joseon should be and which theory had been dictating the affiliations of the Pacific. Labour Union in Wonsan and the rest of Hamgyeong Province, since they reportedly received instructions from the Profintern's Far Eastern Bureau. Meanwhile, through Jeong's introduction, Miyake also held discussions about policy with a Gyeongseong communist group affiliated with Kim Hyeongseon. He tried to form a connection between that group and Jaeyu's organisation. For these pur-poses, Miyake reviewed with Jaeyu an unauthorised copy of the Theses of the Comintern's Thirteenth Plenum, a publication called Proletariat, and the May Day Manifesto.
And when Korea is split many of the activists find themselves on the wrong side of the 38th parallel (although apparently the large flows from the North to the South are those who are having temporary difficulties given their historic mindsets in adjusting to the wonders of the new pure North Korean regime).
It's an odd novel - one suspects the author meant this to be taken very differently to how I read it, which was almost as a satire - and also at times a very dull one. 2 stars.
The Comintern officialised the Joseon Communist Party’s dissolution via letter, criticising the socialist movement in colonial Joseon for lacking class affiliation and being too factionalised, centred on intellectuals, ideologically chaotic, and idealistically distant from the masses.
Mater 2-10 is the translation from Korean by Sora Kim-Russell and Youngjae Josephine Bae (배영재) of the 2010 original 철도원 삼대 by 황석영 (rather oddly romanised as Hwang Sok-yong, which would normally represent a different vowel for the two syllables of the given name i.e. 속 용)
The original title of which would more literally (if inelegantly in English) be translated as Three Generations of Railway Workers as is likely a nod to the classic novel 삼대 (Three GenerationsT) by 염상섭, but the English edition takes its title from 마터2형-10호 증기기관차 (Mater Type 2-10 Steam Locomotives), manufactured in the US and exported to Korean in the pre-WW2 period of Japanese occupation, the name taken from the English sound of Mountain, as these trains were designed for mountainous terrain. A rusted bullet-riddled example of a Mater 2-10 is, having been abandoned for years in the DMZ, now on display as a cultural exhibit in Imjingak.
The author is one of the most renowned in Korea and this is the 7th of his novels I've read in translation, but his works don't really resonate with me, and (perhaps unfairly) I suspect his renown is, in part, a tribute to his political activism and my lack of connection due to his political views.
Indeed in his afterword, the author says the original of this novel came from a conversation in the late 1980s with someone in a department store in Pyeongyang which he was visiting to admire the goods on sale (which I think one can safely assume were not available for general consumption) on an illegal trip North Korea for which he was subsequently jailed. And this is a very political novel, a deliberate tribute to the labour movements, but also the communist activists, during the colonial history of Korea under Japanese occupation until the early days of the Korean war, with a nod to their role of resistance in the more recent capitalist history of South Korea.
The novel opens in the modern day with Jino, a laid-off worker and union leader, staging a protest at the top of a high industrial chimney, mirroring real-life protests such as this 101 day one at the top of a 70m chimney stack by a union leader at Ssangyong Motors.
Jino is following in the footsteps of three previous generations of his family:
"Picketing has always been in the Yi family’s blood. Remember you’re not doing it to line your own pockets, you’re doing it so all workers can live decent lives."
…
She was echoing the words of Jino’s great grandfather Baekman, grandfather Ilcheol, and father, Jisan. She had believed in those words her whole life, and so did Jino.
...
Jino believed these efforts had meaning. What could have been the meaning his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father tried to pass down to him? It may have been that, no matter how hard things get, life goes on. You just had to take it one day at a time.
“노동투쟁은 원래가 이씨네 피에 들어 있다. 너 혼자 호강하며 밥 먹자는 게 아니구, 노동자 모두 사람답게 살아보자 그거 아니겠냐?"
...
그녀가 하는 말은 큰할아버지 이백만과 할아버지 이일철과 아버지 이지산이 늘 입에 달고 쓰던 말이었다. 그 말은 이진오의 어머니 윤복례도 젊은 시절부터 지금까지 동의했고 자신의 생각이기도 한 말이었다.
...
이 모든 노력들에 의미가 있다고 그는 생각했다. 증조할아버지 이백만에서 할아버지 이일철과 아버지 이지산을 통해 그에게 전해진 의미는 무엇이었을까. 그것은 아마도 삶은 지루하고 힘들지만 그래도 지속된다는 믿음일지도 모른다. 그렇게 오늘을 살아낸다.
Some of Jino's female ancestors had spiritual powers, able to see the dead or predict the future, and in his lonely vigil Jino also finds himself in dialogue with those from his past. These magic realist parts of the novel (a trademark of the author) are successful. Unfortunately, much of the story is told in exposition-heavy historical fiction (close to non-fiction) mode - this a typical passage on the operation of the railway system (if the aim was to replicate the "the monotony of driving freight", as one character describes their job, it certainly succeeded with this reader):
Initial manpower was supplied by Korean civil engineering construction firms contracted by the Gyeongbu Railway Company. Dozens of these firms were created in response to the sudden demand for railroad construction, with the boards of directors filled mostly with high-ranking officials of the former Korean Empire. They supplied everything needed for construction of the railway, from the manpower to the materials, including wood, stone, and coal, and even the workers' daily necessities, such as tobacco, rice, and other food. Employed within the firms were the office managers and staff, and below them were the field managers, crew chiefs, foremen, and labourers. The branch offices had provincial officials and staff, along with those employed to supervise the onsite workers. Japanese firms worked with Korean firms initially, but during the Russo-Japanese War, construction of the Gyeongbu and Gyeongui Lines became rushed, and the Japanese firms began to beat out the Korean firms, who lacked the necessary skill and expertise, and took the lead on most of the construction work. As the Korean firms collapsed, the managers alone were absorbed by the Japanese firms and tasked with recruitment and supervision. During the early days of rail work, most of the workers were there voluntarily, to make a day's wage, and while clashes did happen, the cause was usually that those wages were too low. But as construction continued, the labour system shifted from voluntary employment to forced conscription.
But much of the novel concerns the activity of the communist activists, part of the anti-colonial independence movement, but also ideologically opposed to certain parts of it (even other communists). Indeed large parts of the novel have overtones of The Judean People’s Front vs. the People’s Front of Judea, and give an interesting, if (I suspect given the author's political sympathies) inadvertent, insight into the failings of the activists:
The Comintern officialised the Joseon Communist Party’s dissolution via letter, criticising the socialist movement in colonial Joseon for lacking class affiliation and being too factionalised, centred on intellectuals, ideologically chaotic, and idealistically distant from the masses.
(the Comintern of course themselves being well connected with the 'masses', being not even based in the country)
Often the characters "earnestly discuss" doctrine while their lives are at risk (again I suspect the author's sympathies are however with the characters) - the protagonist in this passage has just escaped from arrest and severe torture but:
He also discussed with Miyake the general direction of Joseons anti-imperialist activities, which had been put off due to the arrest of himself and others. Together, they reviewed the movement's policies, which had remained in draft form since the tense serial strikes, critiqued past activities, and considered the movement's future. They earnestly discussed what the general approach for activists in Joseon should be and which theory had been dictating the affiliations of the Pacific. Labour Union in Wonsan and the rest of Hamgyeong Province, since they reportedly received instructions from the Profintern's Far Eastern Bureau. Meanwhile, through Jeong's introduction, Miyake also held discussions about policy with a Gyeongseong communist group affiliated with Kim Hyeongseon. He tried to form a connection between that group and Jaeyu's organisation. For these pur-poses, Miyake reviewed with Jaeyu an unauthorised copy of the Theses of the Comintern's Thirteenth Plenum, a publication called Proletariat, and the May Day Manifesto.
And when Korea is split many of the activists find themselves on the wrong side of the 38th parallel (although apparently the large flows from the North to the South are those who are having temporary difficulties given their historic mindsets in adjusting to the wonders of the new pure North Korean regime).
It's an odd novel - one suspects the author meant this to be taken very differently to how I read it, which was almost as a satire - and also at times a very dull one. 2 stars.
April 9, 2024
Now what shattered workers wasn't rage but despair - a mighty, terrifying enemy that slowly gnawed away at them day after day. Another protest assembly would end, and the workers would be on their own. Even after returning home to their waiting families, they were alone. The world has always been as indifferent as the universe. It is lonely, still, and silent. Tedious, worthless everyday life crushed them all.
Reading this epic account of worker activism and labour politics in Korea made me realise how rare it is to find a book that puts ordinary labourers at its heart: I could think of Gaskill's North and South, some Zola like Germinal, some DH Lawrence with his Nottingham miners and Thomas Hardy - but that's a tiny fraction of literature. I was ideologically primed, therefore, to embrace this account of worker protest and struggle, of blue collar unions and their repression across about a century and four generations of an extended family.
This is not a flawless piece of fiction: characters tend not to be psychologically individualized and are more a function of their role in the family and the wider political struggle. There are also info-dumpy sections of raw history such as the full MacArthur declarations. I could roll with both but readers wanting a more conventional historical fiction may struggle.
Anchoring the story is the present situation of Yi Jino, staging a high-altitude sit-in at the top of an industrial chimney to protest the brutal way the owners of the factory where he works have sacked everyone in order to re-locate the factory to somewhere where labour is cheaper and too cowed to organise. From this site of isolation, supported by his co-workers who send up food and take away the waste at regular intervals each day - an important example of solidarity, community and unity - Jino 'meets' the ghosts of his family and friends who have fought this struggle against capitalist authoritarianism, colonialism and exploitation before him. It's an adroit device which humanises the story and gives an almost mythic edge to the narrative which includes supernatural sightings and knowledge as well as a ghost matriarch who appears to watch over her sons.
The occupation of Korea by Japan is given much focus and the agitation against worker oppression via 'book groups' and other protest groups. It's a stark reminder, again, of how the legitimate intellectual and social equality drivers of communism are betrayed repeatedly, though it would perhaps have been helpful to differentiate between socialism and the different forms that communism might take. The brutal repression of a Japanese effective police state with tales of the horrific torture of union organisers takes up a big chunk through the 1930s and the run-up to WW2.
As the story unrolls, we perhaps lose some of our connection to the members of the Yi family that were established at the start. But this is, ultimately, an unashamedly political book that valorises the unnamed multitudes of ordinary workers who have struggled - and frequently died - in the quest for dignity, fairness and equity in a capitalist system loaded against them. There's a quiet refusal to give in that cannot be said to be triumphant, but that doggedness at the end as one of Jino's co-workers offers to re-start the high-altitude protest indicates that the struggle continues.
Now I'm just waiting for someone to write a novel about Solidarnosc in Poland and the way the labour unions took on the might of the Soviet system.
April 30, 2024
"Up there, time was like a rubber band, stretching out long and taut, only to snap back the moment he let go, making it impossible to keep track of its passage."
It starts with a strange toilet scene. At the top of a chimney, almost 45 meters high. He has learned how to survive there. "Yi Jino has set up his toilet on the opposite site of the catwalk, as far away from his tent as possible." After doing his best to find out the right material to collect his 'doo-doo', he finally reached the conclusion that the porridge container is the perfect one for the makeshift toilet. He is protesting this way. Jino is in his mid-fifties and had been a worker in a factory for 25 years.
In the beginning, I was getting the miasma of Marquez in this story, when someone was eating a living salamander, and a legend of Juan Daek, a woman with broad shoulders and muscular limbs who once looped a noose around the neck of a big pig, as big as her own size in the water, and locked her arms around another small pig's neck and brought them out, but soon when the working class struggle of the factory workers started, it reminded me of Gorky, a book on such a topic I had read years ago. 'The Mother' perhaps. The book takes you to the turn of 20th century Korea. Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula. Confucian village schools were replaced by Japanese sohakgyo; in a more common sense, they would be called "normalization schools." Hwang Sok-yong says that his style is "mindam realism." Mindam is something between folklore and plain talk—an oral form of history making. Mater is mountain in Japanese. Mater 2-10 was a locomotive that was captured during the Korean War. It shows an enduring image of Korean war. It's a multigenerational tale and features industrial workers as its main characters.
I knew little about the history and geographical tussle of the region, but this book gave me an idea of the insider's perspective. They are nameless activists, workers, and common people. The interesting thing that I found in the book is how the dialogues and scenes were created around the
ecosystem of 'railroad constructs' in the peninsula. It deals with Japanese colonialism and the fight and aspiration of rail road laborers, at many places, it created an enlightening discourse for me. It was something new for me. Though in the middle part, I lost some interest due to so many
historical and confederate accounts incorporated, and the book looked like a historical account of a struggle, but as soon as I started hating it for the same, the novelistic cadence of the book was reinstated by the author, that took me to the end of the book.
This is the story of the author's hometown and the working class living there. Being a personal beholder of the things around, the author has been able to create the 'emotional deluge' to drench a reader like me, but it was not abundant for me. Overall, the book was a good exploration experience for me that gave me an understanding of the geography, politics, colonialism and struggle of the working class. As the author writes at last,
"Instead of famous faces of Korean history that already star in countless text, I modelled the characters in this book after the many workers who have been reduced to historical specks of dust."
I agree to a great extent.
April 12, 2024
I don't have the energy to write a full review after finishing this, but I will say that it has some highlights and is ultimately bogged down by pretty dry prose that, for a majority of the book, reads more like a history of 20th century Korea, rather than a historical fiction set in that period. When he developed this cast of characters and gave us glimpses into each family member, I was hooked. But when it drifted more into a larger recounting of events that was not specific to these fictional people, I found myself zoning out. Ultimately, glad I read it but not one I will revisit.
April 5, 2024
Read for the International Booker prize 2024. There was a lot I actually liked about this book but the majority of it just felt so dull and I had to force myself to get to the end.
This book is about four generations of one family and it centres on the relationship between Korea and Japan, and how it was affecting the workforce and the rights of the working class people at the time. One of the main stories in the book is the man at the bottom of the family tree (so the great-grandson) who is striking for better working conditions by sitting at the top of a chimney at the workplace's factory and not coming down until his demands have been met. The workers in solidarity with him are also striking and sending him food and drink and things to keep him occupied during his strike. I really loved this section and found the development of it fascinating.
But this was the smallest section of the book really and it only returned to it now and again through the entire thing. The rest of the book was focused on the other members of the family in the past. I loved reading about all of the different family members and how they met and were related to each other, but I can't help but think it would have been super helpful to have a family tree somewhere to keep track of the characters as there were so many and quite easy to get lost.
It jumps around in time a lot and this I also just found really confusing. I lost my thread so many times in the book and just couldn't drag myself back into enjoying it. There is so much that happens but it is super focused on politics and the relationships between a bunch of characters I felt quite overloaded with information most of the time and I really didn't enjoy that.
Kind of annoyed I didn't like this book because it's such an interesting topic to read about and has an opportunity to teach you so many things, but it's execution I found so muddled and overbearing that it became really slow and boring for the majority of it.
This book is about four generations of one family and it centres on the relationship between Korea and Japan, and how it was affecting the workforce and the rights of the working class people at the time. One of the main stories in the book is the man at the bottom of the family tree (so the great-grandson) who is striking for better working conditions by sitting at the top of a chimney at the workplace's factory and not coming down until his demands have been met. The workers in solidarity with him are also striking and sending him food and drink and things to keep him occupied during his strike. I really loved this section and found the development of it fascinating.
But this was the smallest section of the book really and it only returned to it now and again through the entire thing. The rest of the book was focused on the other members of the family in the past. I loved reading about all of the different family members and how they met and were related to each other, but I can't help but think it would have been super helpful to have a family tree somewhere to keep track of the characters as there were so many and quite easy to get lost.
It jumps around in time a lot and this I also just found really confusing. I lost my thread so many times in the book and just couldn't drag myself back into enjoying it. There is so much that happens but it is super focused on politics and the relationships between a bunch of characters I felt quite overloaded with information most of the time and I really didn't enjoy that.
Kind of annoyed I didn't like this book because it's such an interesting topic to read about and has an opportunity to teach you so many things, but it's execution I found so muddled and overbearing that it became really slow and boring for the majority of it.
Read
May 20, 2024Izolovan na vrhu železničkog tornja visokog šesnaest spratova, tokom protesta dužeg od tri stotine dana, Ji Džino- otpušteni radnik železnice- bori se protiv prodaje svoje kompanije i gubitka mnogih radnih mesta. U samovanju sa pogledom na blještavilo modernog Seula, kroz životne priče i mudrost tri generacije predaka (porodice železničara) oslikaće vek korejske radničke klase.
"Mater 2-10" se delom čita kao roman, delom kao udžbenik iz istorije. Borba jednog naroda- komunizmom protiv japanskog imperijalizma, kapitalizmom protiv komunizma a danas, po principu da se od većeg zla izabere manje, u državi koja u očima sveta nezaustavljivo ide napred, dok mnogi koji čine pogon tog napretka bivaju zaboravljeni, bije se bitka za neki bolji sistem, za neko bolje sutra.
Hronologija jedne (od mnogih) porodica u beskrajnom usponu kroz slojeve siromaštva, uvek bliže normalnom životu ali nikada dovoljno blizu, primoranom da jedan skup neuslovnosti zameni drugim- od prisilne promene imena, preko pevanja Internacionale sve do sadašnjeg robovanja globalizmu, daje prikaz nekog dalekog sveta u kojem okolnosti zvuče zastrašujuće poznato.
Korejski spada među najsloženije svetske jezike, naročito u odnosu na Engleski, stoga se mora pohvaliti monumentalni prevodilački trud da se prevali put između tekstova koje i bukvalno i u prenesenom značnju, dele kontinenti i okeani. Postojala je puna svest, kako se navodi u uvodnom delu knjige, da se dosta toga moralo izgubiti. Bez obzira, tonalitet sintakse vremena, mesta, najčešće potisnute emocije, sve između surovog i magijskog realizma, ostaje više nego uspeo.
U romanu pisanom skoro tri decenije Huang Sok-jong nam daje deo istorije koji od čitaoca traži volju i posvećenost, te "Mater 2-10" nije univerzalno preporučljio štivo ali je nesumnjivo vredno pažnje.
"Mater 2-10" se delom čita kao roman, delom kao udžbenik iz istorije. Borba jednog naroda- komunizmom protiv japanskog imperijalizma, kapitalizmom protiv komunizma a danas, po principu da se od većeg zla izabere manje, u državi koja u očima sveta nezaustavljivo ide napred, dok mnogi koji čine pogon tog napretka bivaju zaboravljeni, bije se bitka za neki bolji sistem, za neko bolje sutra.
Hronologija jedne (od mnogih) porodica u beskrajnom usponu kroz slojeve siromaštva, uvek bliže normalnom životu ali nikada dovoljno blizu, primoranom da jedan skup neuslovnosti zameni drugim- od prisilne promene imena, preko pevanja Internacionale sve do sadašnjeg robovanja globalizmu, daje prikaz nekog dalekog sveta u kojem okolnosti zvuče zastrašujuće poznato.
Korejski spada među najsloženije svetske jezike, naročito u odnosu na Engleski, stoga se mora pohvaliti monumentalni prevodilački trud da se prevali put između tekstova koje i bukvalno i u prenesenom značnju, dele kontinenti i okeani. Postojala je puna svest, kako se navodi u uvodnom delu knjige, da se dosta toga moralo izgubiti. Bez obzira, tonalitet sintakse vremena, mesta, najčešće potisnute emocije, sve između surovog i magijskog realizma, ostaje više nego uspeo.
U romanu pisanom skoro tri decenije Huang Sok-jong nam daje deo istorije koji od čitaoca traži volju i posvećenost, te "Mater 2-10" nije univerzalno preporučljio štivo ali je nesumnjivo vredno pažnje.
April 11, 2024
Mater 2-10 is the kind of book which will make one make quick online searches in between chapters. The 2-10 of the title is a train which travelled from north to south Korea, it’s relevance to the plot will be explained later.
The book opens with a factory worker, Yi Jino, who is on strike and holding a sit in, in a tower. After his daily routine he reflects on his past and by this I mean we jump as far back as the early 1900’s during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Here the narrative focuses on the working class and how they were treated by the Japanese and a snapshot of the environment of the time (a lot of poverty). the book then advances to Korea’s industrialisation (here is where the railway comes in), which includes communism being introduced and worker riots, liberation from Japan, the civil war and eventual division of Korea, with people moving south before the barrier was established. There are some sections which deal with present day Korea and how workers are treated. To add more the characters are from Yi Jino’s lineage, starting with his great grandfather.
Mater 2-10 is an epic novel. Hwang Sok-yong states in his afterword that he wanted to depict the Korean working classes, something which has not been really done in contemporary Korean literature, I guess he has succeeded, there is a ton of detail and goes into every minute aspect of history with this narrative. On one hand for someone who knows nothing about this point in Korean history it is great, especially if complemented by online articles. Unfortunately, for me, this went into info dump territory and I felt exhausted reading the book. It is readable and memorable but I found it tiring. Still Mater 2-10 is an admirable novel which will definitely educate.
The book opens with a factory worker, Yi Jino, who is on strike and holding a sit in, in a tower. After his daily routine he reflects on his past and by this I mean we jump as far back as the early 1900’s during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Here the narrative focuses on the working class and how they were treated by the Japanese and a snapshot of the environment of the time (a lot of poverty). the book then advances to Korea’s industrialisation (here is where the railway comes in), which includes communism being introduced and worker riots, liberation from Japan, the civil war and eventual division of Korea, with people moving south before the barrier was established. There are some sections which deal with present day Korea and how workers are treated. To add more the characters are from Yi Jino’s lineage, starting with his great grandfather.
Mater 2-10 is an epic novel. Hwang Sok-yong states in his afterword that he wanted to depict the Korean working classes, something which has not been really done in contemporary Korean literature, I guess he has succeeded, there is a ton of detail and goes into every minute aspect of history with this narrative. On one hand for someone who knows nothing about this point in Korean history it is great, especially if complemented by online articles. Unfortunately, for me, this went into info dump territory and I felt exhausted reading the book. It is readable and memorable but I found it tiring. Still Mater 2-10 is an admirable novel which will definitely educate.
September 23, 2023
Another epic tale to my shelf; was a bit intimidated because of the thickness yet the whole journey of delving into this multi-generational lives with its historical backdrop gets me both enthralled and heartwrenched. It was so intricately narrated, quite dense with its back and forth timelines but having those charms of thrill and entrancing drama with its familial, lifestyle and slice-of-life backdrops.
I followed Yi Jino in the present narrative—a laid-off worker who stages a months-long sit-in atop of a sixteen-story factory chimney in protest to the injustice he and other industrial labourers received—reminiscing and wandering his thoughts on the past; of how his ancestors fought to be free from oppression and overwhelming forced during the Japanese occupation and wartime. From Great Grandfather Baekman to Grandfather Ilcheol and his dad Jisan who worked as a railroad worker (an absorbing connection of how Mater 2-10 related to this) during the colonization period, Jino brought me to explore and observe the trials and tribulations of the people who has to face the political conflicts, economic stress, cultural change, discrimination and forced labors while living on their own land.
Neat and lyrical folktale prose with almost well crafted dynamic for the characters— love the author’s poignant way in expressing their perspectives and emotional distress. Bit surreal for how it involved on cultural and mystical beliefs—an appealing narrative for Geumi and Mageum for this as well for Jino who was drowned in his hallucinations while living on the chimney. Loving Grandfather Ilcheol’s part the most of how it was narrated with a gripping gaze on the liberation movement with those episodes of suffering, desperation and the desire to fight.
It took the author almost 30 years to finally made this factually inspired story into a book; lengthy and descriptive yet too well-written for me. A great historical reflection and memories of a homeland, so emphatically moving overall. Totally a must read to historical fic fans. 4.3 stars to this!
“They say history repeats itself. That seems to be true no matter how much the world, and all the people in it change…”
Thank you Pansing Distribution for sending me a copy to review!
I followed Yi Jino in the present narrative—a laid-off worker who stages a months-long sit-in atop of a sixteen-story factory chimney in protest to the injustice he and other industrial labourers received—reminiscing and wandering his thoughts on the past; of how his ancestors fought to be free from oppression and overwhelming forced during the Japanese occupation and wartime. From Great Grandfather Baekman to Grandfather Ilcheol and his dad Jisan who worked as a railroad worker (an absorbing connection of how Mater 2-10 related to this) during the colonization period, Jino brought me to explore and observe the trials and tribulations of the people who has to face the political conflicts, economic stress, cultural change, discrimination and forced labors while living on their own land.
Neat and lyrical folktale prose with almost well crafted dynamic for the characters— love the author’s poignant way in expressing their perspectives and emotional distress. Bit surreal for how it involved on cultural and mystical beliefs—an appealing narrative for Geumi and Mageum for this as well for Jino who was drowned in his hallucinations while living on the chimney. Loving Grandfather Ilcheol’s part the most of how it was narrated with a gripping gaze on the liberation movement with those episodes of suffering, desperation and the desire to fight.
It took the author almost 30 years to finally made this factually inspired story into a book; lengthy and descriptive yet too well-written for me. A great historical reflection and memories of a homeland, so emphatically moving overall. Totally a must read to historical fic fans. 4.3 stars to this!
“They say history repeats itself. That seems to be true no matter how much the world, and all the people in it change…”
Thank you Pansing Distribution for sending me a copy to review!
April 25, 2024
I’m not sure I have much to add to the conversation around this book because I agree with everything that’s been said! This book is highly informative—to a fault—and Hwang leans into the details in every setting, situation, and character, the central ones as well as side characters.
I learned a lot about the history of Korea’s worker’s rights, unions, and the effect Imperial Japan had on this and I really did love following the journey of the characters belonging to the central family. But in an effort to tell as close to a comprehensive history as possible, Hwang often lets the actual story fall to the wayside, losing the narrative drive that is there but buried beneath heaps of information.
The translators’ note in the beginning made it clear that there were several nuances in the Korean language that would be lost in the English translation but that the decision was made to leave several Korean words, titles, places in. This does not bother me, but in a text so dense and filled with so many characters and events taking place across a somewhat large expanse of land, I do think more could have been done to aid the reader and enrich the reading experience (a short glossary of terms, a family tree, a map with names used in that time period, etc.).
My takeaway is that Hwang should absolutely write a non-fiction book on this topic.
I learned a lot about the history of Korea’s worker’s rights, unions, and the effect Imperial Japan had on this and I really did love following the journey of the characters belonging to the central family. But in an effort to tell as close to a comprehensive history as possible, Hwang often lets the actual story fall to the wayside, losing the narrative drive that is there but buried beneath heaps of information.
The translators’ note in the beginning made it clear that there were several nuances in the Korean language that would be lost in the English translation but that the decision was made to leave several Korean words, titles, places in. This does not bother me, but in a text so dense and filled with so many characters and events taking place across a somewhat large expanse of land, I do think more could have been done to aid the reader and enrich the reading experience (a short glossary of terms, a family tree, a map with names used in that time period, etc.).
My takeaway is that Hwang should absolutely write a non-fiction book on this topic.
May 23, 2024
0 star for writing quality: I'm going to put more blame on the translator here rather than the author...difficult to judge writing through translation.
1 star for plot: What an amazing way to weave a story!
1 star for characters: Distinct individuals, distinct personalities that develop throughout the novel
1 star for setting
.5 star for personal taste: I found myself sort of speeding through parts that had to do with the war against communists-it's something I've personally read a lot of lately and didn't have the space to slow read.
Overall, I loved it enough to buy a copy. I was disappointed by the Booker's choice...I read most of the short list and my least favorite one took the prize! I guess you can check my reviews and the one that I like the least is sure to win ;)
1 star for plot: What an amazing way to weave a story!
1 star for characters: Distinct individuals, distinct personalities that develop throughout the novel
1 star for setting
.5 star for personal taste: I found myself sort of speeding through parts that had to do with the war against communists-it's something I've personally read a lot of lately and didn't have the space to slow read.
Overall, I loved it enough to buy a copy. I was disappointed by the Booker's choice...I read most of the short list and my least favorite one took the prize! I guess you can check my reviews and the one that I like the least is sure to win ;)
July 23, 2023
Mater 2-10 is an epic story of labour agitation and political repression in twentieth and twenty-first century Korea, told via one extended family. The novel opens and closes with Yi Jino protesting against the factory where he worked shutting down and all the workers getting fired. He moves into a power plant chimney, or rather a narrow ledge around it, and resolves to stay there until the factory owners are willing to negotiate with the dismissed workers. Living for months alone in this tiny space, Jino is visited by the ghosts of friends and family. The reader learns that participation in strikes, protests, and resistance to oppression have run in the family for generations.
I found the lives of Jino's grandfather and great uncle Icheol and Ilcheol particularly powerful and these occupy a considerable portion of the narrative. Icheol joins the communist party during the Japanese occupation of Korea and fights for workers rights. Ilcheol concentrates on his career and family until the supposed liberation of Korea and American occupation after the end of the Second World War. He then becomes a union leader and thus, like his brother, a police target. Jino's female relatives are not neglected either, with Geumi and Juan-daek having particularly notable roles. The division of Korea into north and south abruptly splits the family, as it did so many.
I found Mater 2-10 fascinating and beautifully crafted. As the author's afterword notes, substantial novels focusing on industrial workers are rare. (I find this true of English as well as Korean literature.) Hwang Sok-yong weaves a memorable, complex, and moving family story into the ongoing fight for labour rights in Korea. The combination of ghostly visitations and vivid material details is deftly done. There is nothing naïve or simplistic about this depiction of work and leftist politics; Jino's family history demonstrates that the struggle for workers' rights is slow and difficult but essential.
I found the lives of Jino's grandfather and great uncle Icheol and Ilcheol particularly powerful and these occupy a considerable portion of the narrative. Icheol joins the communist party during the Japanese occupation of Korea and fights for workers rights. Ilcheol concentrates on his career and family until the supposed liberation of Korea and American occupation after the end of the Second World War. He then becomes a union leader and thus, like his brother, a police target. Jino's female relatives are not neglected either, with Geumi and Juan-daek having particularly notable roles. The division of Korea into north and south abruptly splits the family, as it did so many.
I found Mater 2-10 fascinating and beautifully crafted. As the author's afterword notes, substantial novels focusing on industrial workers are rare. (I find this true of English as well as Korean literature.) Hwang Sok-yong weaves a memorable, complex, and moving family story into the ongoing fight for labour rights in Korea. The combination of ghostly visitations and vivid material details is deftly done. There is nothing naïve or simplistic about this depiction of work and leftist politics; Jino's family history demonstrates that the struggle for workers' rights is slow and difficult but essential.
August 25, 2023
Originariamente se publicó por entregas,en otros idiomas se titula “Tres generaciones de trabajadores ferroviarios “.
Dedicada a los trabajadores coreanos ,con ella el autor pretende escribir sobre una etapa histórica poco retratada en la literatura coreana, cien años ,desde la dominación japonesa hasta el siglo XXI.
Tras el dominio japonés ,el régimen militar de EEUU.
Crueldad,hambre,diferencias salariales y horarias de trabajadores coréanos frente a los japoneses.
Intento de dominio con pérdida de arraigo e identidad.
Una novela costumbrista,realista con tres generaciones de una familia.
Dos hermanos que parecen antagónicos.
Ilcheol participa en la organización de los clubs de lectura de las fábricas ,germen de los sindicatos y el activismo .
Una protesta desde una chimenea de una fábrica,con relevos ,otra forma de protestar por unas condiciones dignas de trabajo.Las huelgas tienen siempre valor,pero en estos regímenes es casi impensable.
Icheol,se adapta a trabajar y formarse como maquinista del ferrocarril con los japoneses.En todas las novelas del coreano ,siempre se vislumbra la esperanza,terminará siendo luz en la oscuridad.
La novela es un reflejo de la sociedad trabajadora industrial moderna,pero no deja de tener la habitual representación de lo paranormal, tan característica de la pluma del coreano , la unión de los vivos con sus antepasados ,esta vez de forma más reducida en favor del realismo que se quiere plasmar .
La madre y sus deliciosos pasteles de arroz ,velará y se comunicará con la familia.
Casi 600 páginas de historia obrera de los coreanos.
Destacar un dato biográfico :Hwang Sok-yong estuvo preso cinco años por su posicionamiento político y la crítica social,tiempo en el que se le prohíbe escribir.
A sus 80 años sigue escribiendo y soñando la unificación de Corea.
Dedicada a los trabajadores coreanos ,con ella el autor pretende escribir sobre una etapa histórica poco retratada en la literatura coreana, cien años ,desde la dominación japonesa hasta el siglo XXI.
Tras el dominio japonés ,el régimen militar de EEUU.
Crueldad,hambre,diferencias salariales y horarias de trabajadores coréanos frente a los japoneses.
Intento de dominio con pérdida de arraigo e identidad.
Una novela costumbrista,realista con tres generaciones de una familia.
Dos hermanos que parecen antagónicos.
Ilcheol participa en la organización de los clubs de lectura de las fábricas ,germen de los sindicatos y el activismo .
Una protesta desde una chimenea de una fábrica,con relevos ,otra forma de protestar por unas condiciones dignas de trabajo.Las huelgas tienen siempre valor,pero en estos regímenes es casi impensable.
Icheol,se adapta a trabajar y formarse como maquinista del ferrocarril con los japoneses.En todas las novelas del coreano ,siempre se vislumbra la esperanza,terminará siendo luz en la oscuridad.
La novela es un reflejo de la sociedad trabajadora industrial moderna,pero no deja de tener la habitual representación de lo paranormal, tan característica de la pluma del coreano , la unión de los vivos con sus antepasados ,esta vez de forma más reducida en favor del realismo que se quiere plasmar .
La madre y sus deliciosos pasteles de arroz ,velará y se comunicará con la familia.
Casi 600 páginas de historia obrera de los coreanos.
Destacar un dato biográfico :Hwang Sok-yong estuvo preso cinco años por su posicionamiento político y la crítica social,tiempo en el que se le prohíbe escribir.
A sus 80 años sigue escribiendo y soñando la unificación de Corea.
August 26, 2024
I wasn’t sure I would finish this one when I first started, but I’m glad I stuck with it! I read a couple Korean historical fiction novels, but this is probably the one I learned the most history from. However, I wish that history had been presented in a more enjoyable manner. I understand the author’s intent and I’m glad a longer novel focused on laborers’ life exists, but I feel like I was always held at arm’s length from these characters. It felt grey and dull, as their lives often were, but that didn’t make for an enjoyable reading experience. The history was also often given more as a event-driven history class rather than conveyed through the characters’ experiences, which I found a little heavy handed. I would still recommend for people that are very interested in Korean history during the 20th century (and especially in the communist circles and resistance in this time period), but I would recommend other historical fiction novels to the general reader first.
"They say history repeats itself. That seems to be true no matter how much the world, and all the people in it, change, or as customs change. I guess that’s another way of saying that the way we live only looked different on the outside, but what’s on the inside stays the same."
"Workers with opinions of their own were always branded as commies in this country. Whereas if you kept your head down, focused only on work, and accepted the few pennies they tossed your way, then they said you were one of the good ones. They never, ever said you were a slave."
"You son of a bitch, I’m worse than the cops. I’m a mother!"
"It always looks like you’re losing at first, but in the end, the weak are destined to win."
"Doesn’t it seem like life is always falling short or turning into something other than what we hope for?"
"But then, all partings are fleeting. And like a wisp of wind, they leave nothing behind but a faint glimpse of the look on the other’s face."
🚂🛤️⛓️
*2024 international booker prize shortlist
Last book on the shortlist!!! Overall, my thoughts are:
-the judges are kinda pretentious, sorry
-a book doesn’t have to be historical fiction to be culturally and historically relevant (as shown by some of the books on the shortlist)
-enjoyment should be considered a little bit more as a factor: great books should not just be "objectively good and important literary works", they have the right to be fun too
-The Details or Not a River should’ve won xox fuck Kairos
(These are very black and white statements that ofc have more nuance to them, but this review isn’t the place for that)
"They say history repeats itself. That seems to be true no matter how much the world, and all the people in it, change, or as customs change. I guess that’s another way of saying that the way we live only looked different on the outside, but what’s on the inside stays the same."
"Workers with opinions of their own were always branded as commies in this country. Whereas if you kept your head down, focused only on work, and accepted the few pennies they tossed your way, then they said you were one of the good ones. They never, ever said you were a slave."
"You son of a bitch, I’m worse than the cops. I’m a mother!"
"It always looks like you’re losing at first, but in the end, the weak are destined to win."
"Doesn’t it seem like life is always falling short or turning into something other than what we hope for?"
"But then, all partings are fleeting. And like a wisp of wind, they leave nothing behind but a faint glimpse of the look on the other’s face."
🚂🛤️⛓️
*2024 international booker prize shortlist
Last book on the shortlist!!! Overall, my thoughts are:
-the judges are kinda pretentious, sorry
-a book doesn’t have to be historical fiction to be culturally and historically relevant (as shown by some of the books on the shortlist)
-enjoyment should be considered a little bit more as a factor: great books should not just be "objectively good and important literary works", they have the right to be fun too
-The Details or Not a River should’ve won xox fuck Kairos
(These are very black and white statements that ofc have more nuance to them, but this review isn’t the place for that)
June 14, 2024
Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2024.
Hwang Sok-yong's latest novel is compelling and ambitious. It feels like an extended fictionalised version of his autobiography, The Prisoner, threading together a century of Korean history through the lens of three generations of a family of rail workers and a laid-off factory employee staging a high-altitude sit-in. The novel vividly depicts the lives of ordinary working Koreans, offering a nuanced portrayal of their struggles, resilience, and dreams amidst the backdrop of significant historical events of the 20th century.
The story begins with Yi Jino, a mid-fifties factory worker and staunch unionist who has recently been laid off. In an act of defiance, Jino climbs to the top of a large chimney and stages a protest, refusing to descend until the factory owners negotiate with the union. As he endures isolation atop the chimney, Jino reminisces about his past and is visited by ghosts of family members, friends, and others who have impacted his life. These visits interweave with Korea’s political history, particularly during Japanese colonisation.
The narrative of Mater 2-10 spans several generations, starting with Jino’s great-grandfather, Baekman, a railroad worker and machinist during Japanese colonisation. Baekman’s passion for trains and the railroads is passed down to his son, Ilcheol, and his grandson, Jisan. The novel captures the dedication and hardships faced by these industrial workers, offering a poignant look at their lives within the broader historical and social context.
The character development in Mater 2-10 is also something to be commended on. Jino, in particular, is a deeply sympathetic character whose determination and defiance are both inspiring and heart-wrenching. His interactions with the ghosts of his family provide insight into the generational trauma and resilience of Korean industrial workers. The historical backdrop, from Japanese occupation to the Korean War and beyond, is meticulously researched and vividly portrayed, offering a profound understanding of Korea's turbulent history.
Hwang Sok-yong incorporates historical figures such as Yi Jaeyu, a labour activist and proponent of an independent Korea. His struggle against Japanese colonialism and for the rights of Korean workers serves as a significant thread in the novel, highlighting the deep-rooted resistance within Korean society. Hwang Sok-yong's personal and political beliefs deeply intertwined with the plot. As a renowned activist and socialist, he has long advocated for giving voice to overlooked narratives, including the role of Kim Il-sung and the communist movement in Korea's liberation from Japanese colonialism.
Hwang Sok-yong argues that acknowledging the contributions of communist activists is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of Korea's history. This perspective is evident in the novel, which depicts the sacrifices and struggles of labour activists, often vilified as "commies" post-Liberation south of the 38th parallel. Hwang Sok-yong's autobiography, The Prisoner, provides further insight into the themes explored in this novel, recounting his experiences and political struggles. As known well in South Korea, in 1993, he was arrested upon his return to South Korea after a long exile for visiting North Korea, an act forbidden under the National Security Act. His unwavering commitment to understanding and bridging the divide between North and South Korea is reflected in both his autobiography and Mater 2-10.
The English translation of Mater 2-10 owes much to the skill and dedication of Sora Kim-Russell and Youngjae Josephine Bae in bringing the novel's rich texture and historical depth to an English-speaking audience. Many Korean words and honorifics are preserved to convey the flow of conversations between characters in Korean. However, the novel's length may be daunting. The dense historical context and multiple (sometimes overlapping) timelines can be overwhelming, making it difficult to track the various characters and events. Additionally, the blending of folklore and realism, including the presence of ghosts, enriches the narrative but may not appeal to all readers, particularly those preferring straightforward historical fiction.
Hwang Sok-yong's latest novel is compelling and ambitious. It feels like an extended fictionalised version of his autobiography, The Prisoner, threading together a century of Korean history through the lens of three generations of a family of rail workers and a laid-off factory employee staging a high-altitude sit-in. The novel vividly depicts the lives of ordinary working Koreans, offering a nuanced portrayal of their struggles, resilience, and dreams amidst the backdrop of significant historical events of the 20th century.
The story begins with Yi Jino, a mid-fifties factory worker and staunch unionist who has recently been laid off. In an act of defiance, Jino climbs to the top of a large chimney and stages a protest, refusing to descend until the factory owners negotiate with the union. As he endures isolation atop the chimney, Jino reminisces about his past and is visited by ghosts of family members, friends, and others who have impacted his life. These visits interweave with Korea’s political history, particularly during Japanese colonisation.
The narrative of Mater 2-10 spans several generations, starting with Jino’s great-grandfather, Baekman, a railroad worker and machinist during Japanese colonisation. Baekman’s passion for trains and the railroads is passed down to his son, Ilcheol, and his grandson, Jisan. The novel captures the dedication and hardships faced by these industrial workers, offering a poignant look at their lives within the broader historical and social context.
The character development in Mater 2-10 is also something to be commended on. Jino, in particular, is a deeply sympathetic character whose determination and defiance are both inspiring and heart-wrenching. His interactions with the ghosts of his family provide insight into the generational trauma and resilience of Korean industrial workers. The historical backdrop, from Japanese occupation to the Korean War and beyond, is meticulously researched and vividly portrayed, offering a profound understanding of Korea's turbulent history.
Hwang Sok-yong incorporates historical figures such as Yi Jaeyu, a labour activist and proponent of an independent Korea. His struggle against Japanese colonialism and for the rights of Korean workers serves as a significant thread in the novel, highlighting the deep-rooted resistance within Korean society. Hwang Sok-yong's personal and political beliefs deeply intertwined with the plot. As a renowned activist and socialist, he has long advocated for giving voice to overlooked narratives, including the role of Kim Il-sung and the communist movement in Korea's liberation from Japanese colonialism.
Hwang Sok-yong argues that acknowledging the contributions of communist activists is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of Korea's history. This perspective is evident in the novel, which depicts the sacrifices and struggles of labour activists, often vilified as "commies" post-Liberation south of the 38th parallel. Hwang Sok-yong's autobiography, The Prisoner, provides further insight into the themes explored in this novel, recounting his experiences and political struggles. As known well in South Korea, in 1993, he was arrested upon his return to South Korea after a long exile for visiting North Korea, an act forbidden under the National Security Act. His unwavering commitment to understanding and bridging the divide between North and South Korea is reflected in both his autobiography and Mater 2-10.
The English translation of Mater 2-10 owes much to the skill and dedication of Sora Kim-Russell and Youngjae Josephine Bae in bringing the novel's rich texture and historical depth to an English-speaking audience. Many Korean words and honorifics are preserved to convey the flow of conversations between characters in Korean. However, the novel's length may be daunting. The dense historical context and multiple (sometimes overlapping) timelines can be overwhelming, making it difficult to track the various characters and events. Additionally, the blending of folklore and realism, including the presence of ghosts, enriches the narrative but may not appeal to all readers, particularly those preferring straightforward historical fiction.
April 10, 2024
“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘒𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢���𝘺 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘢����𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘺. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘭𝘥?”
Mater 2-10 is about a family of Korean railroad workers. The story covers a century of changes, highlighting the lives of ordinary people and their struggles. It specifically focuses on the rights of factory workers and the impact of colonisation. It is a multigenerational story, alternating between the past and the present day.
The past centres on brothers Icheol and Ilcheol, as well as their parents, grandparents, and children. Ilcheol is willing to collaborate for the security of his job and family. Icheol resists and becomes part of the independence movement, joining an undercover party. This is a risky path to take under Japanese rule.
In the present day, Jino, the grandson of Ilcheol, is fighting for the rights of The Metal Workers’ Union. He aims to restore the jobs of the factory employees by staging a sit-in at the top of a factory chimney.
The author describes his style as mindam realism, which is “𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘬𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬: 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺-𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘬 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘥𝘰𝘵𝘦, 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦; 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”
This story highlights how ordinary people became activists under Japanese rule in Korea. I enjoyed learning more about life in this period. I didn’t know that Koreans were forced to change their names to Japanese names. Korean language, rights and identities are all taken.
I really enjoyed reading Mater 2-10, even if at times it felt a little more like a lesson than a story. I’m glad I read this novel and I’m pleased to see it made the International Booker shortlist!
Mater 2-10 is about a family of Korean railroad workers. The story covers a century of changes, highlighting the lives of ordinary people and their struggles. It specifically focuses on the rights of factory workers and the impact of colonisation. It is a multigenerational story, alternating between the past and the present day.
The past centres on brothers Icheol and Ilcheol, as well as their parents, grandparents, and children. Ilcheol is willing to collaborate for the security of his job and family. Icheol resists and becomes part of the independence movement, joining an undercover party. This is a risky path to take under Japanese rule.
In the present day, Jino, the grandson of Ilcheol, is fighting for the rights of The Metal Workers’ Union. He aims to restore the jobs of the factory employees by staging a sit-in at the top of a factory chimney.
The author describes his style as mindam realism, which is “𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘬𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬: 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺-𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘬 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘥𝘰𝘵𝘦, 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦; 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”
This story highlights how ordinary people became activists under Japanese rule in Korea. I enjoyed learning more about life in this period. I didn’t know that Koreans were forced to change their names to Japanese names. Korean language, rights and identities are all taken.
I really enjoyed reading Mater 2-10, even if at times it felt a little more like a lesson than a story. I’m glad I read this novel and I’m pleased to see it made the International Booker shortlist!
May 21, 2024
"He walked more slowly than usual, counting his steps as he went. He imagined he was an alien. After all, was he not? This place was neither sky nor land. Not a place for human beings to live. The narrow circumference was like the cockpit of a spaceship travelling outside of everyday life and time back on earth. He was not dead; he was living, right here, and yet the world took no notice of him. He was a man on a journey who was bound to return to the rest of the world eventually."
May 5, 2023
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The book tells the story of how Korean industrial workers fared during the tribulations of the 20th century, starting with Japanese colonisation, through the two wars, and then in modern times. The story is told through the perspectives of one family, across four of its generations. It is also a story of Korea journey towards independence and statehood, the role socialism and communism played in this journey, and how it affects the South Korea of today. Overlaid on this is the role that railroads played in modernising Korea and building one country. Lastly, it is a story of fundamental human hopes, fears, loves, and struggles, without the drama so often associated with them. The form the storytelling takes is often reminiscent of a non-fiction book, and puts more focus on events, facts, and socio-political context than characters.
Lots of things to love about the book. Most of all, I learned a lot. Korean history in the 20th century is something that I just haven't really been exposed to, and this book did a great job in shedding light on some of the more complex aspects of it, while remaining entertaining. I also learned a lot about the story of the working men and women of Korea, and the role their class awareness played in the history of the peninsula overall. The microcosm of events the author delves into (especially the tension between the Korean independence sympathisers on the one hand, and the Koreans collaborating with Japanese occupation) provide fertile ground to understand better the root causes for the split between the Koreas. Fascinating.
The thing I struggled most with was the relatively dry style. I have to admit I'm much more excited about character driven stories, and this one was not. It was difficult for me to read (took almost 3x the time than an average book), and I struggled sometimes to push through. I did find it fundamentally interesting, and I just didn't want to give up on the opportunity. Eventually, the outcome was great, and I'm very happy to have gone through this, but I just can't say it was easy.
The book is a monumental piece of Korean literature, reflecting incredible depth of research, and attuned to the nuances of the national psyche and its root causes. Highly recommended to anyone interested in Korean history, history overall, and how average human beings persist and survive over generations of unrest.
The book tells the story of how Korean industrial workers fared during the tribulations of the 20th century, starting with Japanese colonisation, through the two wars, and then in modern times. The story is told through the perspectives of one family, across four of its generations. It is also a story of Korea journey towards independence and statehood, the role socialism and communism played in this journey, and how it affects the South Korea of today. Overlaid on this is the role that railroads played in modernising Korea and building one country. Lastly, it is a story of fundamental human hopes, fears, loves, and struggles, without the drama so often associated with them. The form the storytelling takes is often reminiscent of a non-fiction book, and puts more focus on events, facts, and socio-political context than characters.
Lots of things to love about the book. Most of all, I learned a lot. Korean history in the 20th century is something that I just haven't really been exposed to, and this book did a great job in shedding light on some of the more complex aspects of it, while remaining entertaining. I also learned a lot about the story of the working men and women of Korea, and the role their class awareness played in the history of the peninsula overall. The microcosm of events the author delves into (especially the tension between the Korean independence sympathisers on the one hand, and the Koreans collaborating with Japanese occupation) provide fertile ground to understand better the root causes for the split between the Koreas. Fascinating.
The thing I struggled most with was the relatively dry style. I have to admit I'm much more excited about character driven stories, and this one was not. It was difficult for me to read (took almost 3x the time than an average book), and I struggled sometimes to push through. I did find it fundamentally interesting, and I just didn't want to give up on the opportunity. Eventually, the outcome was great, and I'm very happy to have gone through this, but I just can't say it was easy.
The book is a monumental piece of Korean literature, reflecting incredible depth of research, and attuned to the nuances of the national psyche and its root causes. Highly recommended to anyone interested in Korean history, history overall, and how average human beings persist and survive over generations of unrest.
March 16, 2024
MATER 2-10 is both a labor of love and a love letter to the laborers forgotten by Korean history. I loved the comprehensive historical context following railroad workers and the four generations in one family through early Japanese colonization until modern day South Korea.
The author mentioned that this book took him 30 years to write, evident in the expansive historical details and documents in MATER. For readers not as familiar with Korean history, this book provides ample background. Even as a reader who’s more well-versed in Asian history, I still learned a lot from MATER, especially the labor activists and communist movements during Japanese occupation.
However, MATER is at times too didactic in including historical events and sacrifices character/plot. The author tends to include a lot of details, and sometimes after reading those long paragraphs, I forgot where the characters are at with their journey. I also feel the characters are more vectors to convey different ideologies or to demonstrate historical events, rather than being fully-fleshed out individuals. MATER reads like 70% history and 30% fiction—I did find myself dosing off when the writing gets too wiki-like 😅
Overall, MATER’s value lies in its characterization of the Korean labor movement that’s usually left off of history books.
The author mentioned that this book took him 30 years to write, evident in the expansive historical details and documents in MATER. For readers not as familiar with Korean history, this book provides ample background. Even as a reader who’s more well-versed in Asian history, I still learned a lot from MATER, especially the labor activists and communist movements during Japanese occupation.
However, MATER is at times too didactic in including historical events and sacrifices character/plot. The author tends to include a lot of details, and sometimes after reading those long paragraphs, I forgot where the characters are at with their journey. I also feel the characters are more vectors to convey different ideologies or to demonstrate historical events, rather than being fully-fleshed out individuals. MATER reads like 70% history and 30% fiction—I did find myself dosing off when the writing gets too wiki-like 😅
Overall, MATER’s value lies in its characterization of the Korean labor movement that’s usually left off of history books.
March 27, 2024
*International Booker 2024 Longlist*
Any book that opens with the protagonist defecating into a box is going to struggle to appeal to me. It did get better... but not much.
What can I say?
I wanted to like this book but it just wasn't for me. It felt overworked, it was dry, it was often too detailed or too shallow (the balance just felt off). The political message didn't quite land beyond the basic, human reaction of 'that's not good'... I just missed so much emotion in this while it didn't give enough context that I was left feeling that a truely understood the time period or realities of life for any of the characters. I've read better crafted and more moving history books. I hope others enjoy this. The premise was solid but for me this didn't achieve what I hoped it would.
Any book that opens with the protagonist defecating into a box is going to struggle to appeal to me. It did get better... but not much.
What can I say?
I wanted to like this book but it just wasn't for me. It felt overworked, it was dry, it was often too detailed or too shallow (the balance just felt off). The political message didn't quite land beyond the basic, human reaction of 'that's not good'... I just missed so much emotion in this while it didn't give enough context that I was left feeling that a truely understood the time period or realities of life for any of the characters. I've read better crafted and more moving history books. I hope others enjoy this. The premise was solid but for me this didn't achieve what I hoped it would.
September 4, 2024
*International Booker Prize shortlist (last one!!)
This was surprisingly REALLY good. I'm glad I took my time with this book, because I feel like it's gonna stick with me a lot more. The historical part of this book is CRAZY good, like I underlined so many things, did my own research (read Wikipedia pages about people or historical event mentionned). I hadn't realized how poorly I knew Korea's history. And the communist manifesto was pretty convincing honestly (well it's not like i'm hard to convince really). The way the author explains colonialism, war and imperialism with capitalism is brilliant. Hwang Sok-yong does a great job picturing the culture ; food, the families, communism, ideologies, beliefs. And I liked that this was randomly magical realism?!
Some quotes I loved :
"We're bound in two heavy shackles : Japanese colonial oppression and bourgeois social order. I believe that we can solve both problems naturally while fighting the Japanese and inspiring the the working masses to strike."
"I was taught to be kind to people who don't have it easy, sir."
"Worse was the long-winded sophistry about how colonialism was necessary to stabilise East Asia against the US, Britain and other Western powers, and that agression and attacks on other countries sovereignty were supposedly never their intention."
However, I do agree with my buddy reading girlie Alice that the characters in this novel are not terrific. They feel super far away from the reader and quite bland. I also think the chronology was kinda weird? Like it was hard to follow and understand which generation we were in at times.
But, I'd still recommend it to people who like slow books with an heavy historical side (like I do).
8/10
This was surprisingly REALLY good. I'm glad I took my time with this book, because I feel like it's gonna stick with me a lot more. The historical part of this book is CRAZY good, like I underlined so many things, did my own research (read Wikipedia pages about people or historical event mentionned). I hadn't realized how poorly I knew Korea's history. And the communist manifesto was pretty convincing honestly (well it's not like i'm hard to convince really). The way the author explains colonialism, war and imperialism with capitalism is brilliant. Hwang Sok-yong does a great job picturing the culture ; food, the families, communism, ideologies, beliefs. And I liked that this was randomly magical realism?!
Some quotes I loved :
"We're bound in two heavy shackles : Japanese colonial oppression and bourgeois social order. I believe that we can solve both problems naturally while fighting the Japanese and inspiring the the working masses to strike."
"I was taught to be kind to people who don't have it easy, sir."
"Worse was the long-winded sophistry about how colonialism was necessary to stabilise East Asia against the US, Britain and other Western powers, and that agression and attacks on other countries sovereignty were supposedly never their intention."
However, I do agree with my buddy reading girlie Alice that the characters in this novel are not terrific. They feel super far away from the reader and quite bland. I also think the chronology was kinda weird? Like it was hard to follow and understand which generation we were in at times.
But, I'd still recommend it to people who like slow books with an heavy historical side (like I do).
8/10
August 24, 2024
Quite tricky to write a review for this as I am so so interested in the subject matter its difficult to divorce it from the book, while at the same time on paper this sounded like my absolute perfect book and I had extremely high expectations because of that.
I don't think it met those (maybe unrealistic) expectations but it's stil a very very good book which I found both deeply enjoyable and rewarding to read. The book has an incredibly impressive scope and manages to cover huge amounts of political and economic upheaval, over a long period of incredibly impactful Korean history, both at a macro level but also in the small details of normal people's lives. It also manages to keep a really consistent forward moving temp, using historical details and facts to add depth and insights into the narrative without getting too bogged down in them.
However, for me I think this is ultimately why this book is a four and not a five - it covers so much, from so many angles, that I think I would have preferred to linger a little longer with individual characters and really get to watch all these circumstances and situations unfurl in who they are over a longer time and more detail. Doing that would mean this would be at least a 700 page book and I am also aware that is probably a matter of person preference, so I still wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone who has even a passing history in Korean/world/labour movement history at the start of the 20th century and also enjoys that packed up in a well written slightly magical realism-flavoured bundle.
I don't think it met those (maybe unrealistic) expectations but it's stil a very very good book which I found both deeply enjoyable and rewarding to read. The book has an incredibly impressive scope and manages to cover huge amounts of political and economic upheaval, over a long period of incredibly impactful Korean history, both at a macro level but also in the small details of normal people's lives. It also manages to keep a really consistent forward moving temp, using historical details and facts to add depth and insights into the narrative without getting too bogged down in them.
However, for me I think this is ultimately why this book is a four and not a five - it covers so much, from so many angles, that I think I would have preferred to linger a little longer with individual characters and really get to watch all these circumstances and situations unfurl in who they are over a longer time and more detail. Doing that would mean this would be at least a 700 page book and I am also aware that is probably a matter of person preference, so I still wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone who has even a passing history in Korean/world/labour movement history at the start of the 20th century and also enjoys that packed up in a well written slightly magical realism-flavoured bundle.
July 30, 2023
Mater 2-10 - Hwang Sok-yong
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⭐️⭐️
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Don’t get me wrong. This is a very important book with all the important history about Korea under Japan occupation up to Korean war in the 1950s, also about the movement of Communist Party in Korea and how North Korea started
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It was however a mouthful to read. I was undaunted by the size of the book (474 pages, big format) thinking that it would be as enjoyable as Pachinko (also a giant epic around the same timeline), but this one was hard to follow and swallow
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The story started with Jino, in present day Korea, where he was staging a demonstration by staying on chimney and refused to go down because the factory where he worked was sold off and everyone was fired/replaced. The story went flashback several times telling the story about Jino’s ancestors, mainly Jino’s grandfather Ilcheol and grand uncle Icheol who were a railway employee and a communist activist during Japanese occupation.
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There were so many names in this book, making it hard to follow, and the (untranslated) Korean title as well, I understood some “Eomma” meaning mother “Abeoji” meaning father and so on but it would be helpful with translation. All in all, very interesting story but really hard to read
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#mater2-10 #hwangsokyong #koreanauthor #bookstagram #currentlyreading #2023reads #2023readingchallenge
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⭐️⭐️
.
Don’t get me wrong. This is a very important book with all the important history about Korea under Japan occupation up to Korean war in the 1950s, also about the movement of Communist Party in Korea and how North Korea started
.
It was however a mouthful to read. I was undaunted by the size of the book (474 pages, big format) thinking that it would be as enjoyable as Pachinko (also a giant epic around the same timeline), but this one was hard to follow and swallow
.
The story started with Jino, in present day Korea, where he was staging a demonstration by staying on chimney and refused to go down because the factory where he worked was sold off and everyone was fired/replaced. The story went flashback several times telling the story about Jino’s ancestors, mainly Jino’s grandfather Ilcheol and grand uncle Icheol who were a railway employee and a communist activist during Japanese occupation.
.
There were so many names in this book, making it hard to follow, and the (untranslated) Korean title as well, I understood some “Eomma” meaning mother “Abeoji” meaning father and so on but it would be helpful with translation. All in all, very interesting story but really hard to read
.
#mater2-10 #hwangsokyong #koreanauthor #bookstagram #currentlyreading #2023reads #2023readingchallenge
Read
March 23, 2024this was such an epic tale! the personal and political struggles of the generations of a family are set against the backdrop of a century of korean history, from the japanese colonial era, up to present day. as the country changes around the characters, and the characters themselves come and go, one thing remains constant, and that is their plight for fairness and freedom.
i learnt so much about korean history from this book. this is predominantly about the story of the characters in the book, and in the afterword hwang reiterates that they have come from his imagination, but he's giving visiblity to the thousands of nameless people who have fought for their rights; but the historical development of korea features heavily, as well. the storytelling by hwang and the translators is so rich and beautiful. the story is also so dense i found it difficult to read at times, but it was extremely compelling.
i learnt so much about korean history from this book. this is predominantly about the story of the characters in the book, and in the afterword hwang reiterates that they have come from his imagination, but he's giving visiblity to the thousands of nameless people who have fought for their rights; but the historical development of korea features heavily, as well. the storytelling by hwang and the translators is so rich and beautiful. the story is also so dense i found it difficult to read at times, but it was extremely compelling.
May 19, 2024
"they say korea has been through so many twists and turns that one year here is a decade in another country. and ten years here is equal to a century. which means we're all hundreds of years old."
really such a beautiful book, will stick with me forever. very hollowing in a way but also a solemn reminder of the reality of solidarity and change and the painful necessities of organizing for a better future.
really such a beautiful book, will stick with me forever. very hollowing in a way but also a solemn reminder of the reality of solidarity and change and the painful necessities of organizing for a better future.
Read
June 4, 2023"Jitsuyo honi, that's what Japanese bosses are always saying: keep it practical. What they mean by that is compassion, loyalty and all that are garbage, a waste of time. If you can rid of yourself of that nonsense, then your mind will be as clean as an empty room"
April 10, 2024
boleh menang booker. 🫣
April 24, 2024
Did I read a fictional saga of a Korean family or a historical text about working class life in occupied Korea. It was hard to tell.
February 21, 2024
Hwang Sok-yong, the author of Mater 2-10, weaves a deep and poetic history of the industrial working class of Korea. Mater 2-10 is a type of train carriage that was introduced in Korea in the early 1900s. The story is set in Yeongdeungpo, a district within the big Seoul city. A large portion of the novel is about the Japanese occupation of Korea. The author gives a broad account of the the Korean Independence struggle, the workers' movement, and the birth of both North and South Koreas through the personal stories of a family of rail workers. It brought several new insights about the Korean Independence movement and workers' part in it.
That ordinary workers rose up against oppression, arming themselves with knowledge and solidarity, is the focus throughout the novel. Railroads were built with the blood and sweat of the workers and peasants of Korea, as the author says poignantly at one place. Koreans lost their land and were made to hate each other during the occupation. The struggle continues to the present day and the novel navigates between the past and the present to bring these continuities. While the past struggles were against imperalism, the current struggle is against the more home-grown Capitalists, who do not honour the dignity of the workers.
I really liked this short exchange between two characters:
"... but why does our family only ever side with the losers and never the winners?
What, you don’t like siding with the weaker folk?’
Of course not. All we do is get hurt!
The wrinkles around his grandmother’s eyes had grown even deeper as she smiled widely and said, ‘It always looks like you’re losing at first, but in the end, the weak are destined to win. It’s just frustrating that it takes so long, is all.’
Then she added, ‘If you live long enough, you figure this all out. Everyone else knows it, too. They just don’t like to show it.’"
That ordinary workers rose up against oppression, arming themselves with knowledge and solidarity, is the focus throughout the novel. Railroads were built with the blood and sweat of the workers and peasants of Korea, as the author says poignantly at one place. Koreans lost their land and were made to hate each other during the occupation. The struggle continues to the present day and the novel navigates between the past and the present to bring these continuities. While the past struggles were against imperalism, the current struggle is against the more home-grown Capitalists, who do not honour the dignity of the workers.
I really liked this short exchange between two characters:
"... but why does our family only ever side with the losers and never the winners?
What, you don’t like siding with the weaker folk?’
Of course not. All we do is get hurt!
The wrinkles around his grandmother’s eyes had grown even deeper as she smiled widely and said, ‘It always looks like you’re losing at first, but in the end, the weak are destined to win. It’s just frustrating that it takes so long, is all.’
Then she added, ‘If you live long enough, you figure this all out. Everyone else knows it, too. They just don’t like to show it.’"
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