BOOK BRIEF

The White Book

Han Kang, Transl. Deborah Smith
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The White Book

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 2019

Book Brief

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Han Kang, Transl. Deborah Smith

The White Book

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 2019
Book Details
Pages

160

Format

Short Story • Fiction

Setting

Warsaw • Contemporary

Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The White Book by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith, is a meditative exploration of grief, loss, and the color white. The narrator reflects on her own experiences and those of her deceased older sister, using white objects as touchstones for her thoughts and stories. The text intertwines personal narrative and poetic imagery.

Reviews & Readership

4.1

18,979 ratings

66%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Han Kang's The White Book, translated by Deborah Smith, presents readers with a poetic meditation on grief, memory, and the color white. Reviews highlight its lyrical prose and emotional depth, while some critique its abstract narrative structure as potentially alienating. Overall, it is praised for its evocative imagery and introspective themes.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The White Book?

A reader who found solace in The Vegetarian by Han Kang or Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood will likely appreciate The White Book. This introspective narrative, marked by poetic prose and deep reflections on grief and memory, appeals to those drawn to contemplative literature and profound emotional explorations.

4.1

18,979 ratings

66%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

160

Format

Short Story • Fiction

Setting

Warsaw • Contemporary

Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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