Reading Han Kang's books! (Nobel Prize in Literature 2024)

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to South Korean novelist Han Kang for her “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” In this video I go over my thoughts on her three main books: The Vegetarian, The White Book, and Human Acts!

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The Vegetarian: 1:01
For a Nobel Prize-winning horror novel, ‘The Vegetarian’ sure is boring.
5 or 6/10

The White Book: 8:16
‘The White Book’ is not as unique as it thinks it is.
5/10

Human Acts: 11:21
‘Human Acts’ overcomes its author’s slow writing style by being energetic, specific, and brutal.
7/10

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Thanks for watching, and remember: I love meat.

#nobelprize #nobelprizeliterature #hankang #nobelprize2024 #booktube #booktuber #book #thevegetarian

[thehub]

I couldn't get into the Vegetarian (I'm a woman too at that, not that it should matter, but considering the subject matter of the book, felt important to just put this info out there). I tried so hard to even just understand the book. Everyone lauds it so much. But I agree with you, it felt almost like a comedic exaggeration, but considering that it was being serious, it felt almost pretentious. Idk. I 100% agree with your criticism with it as well. My experience with the Vegetarian made me hesitant to read her further. But after she won the Nobel, I felt almost obligated to give her another try.

[nathansnook]

how timely! i've got Human Acts for the weekend and loved your thoughts on it. The Vegetarian sounds bonkers 😵‍💫

[jonnyvanderhorst]

There are actually 11 novels (and also some short stories and essay collections) in Korean, but only 4 have been translated (yet)

[onshnrisk]

You are wrong if you assume that the Booker prize influences the Swedish Academy. Traditionally, the Booker prize is compared in Sweden to the Swedish August Prize which is for "simpler", more commercial and broad literature. The Nobel Prize is supposed to award authors who are on a higher level than that. Interestingly, the award to Han Kang has come under withering criticism by Swedish literary critics (including former members of the Nobel committee) which would suggest that the Swedish Academy is probably deeply split. In her defense, the academy highlighted two books (the one you liked, and the one not yet translated into English).

[benreadsgood]

Damn you are good at reviewing books.

Tend to agree on The Vegetarian (will be reviewing it soon).

I do wonder if the ‘poetic prose’ thing could be to do with the version read by the judges… maybe it’s better in the Swedish translation? But then she did win the IBP so 🤷‍♂️

[bronteeZ]

As a person that gets bored very easily, thank you for saving my time

[ianp]

I agree with you that Human Acts is a powerful little book and well worth anyone’s time.

[Raulgermont]

You might be the only book critic that's worth listening to.

[blipsontheradar]

in the post announcement interview, someone asked a committee member which book they would recommend most, and they recommended Human Acts, so maybe this decision mostly came down to that book

[pninpnin]

I think that the Nobel prize has become insignificant for many years now. True literary giants such as Joyce, Joseph Conrad, Virginia Woolf or Nabokov never received it. A lot of writers who did get it are forgotten and deservedly so. I do believe that many people would be unable to say who got it last year. Not that it really matters anyway. By the way, I enjoyed your review.

[jonnyvanderhorst]

Also I think you are reading to deep into The Vegetarian. Its not a realistic novel, more a Bartleby like parabel, I believe. But I agree its not her best work. Human acts is way better and I just started We do not part (in Dutch translation) and I think its gonna be a banger.

[HanKangofficial]

원더풀 독자 여러분,
제 작업에 대한 여러분의 성원과 열정에 진심으로 감사의 말씀을 전하고 싶습니다. 여러분의 말과 격려가 매일 저에게 영감을 줍니다. 저와 함께 이 여정에 동참해 주셔서 감사합니다. 이렇게 열정적인 독자들이 있다는 것에 진심으로 감사드립니다. 진심으로 감사드립니다,
한강

[yenasung]

Omg you’re so fast! I think it’s most likely a political decision giving her the nobel as she’s black listed by her own govt for being a liberal feminist and airing dirty laundry ie human acts, and her winning is essentially the western world siding with her and allowing more of her books to get translated for the rest of the world to read. So a big yay for feminists and queers!

[AnSe]

Thanks for saving me time and money. 😃

[tonybennett]

OK, it's quite good that an author with a popular book has been awarded the prize but I can't deny, I'm disappointed. I read The Vegetarian, and I think I got what she was trying to do, but I found it very clumsily executed, and not involving. I reject that I cannot understand it because I am a Westerner and a man, as I have read plenty of literature by women authors from different cultures who succeed in allowing you under the skin of their characters. I prefer to read more of them than Han Kang.

[absurdistoxymoron]

Another excellent video. It seemed to pretty much confirm my suspicions (that Human Acts is the one work of hers that sounds like it will appeal to me and that she was a disappointing choice since it seems like she is only just starting to enter into a unique style). Also, I'm always impressed by the speed with which you read

[leopercara]

There is a book critic who said her books are just premises, stretched out to novel form. I would guess that's why they feel so aimless and empty, but I'll try Human Acts someday. But we have always had mediocre authors winning everything and becoming household names (Hemingway, Faulkner, Knausgard, etc).