[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"work-reviews-detail-whale-a-masterpiece-of-modern-korean-fiction-9uzh":3,"work-reviews-list-whale-a-masterpiece-of-modern-korean-fiction-9uzh":107},{"id":4,"slug":5,"title":6,"original_title":7,"description":8,"first_publish_year":9,"original_language":10,"primary_cover_url":11,"cover_3d_url":12,"cover_blurhash":13,"preferred_edition_id":7,"community_rating_avg":14,"community_rating_count":15,"page_count":16,"estimated_reading_minutes":17,"shelves_added_this_week":18,"enrichment_status":19,"community_depth_avg":7,"community_momentum_avg":7,"community_atmosphere_avg":7,"community_craft_avg":7,"community_impact_avg":7,"community_spice_avg":7,"is_non_fiction":20,"is_romance":20,"is_indexable":21,"rating_distribution":22,"authors":23,"genres":35,"characters":48,"places":63,"subjects":70,"series":78,"editions":79,"enrichment":89,"community_distribution":7,"default_edition":104,"faqs":105,"reviews_count":15,"contributions_count":18,"quotes_count":18,"photos_count":18,"created_at":106},"01kr82gk5zeb7v5b5v0pwhjnf8","whale-a-masterpiece-of-modern-korean-fiction-9uzh","Whale A Masterpiece of Modern Korean Fiction",null,"In a remote South Korean village, a series of bizarre events unfold, from a mother selling her daughter for honey to a storm revealing a hidden fortune. This satirical adventure follows the intertwined lives of Geumbok, who chases an elusive thrill after a whale sighting, her mute daughter Chunhui, who communicates with elephants, and a one-eyed woman with a unique control over honeybees.",2023,"ko","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.seekquel.app\u002Fstorage\u002Fcovers\u002Feditions\u002F01\u002F01kr82gkmj42j5g30zh2q3hen7.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.seekquel.app\u002Fstorage\u002Fcovers\u002Fworks-3d\u002F01\u002F01kr82gk5zeb7v5b5v0pwhjnf8.png?v=64399e5f78","LDFicT?d$_00DPNK%LjEV?I8%i?w","4.00",1,368,418,0,"pending",false,true,[18,18,18,18,18,18,18,15,18,18],[24,30],{"id":25,"slug":26,"name":27,"role":28,"bio":29},"01kr82gkm9ej29a0ypecff37js","cheon-myeong-kwan-ql0s","Cheon Myeong-kwan","author","Cheon Myeong-kwan is a Korean author recognized for his distinctive voice in contemporary fiction. His novel, *Whale*, is a notable example of his work, showcasing his unique storytelling.",{"id":31,"slug":32,"name":33,"role":28,"bio":34},"01kr82gkmcpxd69khkd97bfr0m","myeong-kwan-cheong-td90","Myeong-Kwan Cheong","Myeong-Kwan Cheong is a Korean author known for his distinctive literary style. His work includes \"Whale,\" a notable example of modern Korean fiction. He writes stories that often explore unusual characters and situations.",[36,40,44],{"id":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"is_fiction":21},22,"Magical Realism","magical-realism",{"id":41,"name":42,"slug":43,"is_fiction":21},9,"Literary Fiction","literary-fiction",{"id":45,"name":46,"slug":47,"is_fiction":21},10,"Folklore","folklore",[49,53,56,60],{"id":50,"name":51,"description":7,"role":52,"is_spoiler":20},"01kr82gkn433da2bkyah4skn3a","Geumbok","protagonist",{"id":54,"name":55,"description":7,"role":52,"is_spoiler":20},"01kr82gkn6nd7gbyn4km898h1t","Chunhui",{"id":57,"name":58,"description":7,"role":59,"is_spoiler":20},"01kr82gkn8q501vjeeh93wqz8t","one-eyed woman","supporting",{"id":61,"name":62,"description":7,"role":59,"is_spoiler":20},"01kr82gkna45e3jh01mknkq8x0","beekeeper",[64,67],{"id":65,"name":66,"description":7,"is_fictional":20,"real_world_location":7},"01kk44p91qrzw5xe41sqym55fh","South Korea",{"id":68,"name":69,"description":7,"is_fictional":20,"real_world_location":7},"01kp5y6t39xmv19y2ghw1x1nj5","remote village",[71,75],{"id":72,"name":73,"type":74},"01kjq72txjfxret4ts3c16fqsh","Language Arts & Disciplines","subject",{"id":76,"name":77,"type":74},"01kjwtcd93ak69pz4knye9m8h6","Linguistics",[],[80],{"id":81,"title":6,"edition_name":7,"format":82,"format_label":83,"page_count":16,"audio_duration_minutes":7,"narrator":7,"publish_date":84,"cover_url":11,"cover_blurhash":13,"isbn_13":85,"asin":7,"publisher":86,"language":87,"quality_score":45,"submission_status":88},"01kr82gkmj42j5g30zh2q3hen7","paperback","Paperback","2023","9781787704336","Europa Editions, Incorporated","en","approved",{"summary":8,"pace":90,"complexity":91,"complexity_score":92,"audience":93,"mood":94,"themes":99,"setting_period":102,"content_warnings":103},"moderate","dense",7,"adult",[95,96,97,98],"satirical","whimsical","adventurous","funny",[100,101],"family-saga","quest","Contemporary",[],{"id":81,"title":6,"edition_name":7,"format":82,"format_label":83,"page_count":16,"audio_duration_minutes":7,"publish_date":84,"cover_url":11,"cover_blurhash":13,"isbn_13":85,"asin":7,"publisher":86,"language":87},[],"2026-05-10T04:32:17.000000Z",{"data":108,"links":119,"meta":120},[109],{"id":110,"slug":111,"title":112,"user":7,"work_id":4,"is_draft":20,"verified_reader":21,"featured":20,"body":113,"overall_rating":114,"depth":7,"momentum":7,"atmosphere":7,"craft":7,"impact":7,"spice":7,"spoiler_level":115,"locale":7,"feed_item_key":116,"like_count":18,"comment_count":18,"top_likers":117,"viewer_can_reply":20,"created_at":118,"updated_at":118},"01kr82gn1b7z7mqngcw0p1kz11","review-of-whale-a-masterpiece-of-modern-korean-fiction-by-deleted-258","Review of \"Whale A Masterpiece of Modern Korean Fiction\" by deleted_258","Written with a multi-generational theme, Whale was told in fairytale-like narrative with historical backdrop set in both pre and post Korean War. Started with the post-prison days of Chunhui, I was brought to unfold the past of an ambitious Geumbok; Chunhui’s mother who was known to build a fortune with her persistence and business minded character in the rural Pyeongdae after years of misfortunes from her past lives as a mistress to a man with the scar and a ‘monster’ dockworker husband. \n\nIt was plotted with a reflection of culture and deeply highlighted on domestic conflicts and drama; of one’s identity (societal expectations, genderbend, psychological related), morality, desire and hardship with an insightful perspective of social and politics that intriguingly grasped a cinematic rise and fall of a village and its people. I love the characterization the most esp the characters’ exposition and their execution (even for secondaries)— cunningly flawed, unreliable yet so addictively explored. Not really fond with the one-eyed woman character but I do find the old crone’s story that enthralling much for her wicked personality (even after death!).\n\nLove-hate for the plot execution and progress esp with Geumbok’s narrative; perhaps the way it was structured with short back and forth subchapters and alternating timelines\u002Fperspectives felt a bit detached(?) to me. The magical and surreal attributes to the setting can be enticing, love Chunhui’s narrative the most for this (although that part 3 left me with a heart-rending epilogues). That whale related metaphor and architectural parts were absorbing— it fascinates me to see how those twist of fates passed by through Chunhui’s eyes. \n\nI enjoyed the read although I don’t find it memorable much for a literary fic, a great catch nevertheless as the plot was not really that heavy or hard to grasp; an epic journey for the theme if you’re into a profound and dark slice-of-life story. Congrats to be longlisted in the International Booker 2023, Whale! \n\nThank you Times Reads for sending me a copy to review!",4,"none","rv-01kr82gn1b7z7mqngcw0p1kz11",[],"2026-05-10T04:32:18.000000Z",{"first":7,"last":7,"prev":7,"next":7},{"path":121,"per_page":122,"next_cursor":7,"prev_cursor":7,"has_more":20},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.seekquel.app\u002Fapi\u002Fworks\u002F01kr82gk5zeb7v5b5v0pwhjnf8\u002Freviews",20]