[Book Sip] ‘Bad Boy’ Heo Yeon’s ‘Neoege Sishihan Gibuneun Eopda’

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of the book itself, while others instantly reach the reader's heart, creating a point of connection with the book. We introduce such meaningful sentences excerpted from the book. - Editor's note

This is Heo Yeon's first autobiographical essay, who rarely reveals himself unless writing poetry. Although he has published prose collections over the past 20 years since his debut, most of them were guides to classical works or books that serve as commentaries to deepen understanding of classics. This book selectively compiles aphorisms and short and long prose pieces written over the past decade or so in various media such as newspaper columns, magazines, and social networks. These writings show the course of his life while also revealing another history of his efforts not to be swept away by the flow of the world.

원본보기 아이콘

"The river has the virtue of not asking about the past. It silently carries everything that comes to it to the sea. It does not ask why it came or where it came from. It just takes everything to the sea. The river is consistent whether it receives praise or criticism. It silently crosses the city." (p. 37)

"Trees, despite the fate of not being able to change their standing place, do not hesitate even to sacrifice their growth to maintain the formal spacing allowed to each other. (Omitted) I do not trust people who come close, lean on me, and whisper. I prefer those who acknowledge and respect the boundaries between each other, the demilitarized zones between people." (p. 38)

"The lit windows of the night train cutting through the dark world are each a screen. Inside the screen, sometimes there are heartbreaking stories, sometimes joyful stories. Victors appear, and failures appear. Dramas of longing unfold, and dramas of hatred unfold. The lit windows of the night train are screens of life." (p. 67)

"Those who discuss the weight of pain are amateurs. Pain is absolutely personal to the one who suffers. No one else can ever feel pain on my behalf. This is why it is impossible to compare the degrees of pain experienced by different people. Everyone is doing their best to endure pain." (p. 85)

No Trivial Feelings for You | Written by Heo Yeon | Minumsa | 296 pages | 16,000 KRW

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.