New Literature Releases for June 19

Poet Jo Seong-rae's latest collection, "Sunlight Reflection," marks his return after two years since "Heaven Dictionary." The new work is imbued with the "sleepless" sentiments of youth. Poems like "Only the world of my own / Liked me so much // That it followed me around like my shadow //…// Poor me now / Watches the well-fed me // That bastard, he doesn't fall for it at all //…" are featured, alongside an essay, totaling 43 poems and one essay. The collection is published by Munhakdongne.

Shin Yu-jin, a translator of French literature, presents "Cracking Me," an exploration of literary worlds through the works of masters like Marguerite Duras, Albert Camus, Daniel Pennac, Annie Ernaux, and Hélène Cixous. Shin reconstructs her own identity as a reader by engaging with these authors. The book includes appendices such as a "playlist for resisting oblivion" and "advice for translators," offering valuable insights for those interested in literary translation and interpretation.

"Human Declaration Homo Duduri," a limited edition for this year's Seoul International Book Fair, addresses the theme of "Human Declaration: Homo Duduri," questioning human uniqueness in the age of artificial intelligence. Writer Kim Yeon-su details the process and context of writing the theme statement in collaboration with AI, showcasing the diverse and clear intersections between AI and creativity. The collection also features eight poems and four short stories by ten different authors, including Kang Hwa-gil and Ahn Tae-un, under this theme.

Jung Serang's new essay collection, "I Will Be Your Reader," is her first collection of essays and writing theory in five years. The book, which was almost titled "If You Read It, You Must Write," offers concrete advice on "how to write" and "the writing life," with subheadings like "Misconceptions about Creation That Hinder Starting," "Characters That Seem Alive and Their Names," and "How Much Should You Engage in Activities Other Than Writing?" It serves as an invitation to those who ponder sentences.

"Growing Out," by Akutagawa Prize-winning author Takase Junko, tackles themes of hair loss and societal anxieties. The story centers on Machika, who was self-conscious about her thin hair. In an era where a "hair loss epidemic" has spread, making thinning hair a shared experience, Machika is surprised to find her hair growing thick and black. The novel uses this unique premise to explore human psychology and the complex inner workings of society.

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Only the world of my own/ Liked me so much// That it followed me around like my shadow//…// Poor me now/ Watches the well-fed me// That bastard, he doesn't fall for it at all//…