Overview

Book Title: We Do Not Part
Author: Han Kang
Published: 2021 (Korean), 2023 (English translation)
Genre: Literary Fiction

Key Themes

  • Family relationships and generational bonds
  • Memory and the past
  • Absence and presence
  • Communication and disconnection
  • The nature of separation and togetherness

Summary/Reflection

Something was lost in translation for sure in the Chinese version. But the middle part was immersive and captivating. I was in the book with the character and felt the stress from the history, the cold winter night, and the wind. There is a worrying feeling that the character might die at any moment. In the end, I think it suggests that they might both be dead in the cold nights as a relief from the heavy history they’ve memorized—or it could all be just a bad dream. The birds seem to imply the fragility of life.

The history was heavy and the truth was beyond reasoning. Humans can inflict immense harm on our peers just because of suspicion with no evidence and completely nonsensical reasons—just the thought that you might do me harm or have a different ideology is enough to justify killing you. Not just you, but your family and anyone I can find who is related to you.