tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886297229934036.post1627607316979965779..comments2020-07-21T07:02:26.746-04:00Comments on Reading Korea: Korea, the Impossible Country by Daniel Tudor (2012)T.K. (Ask a Korean!)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886297229934036.post-48065102306370388942013-10-30T05:21:42.923-04:002013-10-30T05:21:42.923-04:00I loved this book. I had it out of the library, b...I loved this book. I had it out of the library, but it was so good that I will buy it. I have been reading, eating and absorbing Korean culture for several years now, in spite of not knowing anyone Korean, and there is a limit to what yo can learn at a Korean supermarket, through pop music and K-drama. But it provides a kind of cultural immersion without context. Mr. Tudor provides the context, and a lot of what I knew fell into place through his writing.<br /><br />His writing style is a pleasure to read. There is no academic pretension, no proselytizing, no defensive posturing. He does his best to give an honest and balanced account of a multitude of topics and to give back-story as to why things are as they are. Since TK has positive things to say about the content, I believed most of what I read. <br /><br />The explanation of han [한] and the feeling of joy that permeates Korean culture was especially important to me. Korean poetry, which I can enjoy sadly only in translation, is very important to me, and these terms helped me understand why Korean poetry speaks to me in a way that no other does. but enough about that, since TK has a ban on poetry in this blog! <br /><br />Thanks both to Mr. Tudor for writing a delightful book and to TK for bringing it to our attention. I have recommended that my local library purchase it. Judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01776605762260245516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886297229934036.post-52051309215960582862013-10-07T06:29:48.929-04:002013-10-07T06:29:48.929-04:00I just purchased this book! Waiting in anticipatio...I just purchased this book! Waiting in anticipation for it to arrive :) The Superherohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10389231560353044357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886297229934036.post-18850056153443625232013-09-16T05:48:03.788-04:002013-09-16T05:48:03.788-04:00I read Korea, the Impossible Country after having ...I read Korea, the Impossible Country after having lived in Korea for five years and marrying a Korean woman. I was surprised by how insightful the book was and how unaware I was of many things Korean. My wife and her family were also surprised. A foreigner wrote this? Scary.<br /><br />While I don't like the tired phrase, "THIS IS REQUIRED READING!", I would suggest this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Korea. I thought I knew Korea fairly well, but I'm realizing that there is much more I need to learn.<br /><br />Until I am able to read Korean at a higher level, books like these are where I get most of my solid information about Korea.<br /><br />Tom Sobriquethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09939896625788504010noreply@blogger.com