The novel is a meditative exploration of life, loss, and the color white, as the narrator reflects on her own existence and the death of her older sister, who died shortly after birth. Through a series of vignettes, the narrator contemplates various white objects and phenomena, such as snow, rice, and swaddling bands, using them as a lens to examine themes of grief, memory, and the ephemeral nature of life. The narrative weaves together personal history and philosophical musings, creating a poignant and introspective journey that blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination.
The 12174th greatest book of all time
Han Kang was born in 1970 in South Korea. She is the author of The Vegetarian, winner of the International Booker Prize, as well as Human Acts, The White Book, Greek Lessons, and We Do Not Part. In 2024, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.”
Read more
