Nowhere to Be Found

The translator did a wonderful job of relaying the writer's words. Perhaps because the depth of the human psyche, in terms of portraying a great emotional disconnect, was aptly rendered. Well, of course this is my subjective opinion. To be sure, this wonderful translation is due, in large part, to Bae being an exceptional writer.Bae’s story telling skills in _Nowhere to Be Found_ demonstrate one adept at challenging the notion of complacency, blind acceptance, and sleepwalking through life, so to speak. I found this novella to be a blend of reality and a touch of surrealism that frames the protagonist’s journey into and around her quest to grapple with her existence. Superb!

This was a very interesting read. Very short, which you can get through in a couple of hours. It was interesting to get into particularly since I haven't read many books that provide an Asian perspective. While I am glad that it was short (the story is a little depressing) it would have been interesting if the author had provided more of a backstory about how and why the family ended up in their predicament. I would recommend it if you're looking for something short but somewhat engrossing to read.

The protagonist of Nowhere to Be Found is a young woman living in urban Korea, who eventually finds a way, more or less, of being a young woman living in urban Korea. She is marginalized during the 1980s democracy movement and the concurrent economic boom, both events highly mythologized in Korea's social and literary discourse. This is the personal side of that myth: a story of how one woman navigates her situation and feelings in order to survive this marginalization, abandonment, and loneliness,and how she emerges on the other side as a cold but resilient member of that urban society. I read it as the story of so many of the people you see on the subway in Seoul, the people who politely avoid looking at each other, refrain from wearing loud colors, and go about their business of living, thinking their private thoughts.Bae Suah (family name Bae, given name Suah) is not interested in providing the reader with a cozy, neat reading. She is concerned with providing a good one. She succeeds. Any reading, including mine, is likely to be "unsafe," and somehow I feel that is how it should be.

Great delivery, the book came in perfect shape.

I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in Korean literature. Bae Suah writers very well about alienation poverty and loneliness. Highly recommended

This is a beautiful story and I'm so happy it's been translated into English.

The narrative is a bit confusing, but it does portray a striking world of loneliness, hopelessness, and vulnerability.

Was not worth my time to read it.

'Nowhere to be Found' is, essentially, a novella without much of a plot but in possession of a theme or two - loneliness, abandonment for starters - and blessed with the kind of twist you'll likely not see coming, one that will stick with you for a while. It only takes a short afternoon to read from start to finish, and if you get it for the low price that amazon are listing it at, it's good value for money. I'd probably rate it at four stars had it been longer.

Very interesting and fast read, book in excellent condition and arrived very quickly.

This novella is like a sequence of scenes, rather than a complete story, but was enjoyable, if a little confusing?

Beautiful, poetic and full of meaning.

Ho comprato il libro in quanto mi è stato suggerito da una collega amante di Murakami.Se da un lato è ben visibile il link nello stile e nei temi dei due autori, l'immaginario offerto da Bae Suah mostra una sensibilità tipica coreana. Al posto dell'alienazione, rifuggita tramite arte, che tende ad uno scenario mite, subentra una ruvida realtà che penetra finanche nell'immaginario quotidiano che la protagonista utilizza per sfuggire all'alienazione. Il movimento è incessante, stancante, e porta ad una sorta di abbandono allo scorrere del tempo che non offre positive vie d'uscita.Ho adorato il libro. Da questo sono passata alla lettura di altre opere dell'autrice, anch'esse rivelatesi notevoli.Il libro è arrivato dall'UK nei tempi previsti, ben confezionato e con l'aggiunta molto apprezzata di un adorabile segnalibro.