Javabeans, did you walk into a bookstore to purchase the book or did you buy it online? It's hard for me to find Korean books here in M'sia.

JB,

Some writers are naturally gifted at writing, but to say "naturally gifted" sort of ignores the infinite hours a writer actually spentds editing and re-reading and writing and practicing and thinking and re-writing, and then re-writing. I guess there is a bit of both needed to be really good.

I think writing is probably the hardest thing there is, because it requires all of one's talent and potential, and on top of that, it requires all of one's dedication and energy over a long period of time. As for me, being somewhat scatter-brained by default and also being in a digital age that nutures and coddles short-attention spans, it is difficult for me to put together enough time and effort to come up with something that others would find worthwhile reading. (that said, belleza, i'd love to collaborate with you on your book about how to turn nerds into oppas, lol)

It is a true wonder that Gu Hye-sun published around her busy schedule at all. I am so impressed by her work ethic and creativity. Much props to her, much kudos, and what she has done in her short life span, well, I can't say that I can look at my life and compare. That said, one of my biggest pet peeves is the lack of polished editing in things that I read.

JB, how difficult is the Korean to read (say, could a person with an elementary school child's ability be able read it)? The book is on sale....http://www.hanbooks.com... $17-ish + s/h...might be worth a try...?

Yes, I was wondering the same thing! :)

Havn't read the book but i'm going to take your word for it because i trust your ratings.
I was skeptical from the beginning when i heard Gu would be publishing a book.
I just feel like it's awfully selfish of her to just take advantage of her instant fame
to call herself an author/designer/singer and suddenly become or more like trying to be all of those things so randomly, so spontaneiously. I just feel like she's one of those stars that shot up one day and she's taking every second of it to milk every drop she can while she can.
I heard her so-so singing ability and i also saw her mediocre illustrations...from what i saw thus far of her work, none of it were good enough to showcase them in my opinion but good for her to keep as a hobby. So i believe Javabeans on Gu's book. I'm not gonna go waste my money on a lousy novel just because it's written by the so-popular 'Flowers before Boy's' star. Anyway, thanks for giving us your honest opinion.

@5, hmmm... -

Not to defend Gu Hye Sun, I am sure she needs no defending and wouldn't appreciate it anyway, but JB did not say that her book was lousy (JB said the book was "not bad" (twice). Doesn't "not bad' mean the opposite of "bad"?).

But yeah, I agree, that GHS probably maximized her chances at promotion by releasing said book with the culmination of Boys Before Flowers, but you can't blame her for that? Wouldn't you do the same thing? Plus, unless your Korean ability is really good, then reading a bit of "light" reading might be helpful....

And finally, JB has a somewhat "refined" take on things. I think that JB is a little more "advanced" (I don't know the words here that are adequate, but the closest I can come up with are words like "refined" and "advanced", basically JB is higher up on the food chain than the bottom dwellers like me) in her likes and dislikes than many newbs on matters of Korean popular culture and entertainment. So it is possible that JB might find things to be plain jane and boring that others might be excited to see and read, if only because the others haven't seen things like that before. I've never read a book like GHS's before, since all I've ever read are little kid's books in Korean and ultra ultra ultra boring Korean college textbooks that have ultra boring essays about Chul Soo and Mi Kyung... boy I hate those guys.

All that said, it is still a difficult thing to spent $25 or so (including tax and s/h) on a book that you have never read or even seen, if you have to buy it online. My personal ulterior motives are to better my Korean and learn more about the current psyche of Korea and Koreans, so, I would gain even if the book weren't to my liking.

Hm...I might have to try giving this a read. If only that I'm sick of reading children's books in Korean. There's a really crappy selection in my city. I'm not sure the story appeals to me, but anything that's more complicated than "Momma, do you love me?" will suit me just fine!

Is there a translated version? Some of us are still on the Rosetta Stone program...err Level 1.

Oh ya, just remembered reading that the book comes with 40 of Gu's own illustrations, but you didn't comment about those in this entry. Are the drawings merely doodling or do they actually compliment the story / text?

@Eros...hehe i don't think i can read the book either. :-(

She always looks so much better in 'stills' than on screen.

JB, I'd have to agree with you here. The whole page is just an endless circle of repetition. Maybe Gu thought it sounded sophisticated and deep that way... My money could be better spent elsewhere.

It reads more like its written for spoken word or poetry. I saw a couple of pages of the book and it has that feel to it.

LOL.

It's still better than reading about the latest adventures of Chul Soo, and finding our hero on an airplane bound for Korea, window seat or aisle?, being asked whether he has been on a plane before by a slightly older gentleman, and then Chul Soo finds out that the seat in front of him has a baby that won't stop crying but he doesn't mind because he is excited about his first trip to Korea.... omg shoot me now.

I'll take "Coffee, yes or no, coffee i don't know how to drink it or why, oh the pain, oh why coffee..." over "Choo Soo goes to Korea," every day of the week.

And there's a realism aspect to this. Chul Soo is so fake I can't even begin to describe my feelings toward him. He's a total faker who obviously has emotional issues. At least GHS is real in her confusion....

Wow, I couldn't even get through reading the paragraph you just furnished. But good for her for finding the time to publish this during filming BOF because I know I would be scrounging up what little time I have to sleep, or in other cases, expressing my anger over the lack of sleep.

I can totally understand the frustration reading an entire book like that. At first, the writing sounds poetic; I even like the brief statements and repetitions. But halfway through the first chapter, it just becomes painful to read.

@hmmm
While GHS has numbers of dramas under her belt, I only seen her from the latest 2 dramas (Strongest Chil Woo & Boys Before Flower). I heard praises for her good acting in The King & I but she did not wow me over in Chil Woo & Boys Before Flower (I'm not fond of the cutesy acting)

That said, she has good attitude and was the most hardworking on that BBF cast. I saw her art illustrations for this book & quite like it (way better than Kim Hyun Joong's Coach canvas bag design, don't you think?) ;-)

Can't blame if she's taking full advantage of the popular series (so do her co-stars)
Whether she's master of all crafts (be it actress, singer, film director or designer ), I still give her props for trying.

wow... that chapter you posted is really...angsty...
I don't really go for angsty stuff unless it's really well written, and this chapter, definitely not.
As for actors or celebrities venturing into other fields like this, I'll always take it with a pinch of salt.
There are exceptions though. Tablo's book was a really good read for me.

Thanks for the music. All the versions are good tho' I have always had a thing for Portuguese style of singing....so mellow.

@samsooki.............Have you read Paul Yoon? Nothing against GHS. I just feel real writers need to be read and supported.

i donno know but just feel F4 and her are overrated too much due to the instant frame from BOF. Her writing skills, acting and singing are ok but sorry to say that it's not brillant though...

meanwhile, i just finished reading the one from tablo and will give an "A" on it..

javabeans, reading ur translation, i agree, it's emo. something like a blogger would write on an emo day. A blogger. That's right. The staccato-ness and the emo is exactly blog-like.

i would say, from that translated excerpt, it's not a bad attempt. but yes, i would throw my hands up in frustration just trying to read the whole book written this way. though for a non-Korean like me, it is good to improve in this language a bit, no?

@Orchid: yeah, I'd probably have to read first page using a very long time. though for it's staccato-ish statements, it might be easier, no?

@Samsooki:
I agree. Writing is HARD WORK. It requires one to just really sit down, oblivious to the world outside and spend hours and hours at it. I'm amazed at JB's skill and how she can churn out articles with her wit and insight daily. Maybe that's because she had much practice. Even writing comments here I had to reread and rewrite three four times. And that's still not perfect. :S

@ Samsooki,
ummm i didn't state that Javabeans said it's a lousy book at all. JB did say it wasn't impressing, that isn't bad, that it was blah, and isn't literary, and oh not to forget mentioning that Gu really need help with editing---which to ME sounds like a lousy book. No problem that you are probably one of Gu's biggest fans so maybe that alone will shield her from criticisms. Oh and btw, i do read korean novels all the time, no need to recommend me 'light' reading. lol.
And to answer your question, no i would never do the same thing as Gu if i were in her shoes. Not everyone's the same and not everyone thinks like you~ you should know better.

@JB,

Thanks for the recommendations! I have no idea where I will turn to next, or what I will read or what I will watch or listen to, but there's only one way to learn and to discover, and that's to energetically throw yourself into it.

I almost feel like I am turning back time a bit, and I am finding out that all those terrible bloody battles that I fought when I was a kid, trying to figure out who I am, those battles... I never resolved them. All I did was push those battles off to the side as I tried to fulfill everybody else's expectations of who I should be. That time is done, and now perhaps it is Samsooki's Spring. lol.

Now, things are bright and shiny and new, and everything tastes good. But as I learn to differentiate, to see that some things are better than others, that some things are more geared toward the feminine, more toward the masculine (whatever that means, and however that translates culturally), more toward the old or the young, I have to figure out what to do with that information, and how to filter that information from the korean back into whatever it is that I think that I am.

GHS' work might not be a masterpiece of korean literature, but she writes like a person who is struggling to form her identity, and I connect with that.

@20, sonam -

Paul Yoon, funny, I just read a blurb about him in the NY Times not a few days ago. Haven't read anything by him, but given the reviews that are out there and his cred, he seems a little bit too deep for me, truth be known.

Dramabeans, you are so funny!! Perhaps, she needs to ask a "Chulso" to write on her behalf. ^_______^

@23 hmmm...

Woah... where'd that come from? What's with the hostility? I don't want to get into a flame thing... but here's what you wrote:

"So i believe Javabeans on Gu’s book. I’m not gonna go waste my money on a lousy novel just because it’s written by the so-popular ‘Flowers before Boy’s’ star. Anyway, thanks for giving us your honest opinion."

Doesn't that imply strongly that you think JB's take is that the book is lousy too?

Ahh, whatever, it's fine. I'll just agree with you now to keep the peace. You are right, I am wrong. The GHS book is probably lousy, you are the better person for not trying to make money on your body of work, shame on me for suggesting light reading, since your Korean is awesome since you read all the time. All better, right?

(but one thing, no, I've actually never seen anything that GHS did. Never saw Boys Before Flowers, can't say that I am a fan of hers because I don't know her from a hole in the wall).

Dramabeans, I know you like Coffee Prince a lot, but I still could not get through beyond Episode 2, even when I am so bored and in the middle of nowhere!! OK, I shall try watching the reverse order. BTW, I have downloaded My Name is Kim San Soon, and just watched Episode 1. It is an excellent drama!!

I like GHS. Kudos to her for publishing a book. Clearly, she knew that the best time to release it was right after BBF concluded, a good publicity/marketing strategy on her part. My thing is, as an artist, wouldn't you want your "products" be of excellent quality and not half-assed? Hopefully she'll learn from this experience and write another book that'll be more readable (I'm just basing the readability of the first book on JB's translation of the 1st chap). Maybe she could write about THIS experience: How- Korean-talent-agencies-milk-their-talents-until-they're-deathly-thin-but-they-have-to-go-on-because-side-projects-will-keep-them-on-the-grid-until-their-next-drama/movie.

BTW, JB, do they sell Korean books at the Kinokuniya Bookstore? I live in the Bay Area, and I haven't found any Korean bookstores here. Thanks and thanks for the review and translations.

Only 1 post today so far...JB, you must be busy.

It seems like I just need to know 30-40 Korean words to figure out that whole book. It is quite repetitive. Kudos for her for trying.

Emo = Korean Actors *_*

I actually like GHS. Kudos to her for trying all aspects of entertainment. Perphaps it's her way of finding her niche. All the other BFF characters are milking their fame's worth so why can' t she do it either. At least it is not on a superficial level like everyone else. Books, drawing, and directing has alot of depths is very hard work.

@hmm. contempt

@Samsooki, totally agree.

@JB blogs are a lot of work so thanks for blogging and sharing! I really like reading your thoughts. Its entertaining and most of your commentators are funny.

I know this is unrelated but I have to share it with your reader:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L3bMAq8evU&feature=related . Part 4 is so awesome! Hugh Jackman and Daniel Henny are just toooo adorable.

post 31...i did not do that at all. I think it might be a virus so please do not click on it! I am even afraid to clik on it.

"
I don’t know how to drink coffee.
No, I don’t know how to make it. That’s something I can do even if I don’t know how to drink it. The coffee I make doesn’t taste good. So I can’t understand it . . .

The person who makes the coffee doesn’t know its bitterness.
Only the people who drink that coffee know its bitter taste. . . .
"

Hmm, apparently Koo Hye Sun drinks Folgers? Freeze dried coffee -- I don't understand it either. Arabica beans my #$@#%!! :D

Interesting..thanks for the review JB!

The passage you translated..err....let's just say this wouldn't be something I would read. haha.

OH gosh. That does sound really emo Javabeans. Hm. I might stay away from it then, and go with your suggestion of a chick-lit book. Bwah.

I agree with you #30. I admire GHS for her hard work!

I just noticed GHS earphones-as-fashion-accessory-as-a-headband in the picture. Her and Jung Ryeo-won (in the Benetton ad pictures) both sporting big white headphones that look like ear-muffs? Can't be a coincidence?

Hmmm... come to think of it, the first picture of Story of Man: Episode 8 blog post ALSO has a person sporting huge headphones.

Makes you wonder whether Moon Geun-young got the memo....

"Moon Geun-young ssi.... don't forget your ear-muff-phones for your b-day celebration!"

From that first chapter... Very emo. Or, rather, trying to be too deep instead of actually BEING deep. Because, honestly, actual good books with things to say and a story to tell do not try to be deep. They just simply are. That just screams "I want to be deep." Which basically ruins any pulp fiction appeal it may have.

Yet I know for a fact even with that rough translation that if it was translated and printed here it might sell very very well indeed. I actually know a few people who would think that was poignant and beautiful... No wonder it's selling well.

"From that first chapter… Very emo. Or, rather, trying to be too deep instead of actually BEING deep. Because, honestly, actual good books with things to say and a story to tell do not try to be deep."

I kinda suspect that this novel really IS kind of a memoir for her. (And first draft memoirs are nothing but dramatic of course . . .) And so it's a look into her private side, which makes you feel closer to the artist.

Hey, at least we know now not to have Koo make coffee in the morning. The last thing I want in my espresso is RAGE PAIN TEARS. That's what afternoon tea is for. ;)

Hahaha...give props to her writing isn't easy. It takes a lot to make a good story, Heck, even with a good story not everyone follows the same principle for "good" and actual "entertainment". A novel can be good, literally, but not entertaining to the person depending on the taste.

Based on the rough translation, I think her writing is poor. I doubt dramabeans writing is poor since I've read enough to judge for myself. So it leaves the general idea that her writing is poor. Now if someone says my writing isn't as good to saying that hers is poor, for goodness sake I'm allowed to say this because she gets the book published while I don't. For those who say at least she gets it published, well, I don't have the fame to put my books out there and get bought by people!

Sorry, just defending myself before her fans or others get a chance to attack me. :D

Backing up on why the story is written poorly, the idea of drinking coffee is supposed to be deep in a sense that the person doing the drinking thinks more of it than the other actually making it. The bitter taste is supposed to be a representation of the reality of life. Hmm, good point but poor execution. It could have been shortened into a few sentences that would so much be more meaningful than putting into a ramble of thoughts and actually called it deep. Whatever, like I'm to judged.

One of these days, I want to finish something I work on. The hardest point, like Samsooki said, is dedication. To write it, rewrite it, edit it, think about it whether it makes sense, and to make it entertaining. It's hard. > _<

Oh my god, from the translation you've posted it sounds like my worst nightmare when I read "memoir"-ish stuff. It reads so teen-thinks-self-is-great-thinker-and-realizes-h/she-must-put-self-brilliance-into-words. I didn't have plans to read the book but I'm kind of disappointed it's blah. I think her artwork is really nice and thought her words would be too but guess not :(

Speaking of stars with books, have you read Tablo's?

@Javabeans, thanks for the translation of the 1st chapter! i bet this is the only place we can get that on the Internet. (or anywhere for that matter) =)

After reading that translated piece, I am very skeptical about the book's qualities. It reads like something I've written when I was FOURTEEN and trying to be DEEP. I think GHS is an intelligent girl and she is capable of better writing but she really jumped the gun in publishing this shite. She needs to mature a little more, get a good editor, and really work on story and paragraph structure. I know that her short sentences are intentional but unless it's something truly profound and poetic, please refrain from saturating a work of fiction with teenage emo prose.

My guess is that her management put pressure on her to finish the book around the time BBF ended, with the intention of using the drama's popularity.

I do agree her writing is short and needs revision with feedback. It's interesting how this type of writing reflects who we see as Gu Hye Sun. She seems very introverted and shys away from even answering questions like : What was your favorite scene (fearing it may be misunderstood by those who hear her answer). BTW, she answered her favorite scene was when she ate the raddish kimchee and the reason she gave? Because she heard raddish kimchee sale increased after that scene. -- Umm... Can we be more evasive in our answers??

It's good she's branching out but the publishing of the book seemed rushed. And the sample of the page shows it...

Huh. You know from the picture, Goo Hye Sun kinda looks like a grown-up Chobit. O_o

"My guess is that her management put pressure on her to finish the book around the time BBF ended, with the intention of using the drama’s popularity."

I think there's some truth to that, but I think she mostly wanted to share something with her fans. Kinda like how some people like to do Nanowrimo for "fun" (more like "shame", all the same to me . . . :( ), except her draft got a publisher. I really think this is semi-autobiographical, so I guess people will be tempted to play the guessing game. :D

Love your post, JB. Funny as hell!

IMHO, i think the book sells well due her own fame as an actress (that equals to having fans - I have no idea how popular she is). Futhermore, BOF concluded not too long ago... I bet fans of BOF are interested as well (or hope there's snippets of F4).
But seriously, who write diaries like that?? I tuned out after the first paragraph. Happy reading the book, JB!

"But seriously, who write diaries like that??"

Hee. :(

First time to be back after BBF. More power to GHS.The girl is so full of energy.The important thing is the book is a commercial success which is the measure of almost everything we do. If I can only read Korean, I would surely buy it. She might not be a great writer but she tried and people likes it by buying her work so let be it. I have great respect for her and her determination.FIGHTING GHS!!!

My Korean is not college level but, being her fan, I did buy the book and read the book. I really liked it. It is an easy read, although I did have to refer to the dictionary multiple times. My opinion is that her book is like poetic fiction. You do have to like poetic writing style. I felt that many of you sort of made fun of her talking about "coffee". Coffee is symbolic and representative of the bitterness to come to the main character, bitterness and coldness of the first boyfriend, how the main character knows that she is about to experience the pain and the bitterness of bad relationship and wanting to deny the truth. I understand it because I hate the taste of coffee, but I drink it out of habit, even if it may not be good for me. It is an emotional book but full of symbolism. Coffee also represents the dread and the bitterness of growing up, needing to experience them even if we do not want to. The main character prefers drinking the sweetness of hot chocolate in the hidden cafe served by her best friend who happens to be a gay man. I also get from her book that bitterness is over-rated, --That love and relationship should not be that hard and difficult, but more joyful, easy, comfortable (unlike "beautiful high-heels" which is another one of many symbolism that she uses in the book), and passionate too. The main character's second relationship also ends in tragedy but it helps her to grow more as a person than the first. This is a side, but I swear, the second relationship made me think of Jandi and Jihoo from BOF. I think GHS is a budding writer at heart, I hope she writes more. There is depth to her book, definitely. JB may be more an enthusiast for more factual and historical book like Cha InPyo's new book--all personal taste. I recommend the book.