Whale

By: Cheon Myeong-kwan, Chi-Young Kim - translator

Narrated by: Cindy Kay

A sweeping multigenerational tale blending fable, farce, and fantasy—a masterpiece of modern fiction perfect for fans of One Hundred Years of Solitude

Whale is the English-language debut of a beloved and bestselling South Korean author, a born storyteller with a cinematic, darkly humorous, and thoroughly original perspective.

A woman sells her daughter to a passing beekeeper for two jars of honey. A baby weighing fifteen pounds is born in the depths of winter but named "Girl of Spring." A storm brings down the roof of a ramshackle restaurant to reveal a hidden fortune. These are just a few of the events that set Myeong-kwan Cheon's beautifully crafted, wild world in motion.

Whale, set in a remote village in South Korea, follows the lives of many linked characters, including Geumbok, an extremely ambitious woman who has been chasing an indescribable thrill ever since she first saw a whale crest in the ocean; her mute daughter, Chunhui, who communicates with elephants; and a one-eyed woman who controls honeybees with a whistle. Brimming with surprises and wicked humor, Whale is an adventure-satire of epic proportions by one of the most original voices in international literature.

©2004 Cheon Myeong-kwan (P)2023 Tantor

Whale

This is the best book that I have read in a long time. I am a big fan of narrative and these stories held me from start to finish.

Surprisingly gripping

At first, this seems like a very simple tale, with unadorned language, and a straightforward plot. I almost stop listening, but the performance was so enchanting I forged head, and I’m so glad I did! The beautifully interwoven stories and complex character development were surprisingly satisfying. I truly enjoyed every moment.

The beautiful flow of concepts and language.

This was a compassionate allegory of human existence, gritty, and inexplicable as it is , told exquisitely.



Moving storytelling

Beautiful and moving story with so vulnerable and complex characters weaving thru time, wonderfully executed.

Beautiful Translation!

Tragedy, comedy, a wise talking elephant. Readers, this is the law of great literature and narration.