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A review by anneklein
Skeleton Flower: Things That Have Been Released and Set Free by Kim Jonghyun
4.0
jesus. this is so lovely. the core theme of only being able to love once you release what you were trying to love… very ibsen. reminds me of his play “the lady from the sea,” which brings up similar ideas in a more familial context. it’s poignant in its simplicity, this love paradox, just like kim jonghyun’s story. its characters are nameless (with the exception of the dogs! beautiful choice), yet he makes the reader care and feel for them, perhaps because of how universal their emotions are.
kim jonghyun also plays with the metaliterary, making his own self visible in the figure of the radio singer first and foremost, a character who resonates with jonghyun’s artistic persona extremely intimately. there’s shades of him in the other characters as well, though, and all of them converge in a narrative that interweaves lyrics, prose and essay-like musings disguised as conversations. in fact –and i’m not saying this just because i’m reading her right now–, skeleton flower feels a little like what a sally rooney novelette could be. obviously, the connection is hardly intentionate, but there are strong echoes of her latest novel “beautiful world, where are you,” especially in the seamless way prose and nonfiction are interwoven.
this was a very pleasant experience that didn’t only come across as a prose narrative, but that incorporated music, radio broadcasting, essay and poetry into it in various ways. it’s a very unique piece, hard to describe and easy to enjoy. i wish it was longer—i think the themes and characters could have benefitted from a longer word count. still, i appreciate this little gem for what it is and invite you to give it a read, regardless of whether you’re familiar with its author or not.
kim jonghyun also plays with the metaliterary, making his own self visible in the figure of the radio singer first and foremost, a character who resonates with jonghyun’s artistic persona extremely intimately. there’s shades of him in the other characters as well, though, and all of them converge in a narrative that interweaves lyrics, prose and essay-like musings disguised as conversations. in fact –and i’m not saying this just because i’m reading her right now–, skeleton flower feels a little like what a sally rooney novelette could be. obviously, the connection is hardly intentionate, but there are strong echoes of her latest novel “beautiful world, where are you,” especially in the seamless way prose and nonfiction are interwoven.
this was a very pleasant experience that didn’t only come across as a prose narrative, but that incorporated music, radio broadcasting, essay and poetry into it in various ways. it’s a very unique piece, hard to describe and easy to enjoy. i wish it was longer—i think the themes and characters could have benefitted from a longer word count. still, i appreciate this little gem for what it is and invite you to give it a read, regardless of whether you’re familiar with its author or not.