[Ep. 14] No Word from Gurb (구르브 연락 없다)

[Ep. 14] No Word from Gurb (구르브 연락 없다)

This week, Michelle and Sewon dive into Eduardo Mendoza’s delightfully eccentric novel No Word from Gurb, a story that follows an alien visitor searching for his missing companion on Earth. Blending science fiction with sharp satire, the novel paints a humorous portrait of Barcelona in the lead-up to the 1992 Olympics, capturing the city’s chaos, contradictions, and the wonderfully absurd lives of its inhabitants. Through the outsider perspective of an alien narrator, Mendoza introduces readers to Barcelona’s landmarks, historical moments, and cultural quirks while poking fun at the city's ambitions and imperfections. If you're curious about a novel that is both laugh-out-loud funny and critically acclaimed for its inventive storytelling, literary merit, and unique narrative voice, stay tuned for our discussion of No Word from Gurb! Coming Up Next: Taiwan Travelogue (1938 타이완 여행기) 00:00 Intro: Daily Updates (stomach cramps, swimming, Lempicka the musical) 28:23 Book of this week: No Word from Gurb (구르브 연락 없다) 1:20:55 Outro

[Ep. 13] No Longer Human (인간 실격)

This week, Michelle and Sewon discuss Osamu Dazai (太宰 治)'s No Longer Human (人間失格, 인간 실격). Although Michelle is reading the novel for the first time and Sewon has read it twice, both were intrigued by the fact that someone in the novel describes Yozo as being like "God." Was Yozo weak, gentle, manipulative, or simply misunderstood? A people-pleaser or a narcissist? Join Michelle and Sewon as they unpack one of literature's most puzzling characters and share their own interpretations of Yozo. Stay tuned! * For those interested in what we discuss around 39:10, we are referring to Bungo Stray Dogs (Japanese: 文豪ストレイドッグス; Korean: 문호 스트레이 독스), a Japanese anime and manga series inspired by famous literary authors and their works! 😝 - Coming up next: Sin Noticias de Gurb (No Word from Gurb, 구르브 연락 없다) by Eduardo Mendoza

[Ep. 12] Come Sit With Us! A Random Conversation Beyond Books

This week, Michelle and Sewon take a break from talking about books and instead share thoughts and stories from their everyday lives. Michelle talks about heading back to the office to continue working after an outside appointment this week — a glimpse of her ever-diligent personality, which contrasts with Sewon’s comparatively spontaneous approach to the podcast. Meanwhile, Sewon announces that she plans to devote more time to the podcast starting this fall, along with some new life plans set to unfold in the second half of the year. The two also explore their personality differences through MBTI and Enneagram, discuss the things they each dislike, and talk about the classic works of world literature ChatGPT recommended for them individually. If you’re curious to hear a conversation that flows freely with no fixed topic in sight, stay tuned! Coming Up Next: 『人間失格』 (No Longer Human) by 太宰 治 (Osamu Dazai) 00:00 Intro: Michelle being diligent as always, and Sewon... not so much 04:15 Sewon’s new life plans starting this summer 12:00 Our MBTI + Enneagram results + the definition of a 기가 센 여자(strong-willed woman) + thoughts on the Korean mindset of 좋은 게 좋은 거지(keeping the peace at all costs) 1:00:45 Things we’ve been disliking lately 1:19:09 Classic works of world literature ChatGPT recommended based on Michelle and Sewon’s personalities 1:38:00 Outro

[Ep. 11] The Longest Night (긴긴밤)

This week, Michelle and Sewon talk about the 루리 (LULY)’s picture book 긴긴밤 (The Longest Night). In this episode, we talk about The Longest Night by LULY. This is a quiet yet deeply moving story about survival, grief, and the fragile connections that keep us going. Through the journey of unlikely companions crossing a long and lonely night together, the novel gently asks what it means to endure loss without losing tenderness. What makes this story linger is not dramatic hope, but the small, stubborn decision to keep walking beside someone else, even in the face of fear, exhaustion, and despair. Sparse yet emotionally resonant, The Longest Night reminds us that sometimes warmth survives in the smallest gestures. If you’d like to join us for a conversation about a hornless rhino, a penguin who has lost sight in one eye, and the unhatched egg they carry across a long and lonely journey, stay tuned. Coming Up Next: a collection of random chats, tangents, and assorted 잡담s 00:00 Intro: Michelle’s recent closet delivery nightmare 11:20 The backstory behind our last episode recording 15:45 Book of the week: 긴긴밤 (The Longest Night) 1:02:10 A poem that this book reminded Michelle of: 「모든 익사체는 떠오르려고 한다 - 에밀 시오랑에게」 (All Drowned Bodies Try to Float — To Emil Cioran) by 이현호 (Lee Hyun-ho), from 『라이터 좀 빌립시다』 (Can I Borrow a Lighter?) 1:08:00 Outro

Recorded in Korean | [Ep. 10] Project Hail Mary (프로젝트 헤일메리)

⚠️ Quick Note from Sewon This week’s episode is in Korean. I was simply too exhausted to record in English this time 😂 But no worries, we’ll be back in English starting next week! This week, Michelle and Sewon review Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary. As the sun begins to lose its energy and Earth faces an extinction-level crisis, an ordinary middle school science teacher named Ryland Grace wakes up alone aboard a spaceship. Soon, he realizes that he may be humanity’s only hope. In the middle of this overwhelming mission, Grace unexpectedly encounters an alien named Rocky, who has come to space for the very same reason. The two quickly become unlikely friends and work together to save their worlds. If you’ve been curious about the globally beloved sci-fi novel Project Hail Mary, stay tuned for this week’s episode! Coming Up Next: 긴긴밤 (The Longest Night) by 루리 (Luly) 00:00 Intro: Why are we suddenly speaking Korean? + last episode’s audio issue 04:35 Korea’s long holiday in early May & thoughts on the new app “Setlog” 21:05 Sewon’s visit to 해인사 (Haeinsa), and why 불국사 (Bulguksa) is Michelle’s favorite temple in Korea 26:40 Why almost EVERYWHERE is crowded in Korea: Gyeongju, and Pikmin Bloom 32:03 Book & movie of the week: Project Hail Mary 33:27 Ryan Gosling & Koreans’ recent obsession with the “middle part” of the face 39:50 Sandra Hüller and how her Stratt differs from the book version 51:50 Project Hail Mary: Book vs. Movie 1:21:28 Outro ⚠️ Quick Note from Sewon 냅다 한국어라 많이 놀라셨죠? 지난주 녹음 실수에 이어 이번 주에는 제 기력 이슈로 한국어로 녹음했습니다. “I am girl, you are boy”조차 생각이 안 나는 상태였어요 😂 다음 주부터는 다시 영어로 돌아오겠습니다! 안녕하세요! 이번 주에는 앤디 위어의 《프로젝트 헤일메리》를 리뷰합니다. 태양이 점점 빛을 잃어가며 지구가 종말의 위기에 놓인 어느 날, 평범한 중학교 과학교사 ‘라이랜드 그레이스’는 우주선 안에서 눈을 뜹니다. 그리고 자신이 인류를 구할 유일한 존재라는 사실을 깨닫게 되죠. 모든 것이 혼란스러운 상황 속에서 그는 같은 목적을 가지고 우주에 온 외계인 ‘로키’를 만나게 되고, 둘은 친구가 되어 운명을 건 미션을 함께 수행합니다. 과연 그들은 각자의 행성을 구할 수 있을까요? 전 세계적으로 사랑받은 SF 소설 《프로젝트 헤일메리》가 궁금하다면, 이번 에피소드를 함께해 주세요!