Despite its virtues, this commentary on Korean proverbs becomes too wedded to American party politics.
A collection offers an interpretation of Korean proverbs that often illustrates their meanings with references to United States culture and history.
In this fourth installment of a series, Moo-Jung translates 100 Korean proverbs into English and furnishes a close reading of them, disentangling their often complex, even obscure meanings. His mission is to capture the “true element of the Korean proverb” and its susceptibility to transformation over time, rendering it open to different interpretations by readers as they mature. As he explains in his own poetic terms, “They are as if the sharp edges have been worn down through continuous use over many years. They are rolling hills under the blue sky peppered with lazy white clouds, never the Alps or the Himalayas under a windy snowstorm. They are small, gentle streams and the peaceful sound of a lullaby, never the deafening thunder of Niagara Falls.” And while the proverbs, which date back 5,000 years, express the “collective consciousness of the Korean people,” the author endeavors to make them comprehensible to a Western audience. To this end, he often draws on American culture to explain them. The book is brimming with references to the likes of Malcolm X, Anna Nicole Smith, and Al Capone as well as the Super Bowl and Covid-19. But while the accounts provided by Moo-Jung are often remarkably sensitive, many readers will tire of the repeated references to the turpitude of Donald Trump and the corruption of the Republican Party. Rather than achieve a modern contextualization of the proverbs, such political partisanship makes them feel historically bound and sacrifices an element of their timelessness. In addition, the author’s prose can be clumsy and sometimes confusing, and the messiness of the manuscript, including abrupt and inexplicable changes in font type and size, doesn’t help. Moo-Jung’s command of the proverbs is inarguably impressive. Nevertheless, this collection may not be the best introduction for U.S. readers in search of a counterweight to the vagaries of politics and culture.
Despite its virtues, this commentary on Korean proverbs becomes too wedded to American party politics.Pub Date: March 26, 2022
ISBN: 979-8439833535
Page Count: 226
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A familiar format, but a timely reminder that cities are made up of individuals, each with their own stories.
Portraits in a post-pandemic world.
After the Covid-19 lockdowns left New York City’s streets empty, many claimed that the city was “gone forever.” It was those words that inspired Stanton, whose previous collections include Humans of New York (2013), Humans of New York: Stories (2015), and Humans (2020), to return to the well once more for a new love letter to the city’s humanity and diversity. Beautifully laid out in hardcover with crisp, bright images, each portrait of a New Yorker is accompanied by sparse but potent quotes from Stanton’s interviews with his subjects. Early in the book, the author sequences three portraits—a couple laughing, then looking serious, then the woman with tears in her eyes—as they recount the arc of their relationship, transforming each emotional beat of their story into an affecting visual narrative. In another, an unhoused man sits on the street, his husky eating out of his hand. The caption: “I’m a late bloomer.” Though the pandemic isn’t mentioned often, Stanton focuses much of the book on optimistic stories of the post-pandemic era. Among the most notable profiles is Myles Smutney, founder of the Free Store Project, whose story of reclaiming boarded‑up buildings during the lockdowns speaks to the city’s resilience. In reusing the same formula from his previous books, the author confirms his thesis: New York isn’t going anywhere. As he writes in his lyrical prologue, “Just as one might dive among coral reefs to marvel at nature, one can come to New York City to marvel at humanity.” The book’s optimism paints New York as a city where diverse lives converge in moments of beauty, joy, and collective hope.
A familiar format, but a timely reminder that cities are made up of individuals, each with their own stories.Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781250277589
Page Count: 480
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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