Pieces of You (short story collection)

Last updated
Pieces of You
Pieces of you korean.jpeg
First edition (Korean)
Author Tablo
Original title당신의 조각들 (Korean-Translation)
Translator Daniel Armand Lee
LanguageEnglish
GenreFiction
PublishedFebruary 10, 2009
Byung-Sun, Kang
Publication placeSouth Korea
Media typeHardback
Pages229 pp (hardback edition)
ISBN 978-89-546-0757-5 (Hardback)

Pieces of You is a work of fiction published by Daniel Armand Lee, also known as Tablo, leader of South Korean rap group Epik High. It was published in Korean in November 2008, and in English in February 2009.

Contents

Lee's Korean translation of the book was published prior to its English counterpart and sold more than 200,000 copies, consistently ranking as a bestseller in Korea. Due to high demand, he published the original English version, Pieces of You, three months after its Korean release, and it soon[ timeframe? ] became a bestseller as well. [1]

Overview

The book consists of ten short stories, all written during his college career from 1998 to 2001. Tablo says the factual setting of New York City doesn't mean much, as he added some fictitious elements into his stories. New York City could potentially be a significant reason as to why he delved into hip-hop music, as the beginning was written when he worked as an assistant director of an independent movie. All of the stories were written for class assignments during his undergraduate years, thus his audience were his professor and classmates. Some stories are very controversial and self-reflective for those readers who are in their early twenties. He recalls the pieces of memory from his youth in the prologue, excerpted below.

"My heart was closed. Cold. I was self-conscious and cynical.

These are the pieces of my youth, The small secrets and not-so-great expectations that defined my coming of age.

But through this craft, through my love for writing, I discovered a world outside of the small windowless one I had built for myself. A world of soft-spoken beauty.

So here I am, Choosing to kick away the ladder So that I may remain at your side.

I understand your solitude I see your shadow."

2009 Feb. Tablo [2]

Both literary critics and fans conclude that the tone of this book can be summed up in the words “solitude” and “shadows,” which the author himself recalls from his youth. "Andante,” the first story, gains the most recognition. The ten stories, listed below, are arranged in the order in which they were written.

Andante: it is about the conflict between the father and the son. The son is greatly influenced by his father who is a prominent pianist, and he eventually follows the identical path as his father. Upon watching his father confront Alzheimers, he becomes more worried about his life and his family. In the end, the son becomes hopeful when his father keeps asking what song he can hear while his father's recorded version of Fur Elise is being played, and the son realizes that he can hear his father's breathing within his music.
Counting Pulses: it is a story about the son and his mother. The son is always conscious about taking care of his sick mother who needs his care even when she is in need of taking medicine. At one night, the son brings his friend to his house and they start smoking weed while the mother is in sleep. Due to excessive inhalation, the son starts suffering from a respiratory problem resulting him into a critical situation.
Break: it is a short story compared to his other stories which is about the teacher who takes a break from his students. During this short break, he starts feeling overwhelming pain; here the word "break" literally means a break which he has now, but it can also mean the life and the condition that he is in, which breaks him.
The Rat: this is a story where the casting director of a movie with nude scenes invites the main actress to his house. As he invites the cast to his house, he notices that there is a big rat staying in his bedroom. He becomes paranoid of the fact that there is a big rat in his bedroom which it reminds him of the girl.
Matchbox: it is a story about the son who starts smoking due to his father who is a chain-smoker. He starts smoking when he is six and he quits smoking at the age of twenty-five when he realizes how horrible cigarettes are for his health.
A Glass of Victory: it is a story about the conflict between two friends. The main character attends the high school reunion where he meets his rival during the students' president election. He is ridiculed and disgusted by the resemblance of his friend and his son. Suddenly, he recalls the high school student's president election, where he lost to him by a little, but the difference in votes has never been revealed. After he meets the janitor from high school accidentally, he hears from him that there were some votes thrown out inside the garbage. He realizes how his rival cheated on the election, and he goes up to him and punches his face, but he loses miserably in fight again.
The Walls of Our World: this story explores the internal, almost insuppressible lust within all humankind, regardless of the masks of occupation, status, and position in the social hierarchy.
Hate Crime: it is a story about the Asian identity as seen by Caucasian culture. The story comments on the lack of differentiation, and ignorance towards the different ethnicities within the US-Asian population.
Coup de Grace: this story portrays how a cowardly father forces his son to become a strong and brave person. By creating himself into a completely different person, he doesn't only deceive himself but he also deceives even his family members. In the end, the coward turns out to be not his son but himself.
Strawberry Fields Forever: this story portrays the fast-paced nature of our life, for instance, how things bypass us so quickly that we sometimes forget to appreciate their value.

Reception

Byung Ryul Lee, a well-known poet and prose writer for his bestseller Attraction, commented on Tablo's book in a blurb, found on the back of both the Korean and English versions. He says the book allowed him to understand the author better: “The first thought that crossed my head after reading his book was my spark of awareness of how lonely and solitude life that the author, Tablo had prolonged.” Lee's critics directly depicts Tablo's work from his perspective as he addressed: “It reminds me of his panic-state of his youth which is difficult to hold up regardless of many effortless trials, and throughout this book, I felt that I became aware of his profound inner mind as well. ... This book softly embraces those who reluctantly live their lives without acknowledging the true colors of each of the individuals. ...While reading his novel, I was able to know this person, and simultaneously I happened to learn many things that I had very little knowledge of.” [3] Lee addresses this novel as more than just a celebrity's book, as it actually made him reflect his 20s, and how he has changed from then. [4]

Tablo is a survivor. I could imagine the young man in his early twenties, in a vacuum of confusion and loneliness, struggling to grasp the ungraspable. I almost felt like a voyeur, peeping into his innermost emotions. His stories offer a warm hand to the shoulders of anyone who is lost, anyone who is struggling to discover the subversive concept of 'self'. The cracks and crevices between his sentences and words hold an intensity that landslides the heart. I feel that I've learned many things about Tablo's internal world, and I'm thankful that he has decided to share it with the world. - Lee Byung-ryul (Poet, Author of 『Attraction』) [5]

Slices of time, silent and gentle. Yet, an intense emotional storm brews within. Concisely written, but written with deep warmth. Breathtakingly painful in its beauty. Tablo is an admirable writer. - Lee Juck (Musician, Author of 『The Fingerprint Hunter』) [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korean mythology</span>

Korean mythology is the group of myths told by historical and modern Koreans. There are two types: the written, literary mythology in traditional histories, mostly about the founding monarchs of various historical kingdoms, and the much larger and more diverse oral mythology, mostly narratives sung by shamans or priestesses (mansin) in rituals invoking the gods and which are still considered sacred today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epik High</span> South Korean hip-hop group

Epik High (Korean: 에픽하이) is a South Korean hip-hop trio formed in 2001, composed of Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz. Primarily based in Seoul, the group signed with Woollim Entertainment and released their first two studio albums, Map of the Human Soul (2003) and High Society (2004), to minor success. The trio rose to fame with the release of their follow-up studio albums, Swan Songs (2005), Remapping the Human Soul (2007), and Pieces, Part One (2008), spawning the hit singles "Fly", "Paris", "Fan", "Love Love Love", "One" and "Umbrella". Although the majority of these albums were censored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism due to themes of crimes, war, religion, and education, Epik High established themselves as one of the leading hip-hop artists in the country, gaining a cult following and critical plaudit.

Yi Mun-yol is a South Korean writer. Yi's given name at birth was Yol; the character, Mun, was added after he took up a writing career. His works include novels, short stories and Korean adaptations of classic Chinese novels as well as political and social commentaries. An informal count has estimated that over 30 million copies of his books have been sold and, as of 2021, they have been translated into 21 languages. His works have garnered many literary awards and many have been adapted for film and television.

<i>Remapping the Human Soul</i> 2007 studio album by Epik High

Remapping the Human Soul is the fourth studio album by South Korean hip hop trio Epik High. It was released through Woollim Entertainment and CJ Music on January 23, 2007, and contains 27 tracks on two CDs. The singles "Fan" and "Love Love Love" were promoted as part of the album.

<i>My Father</i> 2007 South Korean film

My Father is a 2007 South Korean film. The film, which is based on a true story, is about an adopted son who is searching for his biological parents in South Korea. During his search he meets his real father, a condemned murderer on death row. Daniel Henney plays the lead role of James, who works as an army captain in the United States Forces Korea. He asks questions of why his father is on death row and finds out things that he always wanted to know. Then he finds more and more truths unravel about his father and his life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tablo</span> Korean-Canadian rapper, record producer, and author

Daniel Armand Lee, better known by his stage name Tablo, is a Korean-Canadian hip hop recording artist, lyricist, composer and record producer. Tablo is best known as the leader and producer of veteran Korean hip-hop group Epik High, and the founder of independent music label HIGHGRND, which housed bands Hyukoh and The Black Skirts.

<i>Personal Taste</i> 2010 South Korean TV series

Personal Taste is a 2010 South Korean television series, starring Son Ye-jin and Lee Min-ho. It is adapted from Lee Se-in's 2007 novel of the same name about a furniture designer, Park Kae-in, who lives together with architect Jeon Jin-ho under the mistaken assumption that he's gay. It aired on MBC from March 31 to May 20, 2010, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 (KST) for 16 episodes.

<i>High Kick Through the Roof</i> 2009-10 South Korean sitcom

High Kick Through the Roof was a popular South Korean situation comedy revolving around the life of the Lee family.

Kim Ryeo-ryeong is a South Korean writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Hyesoon</span> South Korean poet

Kim Hyesoon (Korean: 김혜순) is a South Korean poet. She was the first woman poet to receive the Kim Su-yeong Literature Award, Midang Literary Award, Contemporary Poetry Award, and Daesan Literary Awards. She has also received the Griffin Poetry Prize (2019), the Cikada Prize, the Samsung Ho-Am Prize in the Arts (2022), U.K Royal Society of Literature International writer (2022), and National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry. She is the first foreign poet laureate who won the award

Yi In-hwa is a South Korean writer, literary critic and professor.

<i>My Dictator</i> 2014 South Korean film

My Dictator is a 2014 South Korean film directed and co-written by Lee Hae-jun, starring Sol Kyung-gu and Park Hae-il.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Mnet KM Music Festival</span> Award

The 2008 Mnet KM Music Festival (MKMF) was the tenth of the annual music awards in Seoul, South Korea that took place on November 15, 2008, at the Seoul Sports Complex.

"Born Hater" is a song by South Korean hip hop group Epik High, released on October 18, 2014, as one of their single tracks from their eighth Korean studio album, Shoebox. The song features rappers Beenzino, Verbal Jint, B.I, Mino, and Bobby.

<i>Hello Monster</i> South Korean television series

Hello Monster is a South Korean television series starring Seo In-guk, Jang Na-ra, Choi Won-young, and Park Bo-gum. It aired on KBS2 from June 22 to August 11, 2015 every Monday and Tuesday at 21:55 for 16 episodes.

Mata Hari at the Moulin Rouge is a musical with a book by Ivan Menchell, lyrics by Jack Murphy, and music by Frank Wildhorn. It is based on the life of Mata Hari, a dancer and spy during World War I.

<i>Seoulite</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Lee Hi

Seoulite is the second studio album by South Korean singer and songwriter Lee Hi. The album marked her comeback to the Korean music scene after a three-year hiatus following the release of her debut studio album, First Love, in 2013. The album was released first in a half album format, the first half being released on March 9, 2016 and the full album released digitally on April 20, 2016, and physically a week later.

Ha Sangwook is a South Korean poet. He writes short poems based on daily lives. He calls himself "Sipari", an acronym meaning a person who sells poems. He published the bestseller poetry collection Seoul Si in 2013.

Hong Shin-seon is a Korean poet. His writing career dates back to the 1960s, when he was active as a modernist poet. During the 1970–80s, his poetry engaged critically with the politics of the time. From the 1990s, Hong's focus shifted to Buddhist thought, and the serial poem Maeumgyung, which was written over a period over twenty years, is considered his major work.

<i>Strawberry</i> (EP) 2023 EP by Epik High

Strawberry is the third extended play and first global album by South Korean hip hop trio Epik High. The EP was released on February 1, 2023, through OURS Co. and distributed by Genie Music. The album consists of five tracks, including the lead single "Catch" featuring Hwasa of Mamamoo, and a collaboration with Got7's Jackson Wang on the song "On My Way".

References

  1. ↑ http://www.libro.co.kr/Product/BookDetail.libro?goods_id=0100008184662#review Libro Book Review
  2. ↑ Lee, Daniel Armand. Pieces of You. Munhak, Seoul: 2009
  3. ↑ Lee, Daniel Armand. Pieces of You. Munhak, Seoul: 2009
  4. ↑ http://book.interpark.com/product/BookDisplay.do?_method=Detail&sc.shopNo=&sc.dispNo=&sc.prdNo=201817379#review%20Interpark%20Book%20Review Interpark Book Review
  5. ↑ Lee, Daniel Armand. Pieces of You. Munhak, Seoul: 2009
  6. ↑ Lee, Daniel Armand. Pieces of You. Munhak, Seoul: 2009
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.