Name: Skeleton Flower
ISBN: 9788996955481

Kim Jong-hyun

Kim Jong-hyun’s novel “Skeleton Flower: Things That Have Been Released and Set Free” is a collection of fictional stories based on his songs. The story is told from four perspectives, and each character is a reflection of Jonghyun. The novel deals with themes of love, loneliness, and longing. The novel also contains photographs taken by the author himself.

Things That Have Been Released and Set Free

Skeleton Flower

산하엽: 흘러간, 놓아준 것들

nahis

Still I admit, love has the power to turn anyone into a fool. Since I felt like that too when I first met you. The problem is that this power never lasts too long, you know. It differs from one individual to the other but, eventually, the high wears off and the moment the rose-colored lenses of love come off is when all hell breaks loose.

love the idea of finding comfort in loneliness rather than dreading it. "end of the day" is my favorite jjong song because it's a tender reminder that even if the hours stretch in misery, small simple rituals can even out all mixed emotions after a difficult day

Is that so. I like the gloomy and warm atmosphere. To me, lighting up the candles and turning on the record player is a ritual that affirms ‘this day has ended as well’.

Gather every moment of your everyday into droplets and rain it over me. My dear, please calm down my fever.

If you’re still embarrassed of showing me all your wounds, then please just hug me tightly.

Even if I don’t see your scars, I want to feel them through your skin to know you entirely.

Might it be too cold, crawl into my clothes, into the warmth of my flesh and the scent of my breath, and listen to the sound of my pounding heart

Such as the ocean returns to stillness after a sweeping storm, the woman’s seemingly non-stop shaking heart, too, quieted down. She could not know when that would abruptly change again, but for now, she was alright. He was, slow and surely, being erased from her.

Selin Igten

시간이 지나
Time passes 


There’s no original translation, since Jonghyun didn’t want this book translated because he thought it would make it lose its original meaning and wouldn’t portray the emotions correctly, and i think he was right!

This book focuses on the life of a young woman (여자) who just broke up with her boyfriend of 5 years (남자). She’s struggling to move on and is also struggling with prioritising herself. The man is also struggling with moving on, and he’s just trying to get through all of this by drinking, oh and he’s depressed.

There’s also a character that’s explicitly modelled after Jonghyun himself, he’s referred to as the singer (가수). The voice of the singer appears throughout the story as radio monologues (he’s also a dj), these monologues act as a source of comfort for the woman and the man. 

“Being alone, I don’t see it as something that simply disappears once you take care of it. It’s just like a shadow that follows you through life, see. Still, some days I feel the need of a pat on the shoulder, and since the things I told you before comfort me greatly, I am going through a healthy loneliness.”

Every chapter is named after a song that Jonghyun has written, he’s basically trying to incorporate the story behind these songs in these chapters… And he uses the lyrics! I just think that’s amazing, like wow this book really is a piece of art guys.

‘Let’s cheer up. Tomorrow will be better.’
I always wrap up by saying that but today I don’t want to.
It’s alright to only cheer up by tomorrow. No, it’s okay if it’s only after tomorrow too.
It’s alright to be sad for a while. Please come to me whenever. Because I’ll be here. 

Chapter 12 is the last chapter, and it’s named after the song Diphylleia grayi.
By coincidence, the man and the woman both listen to Jonghyun his radio at the same time, and ofcourse, the song that plays is Diphylleia grayi!!! 
While listening to this song, the man and the woman both realise that they want to be happy, and for that to happen they both need to let eachother go and move on (no matter how hard it might be).

Now i’m not good at reviewing books, and definitely not a book like this but wow. This book was truly a piece of art, and i truly truly truly wish i knew how to read korean just so i could read this in its original language and truly experience this the way jonghyun wanted everyone to experience it. this is just beautiful

시간이 지나

Skeleton Flower Things That Have Been Released and Set Free