Name: My Brilliant Life
ISBN: 9781250799586

Ae-Ran Kim

My Brilliant Life

Ae-ran Kim

“A moving, earnest, and deeply-felt exploration of a unique family in all its joys and disappointments . . . an utter delight.” —Claire Lombardo, New York Times bestselling author of The Most Fun We Ever Had Ae-ran Kim's My Brilliant Life explores family bonds and out-of-the-ordinary friendships, interweaving the past and present of a tight-knit family, finding joy and happiness in even the most difficult times. Areum lives life to its fullest, vicariously through the stories of his parents, conversations with Little Grandpa Jang—his sixty-year-old neighbor and best friend—and through the books he reads to visit the places he would otherwise never see. For several months, Areum has been working on a manuscript, piecing together his parents’ often embellished stories about his family and childhood. He hopes to present it on his birthday, as a final gift to his mom and dad; their own falling-in-love story. Through it all, Areum and his family will have you laughing and crying, for all the right reasons. “This novel snuck up on me and captured my heart.” —Margarita Montimore, USA Today bestselling author of Oona Out of Order

Phoenix Tesni 

Never before in my life have I read a book that deals with illness, sickness and death in a more lively way- without disregarding the sadness that comes with it. Despite that fact that this was a book that wrote about one of the saddest things in life, it was still incredibly witty, filled with absolutely gorgeous and humorous writing, and a protagonist that you can't help but adore, cherish and love. I breezed through this book, enjoying every single minute of it. Areum, you have my heart.

Trish

❝ Books were everything to me—a grandmother who told me stories all night long, a teacher who imparted all the knowledge in the world, a friend who shared their secrets and problems. […]

They made my heart race without having to physically run.

——

❝ Someone like you…”

I was quiet, waiting.

“… shouldn’t have to be sick.”

I gazed at her with my sunken eyes that lacked eyelashes. I didn’t know what to say. “Mom, you know, someone like me…”

“Yeah?”

“Someone like me, who’s a really great kid…”

“Yeah?”

“… always comes from great parents.”

——

❝ That’s what happens when you’re young. Your heart races over nothing special and you’re devastated over nothing special.

——

❝ I’m the shortest mountain in the world, not even 140 centimeters tall, but I’ll examine what flowers are blooming inside me.

——

❝ I’m not religious but sometimes I find myself wanting to pray. Especially when I’m suffering, like you are. Then people ask, Who do you want to pray to? With the chilliest expression I say, To whoever.

Whoever.

——

This novel was my first encounter with translated Korean literature, and I couldn’t be more dazzled. 

Ae-ran Kim’s writing is hypnotic, lyrical, and flows with the rush and force of a river. At times slow and steady and at times turbulent, you are nonetheless propelled forward into unknown waters. 

Everything shines in My Brilliant Life - the characters, setting, narrative. As a story that centers on a terminally ill teenager, Kim injects the perfect amount of heartwarming humor into the novel. 

Just as I was reading and enjoying myself, Kim did the unthinkable—she threw a wrench straight to my gut and yanked the rose-colored glasses that were sitting comfortably on the bridge of my nose. What a reality check. The truth is that kind, warm, intelligent, genuine people like Areum are so much more precious because of the abundance of cruel people in the world. This book reminded me of that. 

It’s a melodramatic, sentimental, and poignant debut novel; I loved every second of it. Ae-ran Kim is officially on my author watchlist/auto-buy list. I can’t wait for her next novel. I just hope it won’t take so long for the English translation this time. 🖤

Kath Lau

This book follows the story of a sixteen-year-old Areum who has Progeria, a rare condition that causes children to age rapidly. He starts writing a manuscript of his parents and their love story hoping to give it to them as his last gift on his seventeenth birthday. The book immediately captured my attention. The writing is simple but lyrical and beautiful. Areum is a wonderful character. He is brave and bright. He has accepted his fate and makes the most of his life. His parents are very supportive and loving too. They were only sixteen when they have him and have struggled to raise him especially after they found out about Aerum's condition. This is a very moving and poignant read that will remind us to be grateful and live our lives to the fullest.

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My Brilliant Life

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