Once Around the Sun

Fiction. Southeast Asia Studies. Melanie Steyn's new novella, ONCE AROUND THE SUN, marks a rare and insightful attempt by a foreign writer to recreate characters and lives in Korea's most intimate social unit: thefamily. Published at the end of September this year by English-language publisher Seoul Selection, ONCE AROUND THE SUN takes place in a seaside village in southwestern Korea's Jeollanam-do Province. It introduces the family of Yi Chang-joon, a fisherman; his wife, Yun-hwa; their daughter and son, Ji-young and Dong-ju; and Chang-joon's mother, Kyu-ah. In the course of the book?s four chapters, each one relating to one of the four seasons, Steyn introduces episodes in the lives of each family member with the exception of Chang-joon himself. One year thus passes, and the earth revolves once around the sun.