Reviews
My child wanted to read it, so I ordered it. The content of the book is good, too.
The title *Mending the Living* gives off a somewhat enigmatic impression right from the start. With the question of how one could possibly "mending" a living person—and harboring the clumsy assumption that it might be a book about resolving mental issues—I turn the pages. *Mending the Living* by French novelist Mélisse de Kerangal, which is being introduced to Korea for the first time through Open Books, is a novel published in 2014 that is said to be a steady seller, having sold 500,000 copies
“What shall I do, Nikolai? Bury the dead and mend the living.” Thomas Rémijou reportedly felt a shiver down his spine upon hearing this line from the play *Platonov*. However, as a reader of this book, I actually got goosebumps upon reading the above line. While organ transplantation is certainly a noble undertaking, in a way, it is also something that evokes fear. The word "mending" in the book's title, *Mending the Living*, carries the meaning of saving a life through organ transplantation.
A fierce 24-hour record capturing the process of a human heart, a human life, being transplanted into another living being! My first impression of the title, "Mending the Living," was that it might be a horror story involving somewhat brutal plastic surgery procedures. While reading the introduction alone allows one to anticipate the content, imagining it through the title is also quite fun in its own way. Although the content deviated significantly from my expectations, it was a book that made
Mailles de Kerangal's *Mending the Living*—actually, looking at the title alone, I initially thought it was a thriller. However, rather than any metaphorical interpretation, it was a story about literally "mending" the "living." It is, in fact, a story about organ transplantation. This 342-page novel captures exactly 24 hours. The story begins with the 5:50 alarm set by nineteen-year-old Simon Lambre to enjoy surfing on the beach at dawn. It ends at 5:49, when Simon Lambre's heart begins to
Our lives, from being born into this world to passing away, are filled with many twists and turns. While the word "farewell" encompasses a wide variety of stories, this book, which deals specifically with organ donation, allows me to reflect once again on the meaning of life. Although my memory of when it happened is hazy, I once came across a story about a doctor in a rural area who passed away suddenly and decided to donate his organs, fulfilling his lifelong commitment. Although the term
I picked up this book knowing only a rough outline from the introduction. That rough outline consisted entirely of the unexpected death of a 19-year-old boy, organ donation, the pain felt by his family and those around him, and the fact that Bill Gates had recommended it as a must-read for the year. Now that I have finished reading it, if someone were to ask me, "What is that book about?", I wouldn't have much to say. That is exactly all the information I knew when I started reading it.
The overall plot of this book, titled "Repairing, Not Treating, People Who Are Not Machines," is not very complex. 19-year-old Simon Lambre loses consciousness in a traffic accident while returning home from surfing with friends on a holiday morning. His heart is beating, but he is not alive due to severe brain damage; his parents are contacted, and they approve an organ donation, which is then transplanted to a suitable recipient. The entire story of this book revolves around roughly a single
When I first saw the title *Mending the Living*, I wondered if it might be a mystery novel blending horror and thriller. To describe a person—and using the word "mending," a term typically associated with machines or patching scraps of clothing—was unsettling. The author's unique perspective felt somewhat chilling. However, hearing that Bill Gates had highly praised it piqued my curiosity even more. Once you turn a few pages, it quickly becomes clear why the author specifically chose the word
I bought this because it was recommended by Bill Gates. It has some thickness, but the size is just right, so I don't think it will be inconvenient to carry around! I'm looking forward to it!
Mailles de Kerangal: Mending the living
*Mending the Living*, the eighth full-length novel and masterpiece by Mailliss de Kerangal, who is shaking up the contemporary French literary scene. Published in France in 2014, it became an instant bestseller and swept 11 literary awards worldwide. The novel tells the story of 24 hours surrounding the heart transplant process of Simon Limbres, a nineteen-year-old who is declared brain dead after suffering a sudden collapse. Simon Limbres is involved in an unexpected traffic accident on his way back from surfing with friends. Although declared brain dead, Simon's heart is still beating. Faced with their son's desperate condition, Simon's parents find themselves in a situation where they must make a decision regarding whether to donate his organs to save another dying life. Unlike the medical declaration of brain death, Simon's body, with his heart still beating, remains young, beautiful, and full of vitality. From the agonizing process of the family having to decide on organ donation without even a moment to accept the utterly unreal death of their son, to the final procedures of organ extraction and transplant surgery, the entire process unfolds breathlessly within a single day. In the work, Simon's heart is not merely an organ that serves as a part of the body, but is likened to a medium representing his life and a physical "black box" containing the complete record of his passions and rhythms. As if meticulously excavating the records of life engraved in Simon's heart, the author intricately unfolds fragments of his existence throughout the narrative, sharply exploring the issues of life and death revealed through them.
Korean title: 살아 있는 자를 수선하기
Korean author: 마일리스 드 케랑갈
Korean publisher: 열린책들
ISBN-13: 9788932918082
Reviews
My child wanted to read it, so I ordered it. The content of the book is good, too.
The title *Mending the Living* gives off a somewhat enigmatic impression right from the start. With the question of how one could possibly "mending" a living person—and harboring the clumsy assumption that it might be a book about resolving mental issues—I turn the pages. *Mending the Living* by French novelist Mélisse de Kerangal, which is being introduced to Korea for the first time through Open Books, is a novel published in 2014 that is said to be a steady seller, having sold 500,000 copies
“What shall I do, Nikolai? Bury the dead and mend the living.” Thomas Rémijou reportedly felt a shiver down his spine upon hearing this line from the play *Platonov*. However, as a reader of this book, I actually got goosebumps upon reading the above line. While organ transplantation is certainly a noble undertaking, in a way, it is also something that evokes fear. The word "mending" in the book's title, *Mending the Living*, carries the meaning of saving a life through organ transplantation.
A fierce 24-hour record capturing the process of a human heart, a human life, being transplanted into another living being! My first impression of the title, "Mending the Living," was that it might be a horror story involving somewhat brutal plastic surgery procedures. While reading the introduction alone allows one to anticipate the content, imagining it through the title is also quite fun in its own way. Although the content deviated significantly from my expectations, it was a book that made
Mailles de Kerangal's *Mending the Living*—actually, looking at the title alone, I initially thought it was a thriller. However, rather than any metaphorical interpretation, it was a story about literally "mending" the "living." It is, in fact, a story about organ transplantation. This 342-page novel captures exactly 24 hours. The story begins with the 5:50 alarm set by nineteen-year-old Simon Lambre to enjoy surfing on the beach at dawn. It ends at 5:49, when Simon Lambre's heart begins to
Our lives, from being born into this world to passing away, are filled with many twists and turns. While the word "farewell" encompasses a wide variety of stories, this book, which deals specifically with organ donation, allows me to reflect once again on the meaning of life. Although my memory of when it happened is hazy, I once came across a story about a doctor in a rural area who passed away suddenly and decided to donate his organs, fulfilling his lifelong commitment. Although the term
I picked up this book knowing only a rough outline from the introduction. That rough outline consisted entirely of the unexpected death of a 19-year-old boy, organ donation, the pain felt by his family and those around him, and the fact that Bill Gates had recommended it as a must-read for the year. Now that I have finished reading it, if someone were to ask me, "What is that book about?", I wouldn't have much to say. That is exactly all the information I knew when I started reading it.
The overall plot of this book, titled "Repairing, Not Treating, People Who Are Not Machines," is not very complex. 19-year-old Simon Lambre loses consciousness in a traffic accident while returning home from surfing with friends on a holiday morning. His heart is beating, but he is not alive due to severe brain damage; his parents are contacted, and they approve an organ donation, which is then transplanted to a suitable recipient. The entire story of this book revolves around roughly a single
When I first saw the title *Mending the Living*, I wondered if it might be a mystery novel blending horror and thriller. To describe a person—and using the word "mending," a term typically associated with machines or patching scraps of clothing—was unsettling. The author's unique perspective felt somewhat chilling. However, hearing that Bill Gates had highly praised it piqued my curiosity even more. Once you turn a few pages, it quickly becomes clear why the author specifically chose the word
I bought this because it was recommended by Bill Gates. It has some thickness, but the size is just right, so I don't think it will be inconvenient to carry around! I'm looking forward to it!
