“Park’s stunning English-language debut takes readers through the wild highs and lows of young adulthood . . . The strength of the narrator, notably his flexibility of voice and expansiveness, caries the narrative to great heights, making this a standout among queer literature.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Love in the Big City is the English-language debut of Sang Young Park, one of Korea’s most exciting young writers. A runaway bestseller, the novel hit the top five lists of all the major bookstores and went into twenty-six printings as one of the highest selling debuts of recent years in Korea. Award-winning for its unique literary voice and perspective and particularly resonant with young readers, this story of a young gay man searching for happiness in the lonely city of Seoul has been a phenomenon in Korea and is poised to capture a worldwide readership. A brilliantly written novel filled with powerful sensory descriptions and both humor and emotion, Love in the Big City is an exploration of millennial loneliness as well as the joys of queer life.
In this episode of Author Talks, Sang Young Park discusses his career in Korea and his English debut.
“A novel, told through relationships, about navigating life as a young gay man in Korea . . . The novel skips freely around in time, lending it a sense of propulsion and instability that feels entirely intentional. It’s anchored, however, by the narrator’s irresistible voice, which alternates between earnest, heartfelt emotion, and likable wryness . . . This book will sweep readers up in its sheer longing. An addictive, profound novel.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred reviews)
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 | 5 PM
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About the Speaker:
Sang Young Park was born in 1988 and studied French at Sungkyunkwan University. He worked as a magazine editor, copywriter, and consultant for seven years before debuting as a novelist. The title story of his bestselling short story collection, “The Tears of an Unknown Artist, or Zaytun Pasta,” was one of Words Without Borders’ most read pieces ever. He lives in Seoul.