265 The Reason That Author Never Won 6 (1/2)
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
In response to the host asking about failures, the young author said, ”It's exactly as I said. I'm sure you've experienced failure at some point in your life, right? It's embarra.s.sing, and you'd do anything to go back and fix it. Yet, you hope it will benefit you somehow in the future. That's how my failures are to me.”
At that moment, a quiet chuckle came out of nowhere. It was Pyung Jin.
”I'm not gonna lie, Mr. Woo. That sounds odd coming from you.”
”I don't blame you. I get that a lot,” Juho said. He had often been referred to as an author who was immune to failure. Whenever he would hear that, the distance between others and himself dawned on the young author all the more. Now, he was finding himself in a similar position to the host's. The reason they weren't making small talk with each other was simple: they were strangers to each other. Meanwhile, the host took the opportunity to speak as the conversation came to an end, ”Does that mean you went through the same process when writing the new novel?”
”'An Insect Leaves No Trace,'” Pyung Jin murmured quietly.
”You can say that.”
”It's a very interesting t.i.tle. It reminds me of the t.i.tle of your first book, 'Trace of a Bird.'”
Then, as Juho s.h.i.+fted his position on the seat, the host asked the very first question about the new novel, ”Is there any connection between the t.i.tle of your new book and your first?”
When the finalized t.i.tle was announced, many had made a connection to Juho's debut t.i.tle, 'Trace of a Bird.' However, the young author shook his head slowly and said, ”No. The working t.i.tle was 'Insect.' I kept playing around with it until something came to me, and that's how the t.i.tle came about.”
”So, there's no correlation between the two whatsoever?”
”I wouldn't go as far as saying that they're completely unrelated, either. The atmospheres of those two novels are just the opposite of each other. If 'Trace of a Bird' can be described as simple and liberating, 'Insect' is convoluted and closed off, which explains why a bird would leave a trace when an insect wouldn't.”
The host listened intently and with a determined look on his face, as if he wasn't going to miss even the most minute of information. And when Juho finished speaking, he looked at the critic and said, ”What was your take on the book, Mr. Lee? Would you mind enlightening us as a critic?”
”This is slightly embarra.s.sing, especially with Mr. Woo around,” the critic said, hesitating. However, despite his att.i.tude, Juho was fully aware that he was a person who wasn't afraid to speak his mind. Remembering the bitter criticism he had heard from Pyung Jin, the young author said, ”Please.”
Then, straightening his tie, the critic said, ”Frankly, when I first heard that your new novel was going to be about love, I immediately expected to see the pure side of Yun Woo. I was curious about how you'd portray love on one hand, all the while holding on to my preconceived notions about your age on the other.”
Juho listened to him quietly.
”But all of that shattered completely about five pages into the book. Into thousands of pieces,” the critic said, emphasizing the last part of the sentence. Meanwhile, the host played along to him, nodding.
”A claustrophobic feel. Forgotten and revived memories. The frame story really s.h.i.+ned as a stable delivery mechanism for such a bizarre story about raising a bug,” the critic said, his sparkling tie moving with him everytime he spoke.
”Everything worked in perfect harmony, and it was very impactful. Before I knew it, I caught myself thinking, 'Yun Woo's done it again.' There was a reason behind your fearlessness in releasing a new book at a time like this. I realized just how confident you were.”
Then, Juho noticed the camera focusing on him, observing as if they were going to capture even the smallest change in his expression. However, the young author simply blinked.
”And there were also things that went beyond my understanding this time around.”
”And what were they?” the host asked. There was no way that he was going to let that opportunity slide. As he gave the floor to the critic, Pyung Jin said, ”The book hasn't been out for that long, so I won't go as far as spoiling it, but I think anybody who reads the book will know where I'm coming from.”
”And where exactly is that?” Juho asked. Although his expression shook initially from the young author's straight-forward question, the critic got right to the point, ”Have you ever drunk alcohol, Mr. Woo?”
Then, barely managing to keep a straight face, Juho said, ”I have. A handful of times when my parents offered me some.”
”Have you ever gotten drunk before?”
”In front of my parents? I wouldn't dare.”
”It happens growing up. If I were to be honest, when I was a student, I drank with my friends without the adults knowing. At a school trip, for example. Did you ever take alcohol to those trips, say, in a water bottle?”
”No,” Juho answered honestly.
(TL's Note: It's a common school experience in Korea to go on school trips that span a number of days. This is where students who are more ”curious” bring alcohol without their parents and/or teachers knowing, most likely to share with their friends at night.)
He had never gotten drunk in front of his parents or snuck alcohol in his water bottle to a school trip or retreat. However, he did recall drinking day and night as an adult.
”Why are we talking about alcohol all of a sudden?” the host said as if keep Pyung Jin from going too far. However, that was merely another way to continue the interview.
”There are a number of scenes in the story, both inner and outer, that involve gradual memory loss. But the way everything unfolds has an uncanny resemblance to someone who's growing drunk,” the critic said. He was catching on to the young author's intention quite accurately.
”Memory serves as an important piece and a device within the novel. It brings a paradoxical element to a story that is gradually closing up as it progresses, and it brings readers a sense of liberation. It's bound to drive somebody crazy because of how frustrating it is. At the same time, it's just so incredibly satisfying. You might be wondering what I'm getting at, but you'll know as soon as you read the book yourself,” the critic said, skillfully adding a subtle recommendation for the book, like someone who was a regular in a book-related TV show. ”How were you able to portray that with such realism when you're underage yourself?”
”I'm flattered, but there's not much to it. I just observed people around me when they were drinking. That's all,” the young author answered unhurriedly.
At that, the critic shook his head subtly, as if he wasn't buying Juho's answer.
”In that case, how did you think of utilizing something that you have yet to experience in your book?”
”I saw something that's left quite the impression on me once. After that, I realized just how ugly a person can be when they're drunk.”
”... I see,” Pyung Jin said as he let up. However, he was merely looking for another opportunity to ask even more questions. ”Have you ever had any urges, then?”
”As in?”
”Like wanting to try alcohol yourself or wanting to get drunk so that you can have a deeper understanding of what you're writing.”
Like a critic, Pyung Jin was well aware of the tendencies of authors.