Recommendation

Prologue I see it this way

Chapter 1 I miss the world so much

Festival of Hungry Spirits
Endless plains
My warrior
In front of the Tuman River
1,442 stories
The real Clark
Love and gambling are just a hair's breadth apart
Jazz performance on a summer day
Vietnam, that bloody memory
Hot discrimination
Best sandwich

Chapter 2: Moments when you feel feverish even though it's not hot

1cc of filler to fill the void
Counting the Blind Barista
Dance with the Devil
Walking through Monet's garden
How to feel cherry blossoms
Spring Guest
The moment you become an adult
I have a fever even though it's not hot.
Still cowardly
Watermelon tastes like tears
A banknote that smelled like naphthalene
Chuno
Walk your path

Chapter 3 We will survive and survive somehow.

A mysterious incident
That kind of person
How to fight injustice
The moment when dreams bloom
Memories of the cheek stone
Fake wise men
I brought a flower pot into the house
Each person's compassion
I'll be your home
Black flames and red Volkswagen

Epilogue

Rather than being empty while enjoying stability
Things I experienced because I wanted to be passionate even if it was a mess,
A unique travelogue that only author Jo Seung-ri can write.

The activity that allows us to experience the most unfamiliar experiences is traveling.
Writer Seungri Jo, whose hobby is traveling, takes time out of her busy daily life to go on a trip.
Nha Trang and Hanoi in Vietnam, Penang in Malaysia, Tokyo in Japan, Macau in Hong Kong, Clark in the Philippines, Baekdu Mountain, etc.
Although it was not easy to find a travel companion, author Seungri Jo eventually encounters and describes new scenery at the destination he traveled to.
Standing on the hot plains of Vietnam, briefly removed from the shopping spree of health food and latex, I recall Nguyen Ngoc Tu's novel "Endless Plains" and contemplate the hope of surviving a harsh life.
In Penang, Malaysia, which happens to be the Chung Yuan Festival, people are realizing the physical and mental emptiness caused by the hardships of life.
In this way, he imagines and draws in his mind everything he hears, smells, tastes, and touches, saying, “The invisible have their own way of appreciating scenery.”
His synesthetic expressions, such as predicting rain by the smell of water in the air and recalling warm memories of a trip to Vietnam by a pungent smell, provide readers with a new taste in writing.
His descriptions are so vivid that, as you read the book, the conventional wisdom that observation depends on sight is shattered.
This is also why the expression 'saw' he uses in his books feels natural.

A cool breeze blows, pushing a blue canvas before my eyes.
The cold sunlight breaks across the canvas, coloring it with particles of light.
I draw a blue sky and a lake shining with azure in my eyes.
That's how I vividly remember and appreciate time and space.
The smell of the sky and the earth, the sound of people chatting, the texture of the air touching my skin.
Unfamiliar sensations become new stimuli, leading me to broad thinking and deep contemplation.
I am grateful that there are so many senses that can replace sight.
_Page 10, from “Prologue”

It would be great if the journey he embarked on was smooth and beautiful, but the cruel reality does not leave him alone.
Because it is a type of travel where you have to be with someone, you end up with more people than other travelers.
At this time, writer Jo Seung-ri captures all kinds of human figures with his astute gaze.
A package tour guide who pressures you to buy things, a traveler who is rude to a local guide, a local driver who is more than kind, and a group of people who bring unexpected laughter and emotion.
With them, writer Jo Seung-ri's emotions fluctuate up and down.
A more three-dimensional feeling is created than when you just stay in daily life.
In particular, the author's change of heart, from being suspicious of the person who showed him kindness, saying, "I didn't believe in kindness without a price," to feeling embarrassed, sorry, and grateful after realizing his pure heart, is both amusing and touching.
This is something that everyone can relate to, not only when traveling abroad but also in life, as they receive help from others in big and small ways.

“I’m worried you might get scammed.
If you need a taxi, let me know.
“I’ll introduce you to an article that will give you peace of mind.”
My face felt hot.
I was ashamed of myself for doubting his good intentions.
I spent my last night in Vietnam with a warm heart.
_Page 102, from “Hot Discrimination”

In addition to travelogues, the book contains the sensory experiences of author Seungri Jo, who expands her world by trying various things that catch her fancy.
Readers who encounter him passionately feeling this world and facing fate are led to think that experience is the sum total of something that transcends sight.
And his will and passion give him the strength to live today.
It is the strength to shake off the expressions that confine oneself with words of helplessness and resignation such as ‘anyway’ and ‘whatever I do, it’s no use’.
And it comes to mind naturally.
What new experiences have you had recently? What are some things you just want to do without any sense of obligation? What are some feelings you've been suppressing and ignoring?
These questions will add vitality to your life.

The shape of emotions that are faced with courage
About the 'living temperature' that is sensitively detected

In particular, the expression of heat stands out in this book.
It is a kind of 'fever', a feeling brought on by emotions felt through unfamiliar experiences, and a feeling that comes from emotions that one had previously pretended not to know about.
The cowardice he felt towards himself during his school days when he pretended not to know his friend, whom others had badmouthed, because he was embarrassed to see him, the jealousy he felt towards his adoptive grandfather's granddaughter who was showing a lively side to her father, the anger that welled up when he heard the gossip of the women who tried to harass and take advantage of his disability...
The emotional intensity reaches its peak, especially at the end of the book, when the author reminisces about his father and mother.
The author calmly describes the moment when a fever rises even though it is not hot, and the 'living temperature' felt when one is acutely aware of one's own feelings, leaving a strong impression on the reader.

What is impressive is that even author Jo Seung-ri did not have such rich experiences and senses from the beginning.
There was a time when I worked so coldly that I was called a "Sujeonno" (a word meaning "hard worker").
At the time, I was so busy that I didn't have time to relax due to financial reasons such as the hardship of making a living and the responsibility I had for my family.
When I was only doing what I had to do, I had no time to reflect on myself, and I didn't even realize that I was becoming increasingly hungry inside.


The person who recommended the trip was my close friend A.
She cautiously told me that I was changing for the worse and advised me to distance myself from reality.
I dismissed it as empty talk.
He told me about my reality: I couldn't take a single day off to save up for the monthly savings I had to make and to send money to my family.

“You look so unhappy.
“I want you to love yourself the most.” _Page 20, from “The Festival of Hungry Spirits”

On the advice of a friend, I realized my misfortune and went on a trip.
Rather than just filling my stomach, I began to savor life by slowly tasting the various and subtle flavors.
It's not because I have more time and money than before, but because I realized the need to feel good about living.
In this way, we face and accept experiences and emotions one by one.
Author Jo Seung-ri honestly confesses and recalls emotions and memories that she did not want to admit, which were like a kind of shame.
I recall the memories I want to forget, organize them in writing, and embrace them as part of my emotions.
While writing the book, emotions like anger, sadness, jealousy, and betrayal sometimes burned like a strong flame, but at the same time, warm emotions like gratitude, emotion, and joy also bloomed passionately.

There are readers who only find author Jo Seung-ri's writing sad.
But ultimately, the power that attracted many readers with his first book was the universality of his writing, which resonated with many people regardless of disability or gender.
This collection of essays is also like that.
It reminds us of how important it is to react sensitively and not be insensitive to hurt or pain, and how precious the sensations we can feel because we are alive are.
In this way, author Jo Seung-ri's intimate emotions and three-dimensional depictions of sensations provide readers with an opportunity to deeply savor life.

“I dreamed of becoming an accountant, but I became visually impaired.
I used to be a masseuse, but I became a writer.
“Where will fate take me?”
Jo Seung-ri's Reason for Writing: His Declaration as a Writer

Writer Seungri Cho, who dreamed of becoming an accountant, became a visually impaired masseuse, and now has a new identity as a writer.
But after publishing my first book, I felt an inexplicable emptiness.
I felt relieved and happy to write, but at the same time, writing became burdensome.
But he didn't stop there and went out in search of unfamiliar experiences.
And finally, I regain the desire to write.
The book that recorded that process is 『Black Flame and Red Volkswagen』.

It was a day without much to gain, but for some reason, a feeling of excitement filled me.
That day, I started writing again, which I had stopped.
If I've been talking about the past so far, I want to write about the present and future from now on.
Page 123, "1cc of Filler to Fill the Void"

Reading this new book by Seungri Cho, who has found her voice as a writer, makes me think again about many things.
It makes you reconsider your vague and superficial perception of disability, starting with thoughts like, "How can a visually impaired person travel abroad?" and "They must read Braille because they're visually impaired." and "They must be kind because they're disabled."
And we begin to dream of a new vision for the society in which we live together.
However, rather than making a definitive claim, the author subtly tells the reader a story by confessing his own indifference.
Although the author had no particular interest in world peace, inter-Korean issues, or the history of democratization, the book reveals the author's transformation as he encountered these issues directly and indirectly and witnessed others putting their beliefs into practice.
He vows.
“I will become a conscience that takes courageous action.” Author Seungri Cho’s declaration, which appears throughout this book, makes clearer why this book deserves to be read widely and why it exists.

I have never been a parent before, so I don't fully understand that feeling.
But as a person with a disability, I know one thing.
The fact is that even if parental protection disappears, we will somehow survive and continue to survive.
My life is proof of that.
_Page 214, from “The Mysterious One”

I realized that the 'that kind of person' the landlady was talking about was me.
At that moment, I thought of F.
That strong attitude towards life.
He sat up straight with his shoulders back.
And then I slowly started eating.
It was unpleasant, but I didn't want to leave a scar.
But I made a promise.

'You should write more stories about the "people like that" you talk about.
We will make it known that we are living together.
That is my mission, which I have chosen.' _Pages 223-224, from "That Kind of Person"

I started to cry and then chuckled,
A humorous and witty piece by author Jo Seung-ri.

Author Jo Seung-ri's stories are serious and sad, but also funny and entertaining.
No matter how chaotic the story may be, it ends not with bitterness and disillusionment, but with affection, hope, and a smile, thanks to his writing skills.
It may also be because of the author's personality, which makes you laugh when it's funny, and laughs even louder when it's absurd and you're angry.
A funny yet sad story, a lighthearted yet heavy story.
This book reflects his contradictory and fascinating temperament.

As my mood and condition became worst, I suddenly felt like laughing.
That was my personality.
When I gave up, I laughed heartily.
Page 68, "The Real Clark"

His experiences, meticulously observed and written down, are not limited to personal stories.
What makes life worth living, what does it feel like to live like a human being, and furthermore, what does a society in which we can all live well look like?
Reading this book will make you aware of and think about situations and emotions you've never thought about before.
It is the joy of reading, a moment of empathy and sympathy that comes from transcending the specific conditions that externally define author Jo Seung-ri, such as being a woman, visually impaired, and Korean.

This book is recommended for readers who want to gain insight through the various senses he discovers in the process of trying and experiencing something that catches their eye, and for readers who want to read a collection of essays that boast a unique writing style.

“The fleeting moment of crossing the Han River in an electric train, the red light that fills my eyes, fills me with ecstasy.
Those brief, warm, and ecstatic moments give us the strength to endure misfortune.
(…) I believe that experience will give me the courage to face the dark future and my undying passion.” _Pages 285-286, from “Epilogue”