Theory of Light and Matter
 |
Description
Book Introduction
Andrew Porter's first novel collection, which established him as a leading figure in modern American literature with his debut work alone. This book became a textbook for many writers after being introduced on the podcast [Kim Young-ha's Book Reading Time]. Andrew Porter, who rose to stardom as a rising star in American short story literature with just one debut work. His debut work, Theory of Light and Matter, was published by Munhakdongne. "The Theory of Light and Matter" is a collection of ten short stories that resonate deeply with their delicate writing style, and won the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Stories. It was also a finalist for the Stephen Turner Award, the Patterson Award, the Frank O'Connor Award, and the William Saroyan Award, and was named a "Book of the Year" by Forward Magazine, the Kansas City Star, and the San Antonio Express in the year of its publication. The press response was also enthusiastic: The Independent described him as “the most noteworthy short-story writer in America today,” The Times of London called The Theory of Light and Matter “a formidable collection,” and Libro Hebdo raved, “He has already shown the craftsmanship of this strikingly powerful debut.” In the Anglo-American cultural sphere, where long novels are the mainstream, the critical and reader acclaim for his short story collection is unusual. "Theory of Light and Matter" was first published in Korea in 2011, but went out of print because it did not attract the attention of domestic readers. However, the title work, "Theory of Light and Matter," was introduced on the podcast [Kim Young-ha's Book Reading Time], and word of mouth spread, leading to a reprint. This book, long considered a hidden masterpiece among Korean literature fans for its profound insights into relationships, elegant and delicate prose, and chilling yet moving story, is now being re-released by Munhakdongne with a more elegant and accurate translation. |
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index
hole
coyote
Azul
Theory of Light and Matter
The Dog by the River
outing
Merkin
storm
skin
Connecticut
coyote
Azul
Theory of Light and Matter
The Dog by the River
outing
Merkin
storm
skin
Connecticut
Into the book
Actually, I think Robert felt as guilty about our relationship as I did.
And his ambivalence about taking our friendship to the next level clearly stemmed from a deep fear that it might cause me to resent him later.
One evening, as we sat on his couch, I was telling him about my parents' new house.
It wasn't a very interesting story, and after a while I could tell he wasn't listening to me.
When I finally finished telling the story, he sighed.
Then he looked at me with a sad expression and said.
“I’m afraid you’ll hate me for this someday, Heather.”
“For what reason?”
“This kind of meeting,” he said.
“I’m afraid that one day you’ll look back on this encounter and hate me.”
I saw him.
“Do you know what I’m afraid of, Robert?” I said, touching his hand.
“I’m afraid I won’t hate you anymore.”
--- p.107~108
I stroked my sister's head and ran my fingers through her hair.
After a while, as the wind blew, my sister buried her face in my chest and closed her eyes.
For a moment, I was transported back to a late summer afternoon when I was a child, sitting there waiting for my father to return from work.
I still remember my sister smiling when I saw the headlights of my father's car coming down the hill.
It seemed like the simplest joy in the world.
That light, that car, that knowing that your loved one is coming home.
--- p.245~246
I'm just thinking about Chloe's skin.
My young wife's pale skin, as cool and soft as her name.
Outside, the music gets louder and Chloe rolls toward me.
First he kisses my chest and then slowly moves down.
I close my eyes.
In a little while we will fall asleep together on our little mattress, as we do every night.
Listening to the wind swaying through the palm trees outside the window, we believe in the foggy dream that we are people far from cruelty.
And his ambivalence about taking our friendship to the next level clearly stemmed from a deep fear that it might cause me to resent him later.
One evening, as we sat on his couch, I was telling him about my parents' new house.
It wasn't a very interesting story, and after a while I could tell he wasn't listening to me.
When I finally finished telling the story, he sighed.
Then he looked at me with a sad expression and said.
“I’m afraid you’ll hate me for this someday, Heather.”
“For what reason?”
“This kind of meeting,” he said.
“I’m afraid that one day you’ll look back on this encounter and hate me.”
I saw him.
“Do you know what I’m afraid of, Robert?” I said, touching his hand.
“I’m afraid I won’t hate you anymore.”
--- p.107~108
I stroked my sister's head and ran my fingers through her hair.
After a while, as the wind blew, my sister buried her face in my chest and closed her eyes.
For a moment, I was transported back to a late summer afternoon when I was a child, sitting there waiting for my father to return from work.
I still remember my sister smiling when I saw the headlights of my father's car coming down the hill.
It seemed like the simplest joy in the world.
That light, that car, that knowing that your loved one is coming home.
--- p.245~246
I'm just thinking about Chloe's skin.
My young wife's pale skin, as cool and soft as her name.
Outside, the music gets louder and Chloe rolls toward me.
First he kisses my chest and then slowly moves down.
I close my eyes.
In a little while we will fall asleep together on our little mattress, as we do every night.
Listening to the wind swaying through the palm trees outside the window, we believe in the foggy dream that we are people far from cruelty.
--- p.249
Publisher's Review
Everything passes, but some moments never fade away.
A poignant account of the moments that changed lives forever.
The ten stories in this collection each tell different stories, but they have one thing in common: they stare intently at a certain point in the past.
It doesn't have to be a spectacular event, but some things can completely change a person, and we all inevitably face such moments at least once in our lives.
The reason Andrew Porter's novels are so beloved is probably because he soothes the different wounds we all carry.
Growing pains exist not only for children but also for adults.
Andrew Porter closely observes the characters' emotions and depicts the trajectories of their lives with a cool yet heartfelt touch.
Andrew Porter's stories feature characters who seem to live stable lives at first glance, but who harbor scars inside their hearts that only they know about.
The header of "The Theory of Light and Matter" is unable to sort out her memories of Robert, with whom she had a deep connection, but who she eventually had to leave.
The memories that remain with her are beautiful yet painful, and because they are indefinable, they are all the more difficult to shake off.
"Connecticut," the story of a man who must come to terms with his wife falling in love with another man's wife; "Azul," the story of a couple who discover a strange side of themselves when they bring in an exchange student to live a more energized life; and "The River Dog," about a man confused about how he should feel about the violence he committed against his brother.
They carry on with their lives, embracing certain memories, and understanding the emotions that hold them back remains an eternal task.
Andrew Porter, through Robert in "The Theory of Light and Matter," argues that there are incomprehensible emotions in life, and that they may have the most important meaning in life.
“The moment you think you understand something, you eliminate all opportunities for discovery.”
Page 92, "Theory of Light and Matter"
Such emotions can leave behind longing, guilt, and a sense of loss that cannot be shaken off, but the process of trying to understand them is itself a part of life.
We are made up of such parts of life.
Why are beautiful things so sad?
Why are painful stories so beautiful?
Andrew Porter's novels touch our hearts not only because of their truthful stories, but also because of the beautiful sentences he carefully writes, making them even more captivating.
His elegant prose, which alternates between restraint and abundance, sometimes flows like a river, sometimes like a torrent, clearly shows us why some stories must be told through the medium of language.
Why are beautiful things so sad, why are painful stories so beautiful?
As I read his novels, I sometimes come across sentences that make my heart ache, and I want to stop turning the pages for a moment and catch my breath.
But it's not easy to stop reading his writing.
His sophisticated sentences are not only beautiful but also have a powerful power to draw readers into that world.
We have been waiting for a long time for such a delicate and powerful writer.
A poignant account of the moments that changed lives forever.
The ten stories in this collection each tell different stories, but they have one thing in common: they stare intently at a certain point in the past.
It doesn't have to be a spectacular event, but some things can completely change a person, and we all inevitably face such moments at least once in our lives.
The reason Andrew Porter's novels are so beloved is probably because he soothes the different wounds we all carry.
Growing pains exist not only for children but also for adults.
Andrew Porter closely observes the characters' emotions and depicts the trajectories of their lives with a cool yet heartfelt touch.
Andrew Porter's stories feature characters who seem to live stable lives at first glance, but who harbor scars inside their hearts that only they know about.
The header of "The Theory of Light and Matter" is unable to sort out her memories of Robert, with whom she had a deep connection, but who she eventually had to leave.
The memories that remain with her are beautiful yet painful, and because they are indefinable, they are all the more difficult to shake off.
"Connecticut," the story of a man who must come to terms with his wife falling in love with another man's wife; "Azul," the story of a couple who discover a strange side of themselves when they bring in an exchange student to live a more energized life; and "The River Dog," about a man confused about how he should feel about the violence he committed against his brother.
They carry on with their lives, embracing certain memories, and understanding the emotions that hold them back remains an eternal task.
Andrew Porter, through Robert in "The Theory of Light and Matter," argues that there are incomprehensible emotions in life, and that they may have the most important meaning in life.
“The moment you think you understand something, you eliminate all opportunities for discovery.”
Page 92, "Theory of Light and Matter"
Such emotions can leave behind longing, guilt, and a sense of loss that cannot be shaken off, but the process of trying to understand them is itself a part of life.
We are made up of such parts of life.
Why are beautiful things so sad?
Why are painful stories so beautiful?
Andrew Porter's novels touch our hearts not only because of their truthful stories, but also because of the beautiful sentences he carefully writes, making them even more captivating.
His elegant prose, which alternates between restraint and abundance, sometimes flows like a river, sometimes like a torrent, clearly shows us why some stories must be told through the medium of language.
Why are beautiful things so sad, why are painful stories so beautiful?
As I read his novels, I sometimes come across sentences that make my heart ache, and I want to stop turning the pages for a moment and catch my breath.
But it's not easy to stop reading his writing.
His sophisticated sentences are not only beautiful but also have a powerful power to draw readers into that world.
We have been waiting for a long time for such a delicate and powerful writer.
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: May 13, 2019
- Format: Hardcover book binding method guide
- Page count, weight, size: 280 pages | 378g | 128*188*20mm
- ISBN13: 9788954656160
- ISBN10: 8954656161
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