My drawing of the Himalayan Cedar
Author's Note
Recommendation

A twist of fate that passed the boy by
A story about choice told by author Seong Seok-je

Seong Seok-je's novel, "The Himalayan Cedar Paintings I Draw," has been published as the second volume in the "First Encounter with Novels" series.
This work delicately and seriously depicts the crossroads of choice that one encounters in the process of growing up and the bitter experience of frustration that one cannot forget in one's life.
It leaves a lasting impression, conveying the profound message that what ultimately determines whether a choice is wrong or not depends on one's subsequent attitude toward life.
Illustrator Kyo-eun's calm and beautiful drawings blend in with the atmosphere of the work, adding a deeper sense of emotion.


'If I could go back to that time, would I be able to say that?'
A coming-of-age novel depicting unforgettable moments in life.

"The Himalayan Cedar Painting I Painted" begins with the recollections of Baek Seon-gyu, a renowned Korean painter.
And by showing the perspectives of Baek Seon-gyu and a woman who attended the same school as him during his childhood, it meticulously depicts how their choices changed their lives.

Baek Seon-gyu, who liked soccer more than art as a child, grew up to become a famous painter.
However, he is plagued by self-doubt and doubts that someone might be more talented than him.
On the other hand, a woman who had a natural talent for painting but did not become an artist is now left as a mere viewer who goes to art galleries and gives up, saying, “I like paintings, and that person just needs to work hard at painting his own paintings” (p. 77).
Living up to his title of “unrivaled storyteller,” author Seong Seok-je maintains a tense atmosphere by alternately telling the voices of the two characters with flowing strokes.


Is that the result of who I am today?
The result of doubt, the result of frustration, the result of thinking that someone knows my secret.
―Page 76

Why didn't I do it?
Maybe it was because of the child who passed me by at that time, that child's expression.
The back of my neck where the soup was running, the musty smell emanating from my body, that filthy impression must have made me think that correcting my mistakes and wrong processes was a bothersome task.
―Page 63

They equally question, 'Should I have said something then?'
The lives of a poor boy with high expectations and a rich girl who hears, “All you need is for your daughter to grow up pretty and get married well” (page 36) gradually drift apart, and eventually, due to a secret that was “unspoken,” they go down different paths forever.
This work conveys a special feeling of emotion as it allows one to feel the absurdity of choice and life.


A stepping stone from fairy tale to novel
A welcome reading for friends who have grown distant from books, a first encounter with a novel.

'First Encounter with a Novel' is a new novel reading series that adds rich illustrations to literary masterpieces.
With engaging stories, short volumes of less than 100 pages, and captivating illustrations, even readers unfamiliar with reading can easily approach excellent contemporary works.
In particular, in a situation where the polarization of reading ability among teenagers is getting worse day by day, it received favorable reviews from teachers and parents at schools, saying, “We have been waiting for a book like this.”
It will provide a chance for those who have given up on reading to get closer to books and fall in love with literature once again, and for children who have stopped reading after fairy tales, it will serve as a stepping stone to novels.
To pump water from a deep well, you must pour a bucket of water from above.
The "First Encounter with a Novel" series will serve as a welcome aid to those who have become increasingly distant from literature, helping them reconnect with books and inject fresh vitality into our reading culture.



The first meeting is always exciting.
We hope that you will experience the joy of reading to the fullest through the 'First Encounter with Novels' series, which introduces short stories with illustrations.
- An Chan-su (poet, executive director of the Book Reading Society Cultural Foundation)
Children who used to nag their parents to read the same book over and over again when they were young now say they don't want to read books as they enter adolescence.
The 'First Encounter with a Novel' series delivers the fun and joy of being drawn into a story again without even realizing it.
- Choi Eun-young (Korean language teacher at Unjung Middle School in Gyeonggi Province)
For the past few years, after reading a novel at school, people have been saying that it is the first time they have read such a long piece of work.
I hope that 'First Encounter with a Novel' will serve as a bridge from fairy tales to novels.
- Seo Deok-hee (Korean language teacher at Gwanggyo High School in Gyeonggi Province)
I believe that literature is a treasure that offers comfort in times of hardship and exhaustion, imparts wisdom on how to live, and awakens us to the diverse values ​​of life.
I am excited to see our students enjoying reading books.
- Shin Byeong-jun (Korean language teacher at Samgoe Middle School in Gyeonggi Province)