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Greek Lessons

Winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature

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Greek Lessons

By: Han Kang, Deborah Smith - translator, e. yaewon - translator
Narrated by: Greta Jung, Earl T. Kim
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The unforgettable novel from Booker International Prize winner Han Kang, author of The Vegetarian.

In this compelling and beautifully-patterned novel, Han Kang tells the interwoven stories of a Greek instructor who is losing his sight and a woman who refuses to speak. Uniquely involving, and thoughtful, it explores the depths and limits of human connection.

A remarkable and timeless writer, Han Kang's words and stories go to the heart of what it means to be human - to be a species capable of both utmost violence and utmost love. With enormous tact, clarity and tenderness she examines the lives of the overlooked and the little seen, affording them a grace and dignity which makes them unforgettable.

'Han Kang is what most writers spend their lives trying to be: a fearless, unsentimental teller of human truths' Lisa McInerney

'Han Kang's vivid and at times violent storytelling will wake up even the most jaded of literary palates' Independent

©2023 Han Kang (P)2023 Penguin Audio

 Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction World Literature

Critic reviews

By turns love letter to and critique of language itself, Greek Lessons is a brief yet, in its concision and finesse, lapidary work . . . one of Han's most intimate works
In Greek Lessons Kang reaches beyond the usual senses to translate the unspeakable . . . Han Kang turns the well-worn idea of the mind-body disconnect into something fresh and substantial
This novel is a celebration of the ineffable trust to be found in sharing language . . . [Han] is an astute chronicler of unusual, insubordinate women
Han Kang is a writer like no other. In a few lines, she seems to traverse the entirety of human experience (Katie Kitamura)
Han Kang's vivid and at times violent storytelling will wake up even the most jaded of literary palates
An elliptical, enigmatic book . . . Han's style creates mystery
Han Kang's hypnotic Greek Lessons probes the limits of language
Han Kang is what most writers spend their lives trying to be: a fearless, unsentimental teller of human truths . . . Han Kang is a genius (Lisa McInerney, author of The Glorious Heresies)
Another stunning gem: quiet, sharply faceted, and devastating
All stars
Most relevant
Han Kang does the heavy lifting here, as it’s an exquisitely well-written novel—the voice actors merely have to deliver the words. For the most part, they do so competently, with well-articulated speech.

And yet I did feel slight annoyance when they voiced characters of the opposite sex, or young characters, as the altered pitch sounded so artificial. But overall, it was a wonderful novel, and the audiobook served its purpose in keeping me focused whilst reading.

Gorgeous novel, competent voice acting

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The Reading (performance) is fine.
Characters believeable, if not very interessant.
The story I found mind-numbingly boring.

Boring beyond belief

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Poetical to the point of obscurity. Maybe it’s the translation but there’s much potentious talk that doesn’t really resolve anything.

I enjoyed to vegetarian though it was obscure in places and very bleak. But this one defeated me.

I read a couple of books a day but this one left me feeling stupid and confused.

Pleasant enough but I have no real idea what it’s about

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Pseudo-philosophy for the chattering classes. At least it’s not very long. Give it a miss.

Twaddle

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