This isn't an easy book to read, in terms of its subject matter. A young woman, Kyungha, has a memorable dream, but what does it mean? She is called to a hospital to visit her long standing friend Inseon . They have been friends for a long time and have parallel creative bonds. Inseon has injured her hands in a machinery accident and has to suffer hourly injections to stop sepsis in her reattached fingers. As a sculptor working with wood , this is something she is willing to endure, but is concerned for the welfare of her pet bords who won't survive without water. Kyungha sets off for Inseon's home on the island of Jeju, arriving in a violent snowstorm and just gets there, but is it too late? Then the plot takes an extraordinary turn, leaving the reader wondering what's real? However maybe the more important question is the reality of what is painstakingly revealed by gradual accretion, about the past of Inseon's I can see why the author is a Nobel prize winner, but this is not a book for the faint hearted. Deeply tragic and mysterious. Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC Tracey Exeter Roman Gate

I found this to be a most extraordinary and beautiful novel . One of the best I have read for a long time . And, perhaps, an ode to friendship. which may at first seem a strange thing to say . As the story really, has only four main characters. One of these being Ama the budgerigar. The other the element itself -snow. The book is set in Seoul, Korea. In the middle of a bitter winter . Inseon is in hospital, and suffering the severe pain of treatment , following a mutilating accident on her hand.. Kyungha is her best friend of near twenty years . Following a desperate plea from Inseon the one thing that can give her any form of mental solace from her suffering , a minimum of hope of a pain free future , is her budgie Ama. She asks Kyungha to go feed her budgie , within the next two days , or else it will die. And there is a huge snowstorm. On that bitter late afternoon and against all her better instincts , Kyungha finds herself at the edge of the woods, on the far side of which lies Inseon’s log cabin . It is now a moonless, full dark night, with the snow a blizzard, the wind gale force . Kyungha , her legs already knee deep in snow , and despite the parka coat, is shivering uncontrollably. And regardless now of the promise she made to Inseon her pain ridden friend, - to Ame- Kungha finds the temptation of just falling down in a snow drift and going to sleep , never to wake , almost irresistible . It is a novel of symbols . The snow being one, Ame another , And even such mundane items as a match, matchbox, a flame and a lit candle. ………….(especially the lit candle)…….

Memory, pain, creation, human connection, and the cost of bearing witness (as well as, perhaps, the duty to do so) are the weighty threads running through this dreamlike latest book from Nobel Laureate Han Kang. The longest of her novels translated into English, so far, it feels like a natural continuation and aggregation of the thematic and stylistic choices evident in her body of work. I highly recommend reading Human Acts before this, as it's the writing of that 2014 novel that acts as the kicking off point for a lingering psychic trauma on our protagonist which manifests in nightmares and motivates the actions which propel the plot. There is so much beauty in Kang's writing, both her imagery and her portrayal of human relationships (between the living and the dead, the familiar and the strangers of times past), but we are never allowed to hide from the pain that is inherent in really, truly and empathetically engaging with keeping alive the memory of historical crimes against humanity. This is in many ways a punishing read, but there's nothing self-indulgent about it, and the act of creation - of paying homage to, bearing witness to, and staying alert to the past reality of and future potential for human cruelty - feels vital, powerful and necessary. This is an important work by an uncompromising writer that proves the power (all the while acknowledging and pushing at the limits) of art.

Han Kang, now globally famous following her Nobel Prize Award, has this new novel, beautifully written, full of quiet devastation, to show the English speaking world why she deserved the Nobel. We Do Not Part is a novel which faces tragedy head-on, in lyrical, precise prose. It is haunting in it's excavation of massacres, of Korea's troubled past, but takes times to find moments of beauty too. If you have read her previous novels, especially Human Acts, you will know how Han Kang can say multitudes with just a few short, sharp sentences. She wields that scalpel many times here. This is a vital novel, challenging at times, but truly rewarding. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

We Do Not Part is a haunting and beautifully crafted narrative that intertwines the themes of friendship, memory, and trauma. When Kyungha receives an urgent message from her friend Inseon, who has been hospitalised after a serious accident, she rushes to Jeju Island to care for Inseon’s pet bird. This journey, however, is not merely a physical one; it becomes a profound exploration of the past and the weight of history that lingers in the present. As Kyungha battles a fierce snowstorm to reach Inseon’s home, the icy wind and swirling snow serve as metaphors for the emotional coldness and isolation that permeate their lives. Once she arrives, Kyungha uncovers the dark family history that Inseon has long kept buried. Through dreams, memories, and meticulously assembled archives, the narrative unravels a tragic massacre that haunts the island—a poignant reminder of the scars left by historical atrocities. The writing is lyrical and evocative, transporting readers into the heart of a winter landscape that mirrors the characters' emotional journeys. The friendship between Kyungha and Inseon is tenderly portrayed, underscoring the importance of connection in the face of overwhelming darkness. We Do Not Part serves as both a tribute to the power of imagination and a call to remember the past rather than bury it. The story resonates deeply, reminding us that the echoes of history still shape our lives today. This is more than just a novel; it is a powerful exploration of memory and the enduring bonds of friendship that can illuminate even the darkest paths. Read more at The Secret Book Review.