BOOK CLUB REPORT - Nov 2025
KCCNYC Dosan Hakdang October Meeting - A MAGICAL GIRL RETIRES
By Casey Eckersley
Those in the group who enjoyed the book really appreciated the whimsy and the creativity in the superpowers, and found it a lighthearted and enjoyable read. Additionally, some in the group felt that the book led them to larger discussions with friends and family about the current state of life and humanity. Do you feel like the world is still worth saving? What powers do you think could change things? Would you use it for good or to speed up the end? In such, can you empathize with the antagonist?
Some people felt that the novel left them wanting more and didn’t fully flesh out ideas and characters, but I think that in some ways that’s the beauty of literary fiction. Studies have shown that (literally) reading between the lines in literature and being forced to imagine characters’ feelings and motivations “carries over into the real world, which is full of complicated individuals whose inner lives are usually difficult to fathom.” Better understanding of others by reading Korean authors in translation is the goal of our book club, so in that sense, this book was a perfect choice. Millennial anxiety: our common thread.
The unexpected star of the book? The illustrations, which for those in the group not of the “Sailor Moon” generation, provided helpful context. They’re a beautiful addition to the story, and the illustrator’s note was another perspective to reflect on.
November DOSAN HAKDANG:
“THE DWARF” BY CHO SE HUI
In November, KCCNYC Dosan Hakdang will read The Dwarf by Cho Se Hui. We are reading the novel to remember how Korea's economic development in the 70s and 80s so-called the Miracle of Han River came about at the cost of many lives and sacrifices of many families. On November 13, 1970, Jeon Tae Il, a 22 year-old sewing factory worker and labor rights activist, set himself on fire calling for laborer's rights. His act garnered attention, and his surviving family worked to secure labor rights in South Korea since his death. We will be meeting on November 23rd and would love for you to join to learn more!
RSVP to join us is available here.
