Book spotted in RM's photo tops sales

[rockerista03.livejournal.com]

K-pop sensation BTS leader RM has unwittingly sent a book ― which has been out of print for almost 20 years ― to bestseller status in South Korea.

Kyobo Book Centre, the country's largest bookstore chain, said Monday the Korean-language book titled Dying Young, topped the art category in sales last week.

In a picture posted online on Aug. 10, RM was spotted reading the book, which is about the lives and works of 12 Korean artists who died young.

Afterward, BTS fans tried to purchase Dying Young to no avail, as the book has been out of print since 2003. Fans asked its publisher, Hyohyung Publishing, to reprint the book.

"At first, we were not sure whether to print the book again. But we opted to accept the request of BTS fans," Hyohyung representative Song Hyun-geun told UPI News Korea.

"It seems that we made the right decision because the book became a bestseller not only in Kyobo, but also in all other online bookstores. It's just amazing because I have never seen a case like this before," he said.

Hyohyung also received requests from overseas BTS fans to translate the book into English, but the publisher has no plans to do so, Song said.

RM is known to be an avid reader and has previously recommended books for his fans.

The list of books RM has mentioned or was seen reading include The Stranger by Albert Camus, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and 1984 by George Orwell. In addition, the singer is known to have read novels and poems by Haruki Murakami.

BTS is a seven-member boy band with a wide global fan base. Their latest hit song, "Butter," has topped the Billboard main singles chart for nine weeks, becoming the longest-running No. 1 song this year. (UPI)

Source: The Korea Times

Comments

[nacomi.livejournal.com]

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka still creeps me out.

[mjmjchick.livejournal.com]

I used to teach The Metamorphosis, and my students tended to like the creep factor. The cartoon Home Movies also did a hilarious “musical” about Kafka’s life that included someone in a big costume. 😂😂😂😂

[nacomi.livejournal.com]

Good for them xD
Normally I can stomach a lot, but that book just sends all shivers down the wrong way.

Edit: And with "metamorphosis" (Eng word) I always think of something positive at first (ot throwback to Hilary Duff), but then I have to think of all the larva and maggot as an example that leaves me

[broadcities.livejournal.com]

bookfluencer namjoon! his impact!

[dalpaengi.livejournal.com]

Transparent Blue by Ryu Murakami is another of his most treasured books 🙃 I wonder if fans ran out to buy that one too.

[xoxkenzxox.livejournal.com]

fans are weird. But I mean, good he is encouraging kids to read?

[em-cavey.livejournal.com]

Their influence is still absurd to me sometimes lol
Apparently the success of art exhibitions in Seoul can often split depending on one factor: the ones Namjoon went to and the ones Namjoon didn’t go to

[radowan.livejournal.com]

Animal Farm is better than 1984 and yes I will die on that hill!!

I'm fine with Camus, I almost like Kafka, but omfg Murakami makes me wanna die of dehydration on some rock in the ocean.

[rockerista03.livejournal.com]

I will join you on that Animal Farm hill lmao. My dad liked 1984 better tho

The Plague is my favourite Camus piece ngl but I am waiting for the day he finally reads Marx and Sarte. Murakami, I liked some pieces but you described how I felt for him perfectly lmao.

[radowan.livejournal.com]

Omg yes okay the Plague was truly enjoyable!!

TBH I don't know if he'll ever read Marx because of how marxism has been manifested in politics & communism, but I wish he'd read also Atul Gawande, or go totally wild and try out some female authors (ok that was too salty i'm sorry kim namjoon i know u r reading these lmao).

[daynr.livejournal.com]

for younger audiences especially, Animal Farm is better. For whatever reason, they seem to be able to apply the concepts more easily.

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

this is great! Also, I'm loving the very almost clinical/dry explanation of BTS as the last sentence/s lol

[1100003.livejournal.com]

Side comment: why are "classics" (everywhere) written by sausage parties? I won't lie to you guys, I'm sick of that

[broadcities.livejournal.com]

i like that namjoon is inspiring people to read and buy books but in my memory most of the books he's been seen reading or has recommended are written by men and are often books men read if they want to be (seen as) intellectual aka books written by other men

[1100003.livejournal.com]

yeah, it's really not a him problem, it's an issue everywhere.

I had to read all these in high school for "world literature", and it subliminally sends the message to young people that "the greatest" literary works are authored exclusively by men. Which we know is definitely not true. I hate in general how when something is produced by or enjoyed by majority women (such as BTS!) , it gets discredited as not "as high art" or what ever.

[broadcities.livejournal.com]

exactly! the sexism, white supremacy and classism dividing 'high' and 'low' culture is very gross (and the role 'authenticity' has to play in this binary distinction too). we see it return in the pandemic: governments are quickly ensuring that football matches can continue with an audience but (pop) concerts are paid dust, at least here.

[1100003.livejournal.com]

for sure, and when someone wants to branch out and read things by other authors (esp woc even the ones that are universally acclaimed like Toni Morrison or Angela Davis) it can make them feel like they have to be "brave" or almost "ask permission" first before doing so, because everything from institutions to individuals are telling us these crusty men are the end all be all of pure genius writing. I see it happen with my nephew now in school (he's not even 10 yet) so I have low expectations of this changing on a wide scale any time soon :(

[kris-terror.livejournal.com]

You got me curious what other things he's recommended, there seems to be plenty of women on here: https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/bts-rm-massive-book-reading-list-inspires-koreans-read-winter/


But yeah, overall lol he definitely seems the type to read things cause he thinks they are philosophical or essential literary canon reads~*~*.

[broadcities.livejournal.com]

aw thanks for fact checking my comment! his reading list is better than i remembered lol but definitely a lot of modern and older classics

i do like that he's reading and into art so much i wish he and other idols would share their readings lists more openly

[rainstormraider.livejournal.com]

You know why.
Misogyny even among novelists and book critics makes the world go round.

I mean we should all be worshipping Ursula K. Le Guinn and Octavia Butler but there’s always some H.G. Wells stan frothing at the mouth.

[shawarmafordays.livejournal.com]

I know people roll their eyes but I genuinely love the impact that BTS has on books, art and music.

Especially the Connect BTS projects they did a few years ago. It really helps with creating more awareness with Gen Z and below. People now want to read, listen and get into stuff that's not really considered cool by kids and it's very wholesome.

I almost wish they did a yearly recommendation drop like Obama.

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

Camus and Kafka >>>>>>>>>>>>>

Now, Murakami... I really dig how he writes loneliness and melancholy but the misogyny is way too heavy for me in his books. He can't write womn and he rally shouldn't write sex scenes because they are always awful >>