Dramabeans » books

Ramyun Shop gets reimagined in novel form

javabeans — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:59:51 +0000

It’s often the other way around, but following the success of tvN’s romantic-comedy drama Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, the story will be reborn in novel form.

What makes this funny is that the drama is already (loosely) based on a novel, called Sweet and Sour Bakery. That book was different enough in setting and characters, but you can see how the drama got its inspiration from its depiction of teenage boys cast adrift, each separated from his family in a different way, coming together and finding a workplace family.

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Post tags: books, Flower Boy Ramyun Shop

Go Hyun-jung publishes beauty book

javabeans — Sun, 01 May 2011 12:30:41 +0000

Add actress Go Hyun-jung to the list of actors-turned-authors; the Daemul and Queen Seon-deok star has published a book of beauty secrets titled, appropriately enough, Go Hyun-jung’s Secrets.

The book covers Go Hyun-jung’s everyday life in “documentary format,” which, uh, okay. (I suppose we can deduce that it means there are photos and short descriptions/essays/ blurbs describing her life, but still. Oh well; this wouldn’t be the first time the word documentary was stretched to describe one of her projects.)

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Novel version of My Princess published

javabeans — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 21:25:42 +0000

With the success of the drama My Princess these days, MBC Productions has hastened to adapt the story for another format with a novelization.

The novel features a plot that, like the drama, focuses on the development of love amidst the quarreling and clashes of its two leads. However, it purports to differ substantially in its more detailed exploration of the characters’ inner thoughts and struggles.

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Secret Garden to be made into manhwa and novel

javabeans — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 13:16:00 +0000

Can’t get enough of the wacky romantic comedy Secret Garden? Thanks to the popularity of the drama series, the story will be adapted for several additional formats: a novel, a photo comic book, and a soonjung manhwa (aka shojo manga, or romance-themed comic book).

The novel will be written by a new writer, Kang Yi-eul, and will include many of the drama’s most recognizable bits of dialogue as written by scriptwriter Kim Eun-sook. An example: “Is this your best? Are you sure?” which is the icy comment Joo-won always levels at his staff, which intimidates them and asserts his position as alpha dog. As though his position as CEO and his general hauteur weren’t enough to cow them into submission.

In the photo comic book, memorable scenes will be captured in stills and arranged, comic book style, to tell a story. Since all of its material will be taken from the drama proper, the story won’t be new, so I suppose it works more as a collector’s item for drama fans. It’ll be published in two volumes. The actual (soonjung) comic book, in contrast, will diverge from the drama’s established storyline to include new plotlines for the characters.

Hmm, it’s good for the drama producers, but I’m not sure how compelling this franchise will be without the crackling onscreen chemistry between Hyun Bin and Ha Ji-won (and the childish rivalry between Hyun Bin and Yoon Sang-hyun). At least readers will have their portrayals in mind when reading the new material, which should help.

The novel became available for preorders this week, and preorders open up for the first of the two photo books next week. The manhwa collection plans to go up for preorders in January.

Via BNT News

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Gong Hyo-jin publishes environmental essays

javabeans — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:16:12 +0000

Gong Hyo-jin (Pasta) joins the ranks of actor-authors by publishing an essay book, which will be released this month.

The collection is called Gong Book [공책], which is a play on her own surname and the word for “notebook,” and is themed around environmental topics. In it, Gong discusses her interest and thoughts about the environment, her everyday life, and personal insights.

She explained, “I’m not an environmental specialist, and compared to environmental activists I’m just a baby who’s barely taken her first step. What I want to say in this book is that even imperfect, little things, when if they’re done together with greater numbers, they can achieve great things. And that I may be imperfect, but the things I worry about and try to put into practice are things I want to do with more people. I wanted to talk about these things frankly.”

I… can’t say anything nice about the book cover, so I won’t say anything at all. But props to Gong for tackling at timely topic with her project. A lot of times these actor books seem like vanity projects — no judgment, just pointing out that they are often diary-like affairs about their personal lives, which can be a lot of fun for the actors’ fans, I’m sure. But I also appreciate when they have other things to say.

Gong’s book will be published on December 13.

Via DongA

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Kim Nam-joo writes about her marriage and home

girlfriday — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 22:58:37 +0000

Queen of Reversals star Kim Nam-joo wrote a book, and it’s shooting up the ranks. Methinks they timed it well, with the premiere of her drama. The collection of essays and photographs, called Kim Nam-joo’s House, is a candid discussion of her family life and home.

Of particular interest, of course, is her marriage to actor Kim Seung-woo (IRIS), along with their two kids, and their happy home. Kim opened the doors of their house to have photographs taken for the book, and reportedly shows an enviable knack for interior design. Not surprising, since she’s always impeccably dressed.

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Post tags: books, Kim Nam-joo, Kim Seung-woo, Queen of Reversals

So Ji-sub’s book becomes bestseller

girlfriday — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:01:02 +0000

Within ten days of its release, So Ji-sub‘s photo-essay book hit the bestseller list and received a warm reception from fans. It’s already sold 50,000 copies by pre-order, and has entered its third printing.

The book, entitled So Ji-sub’s Road, is a collection of photographs and essays. He also writes about his interactions with various writers and artists, like rapper Tiger JK. The usually taciturn and stoic So Ji-sub reveals his inner thoughts throughout the book, drawing a lot of interest from fans. It’s nice to see him take the first step past his reticent image.

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Bae Yong-joon’s book to be published overseas

girlfriday — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 12:31:26 +0000

Bae Yong-joon‘s travel-essay book on Korean culture has been a bestseller in both Korea and Japan since its release a year ago. Now he’s launching a Taiwanese publication, and preparing for a release in China as well as an English translation.

Bae’s Journey in Search of Korea’s Beauty went through 13 re-printings within a month of its release, skyrocketing it to the bestseller list right away. Not a surprise, considering Bae’s superstar status in Korea and Japan. The man’s pretty much a god in Japan.

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So Ji-sub publishes photoessay collection

javabeans — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:03:25 +0000

It’s well-known that So Ji-sub enjoys photography as a hobby, and now he’s joining the growing ranks of actors with published books. On August 31, his photoessay collection, So Ji-sub’s Road (no relation to his recent drama Road No. 1) will be published.

According to So’s rep at management company 51K, the volume will cover stories and photos over the past 13 years since his debut, using unpretentious language and sensitive photography. After wrapping up the filming on Road No. 1, So spent July taking trips to the DMZ and Gangwon province while preparing the book, which is divided into the following categories: Rest and Travel; Freedom; Injury and Healing; Youth and Passion; Memory, Things to Leave Behind; Ours, Mine; and Reconciliation, Love.

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Han Ji-hye publishes autobiographical essay collection

javabeans — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:34:40 +0000

Another actor gives book-writing a whirl: Han Ji-hye (Like the Moon Escaping From Clouds) recently published My Fair Lady, a collection of “autobiographical lifestyle essays.”

The volume focuses on Han’s hobbies and daily life rather than on her onscreen work and contains Han’s writings about her current experiences as a twentysomething single woman, as well as her reflections on her life till now. It also touches on the various projects she has undertaken such as designing shoes, studying tea ceremony, learning about ceramics, DIY furniture making, fabric art, and more.

Han said, “As an actor and as a woman, numerous times I’ve asked myself things like ‘Is living like this the right thing?’ ‘Does the work I’m doing suit me?’ and ‘Am I doing a good job?’ I’d like this to be one kind of reference book for readers who have had the same thoughts, to use as they search for the answers to their questions.”

Han will participate in a book release event on June 10 at the O’Sulloc Teahouse in Seoul’s Insadong district to celebrate the occasion.

Via Herald Biz

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