No One Writes Back
No One Writes Back by Ŭn-jin Chang, published by Dalkey Archive Press on November 16, 2013, is a work of fiction that explores the theme of communication—or the lack thereof. The narrative follows a young man who embarks on a three-year journey with his blind dog, an MP3 player, and a book, as he travels from motel to motel. Instead of forming personal connections, he assigns numbers to the people he meets, reflecting a unique approach to human interaction.
In this edition, readers will encounter a series of poignant encounters with characters such as 239, a former poet, and 109, who grapples with heartbreak. The narrator’s letters serve as a means of consolation for both himself and those he meets, despite the absence of responses. This exploration of isolation and the desire for connection is central to the story, making it a thought-provoking read for those interested in the complexities of human relationships. With 203 pages, this English edition invites readers to reflect on the nuances of communication in a modern context.
Official synopsis Publisher
Communication—or the lack thereof—is the subject of this sly update of the picaresque.
Communication—or the lack thereof—is the subject of this sly update of the picaresque. No One Writes Back is the story of a young man who leaves home with only his blind dog, an MP3 player, and a book, traveling aimlessly for three years, from motel to motel, meeting people on the road. Rather than learn the names of his fellow travelers—or invent nicknames for them—he assigns them numbers. There’s 239, for example, who once dreamed of being a poet, but who now only reads her poems to a friend in a coma; there’s 109, who rides trains endlessly because of a broken heart; and 32, who’s already decided to commit suicide. The narrator writes letters to these men and women in the hope that he can console them in their various miseries, as well as keep a record of his own experiences: “A letter is like a journal entry for me, except that it gets sent to other people.” No one writes back, of course, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some hope that one of them will, someday . . .
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