The stories behind their books

“I think it would be good to read it with a light, relaxed mind.”

“Among the many books, one is Music Short Story Collection, a book that gathers short stories inspired by music by five novelists.”

“The protagonist has the ability to see how much longer other people will live. A friend gets into an accident, and afterward the protagonist can see how much longer the friend has to live, which causes them anguish. It’s a novel that made me wonder whether being able to see the future is really a good thing.”

“I like profound novels rich in poetic expressions, like Haruki Murakami’s “Barn Burning,” which is also the source work for the film Burning.”

“I wanted to watch the movie Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight, but I didn’t get to. Then I happened to find the original novel at a bookstore and started reading it. I thought the novel was interesting too, so I’ve been reading a few books.”

“I hope you’ll love it. You won’t regret it.”

“Everything I'd ever told you by Celeste Egg that I read during this quarantine”

“Then, when the members made their remarks, I was really moved. “Ah… this is crazy, like a movie. Right, this is what I had been missing.””

““When I first read *You Said It Was Goodbye*, I found the content a little difficult.””

““While reading *Contradiction*, I was struck by the phrase ‘the volume of life.’””

“All I could bring was a book and two pairs of AirPods.”

“I cried a lot, especially at the parts about parents”

“When I was stressed, I went to a bookstore and a book called *That Sort of Person, Still a Person* caught my eye. At first, I was drawn to the cover and title (laughs). The passage I remember most from the book is: “Today is the only time when I can choose and put into practice what I want. If today, too, passes by like this, it will become yesterday, and I’ll miss it.” I think I was hurt and having a hard time back then, and I made up my mind to try to live this one day well. After reading those lines, I mean.”

“When I’m stressed, I think just going to a bookstore and looking at books can be comforting. Even if I don’t read it right away, just buying a book and bringing it home somehow makes me feel cozy and healed.”

“But these days, I’ve been reading a book called An Unexpected Season.”

“Actually, when I'm having a hard time, I don't seek comfort from anyone. I can't even read books like *You Did Well Today*.”

“It's a book called < 1cm+ >, and a fan gave it to me.”

“I enjoy calligraphy on a daily basis, so I like to read books that have great quotes in them. I would like to recommend a book called, “The Precious You” by Writer Kim Ji-hoon.”

“I told that friend I really enjoyed reading *Gills*.”

“I’m not very interested in novels, but this book made me so curious about what would happen next that I kept reading.”

“I bought a book called Jeolchang, and it seems interesting!!”

“The Little Prince”

““I also like comic books like Conan and Naruto.””

“One thing that really stuck with me from it was the line, “It was possible because I didn’t know it might be impossible.” I tend to think positively, so I always read it believing that anything was possible.”

“Until now, I’ve thought imagination was the greatest power music gives us. Songs leave their beginnings and endings open. When you sing about a breakup, no one tells you why the couple broke up or what happened afterward. I wondered whether a single story running through my music, whose beginnings and endings are ambiguous, might bring out more complex emotions and clearer images. That curiosity led me to write it.”

“At age 20, I suddenly remembered a book called *Reading the Analects Happily*. At the time, while reading it, I felt for the first time that my thinking was awakening, and”

“I recalled my solo trip, which moved between excitement and apprehension, anxiety and comfort.”

“I heard this book was a bestseller, so I bought it.”

“Maybe because I read it when I was young, it somehow stuck in my memory.”

““I also read a book called ‘Moss Forest.’””

“But this year, I gained a lot of strength from reading the book I Love My Imperfect Self.”

“When I was in sixth grade, I loved Harry Potter so much that I even personally opened the internet cafe “Dumbledore’s Army.” I uploaded spells.”

“Finding this book was a great stroke of luck. It helped me understand fans a little better and made me want to become a better version of myself. I too want to hold on to the precious feeling of admiring someone.”

“Actually, I haven't even read the book The Sorrows of Young Werther yet, so I think I'll start with joy!”

“It’s really good, and...”

“There’s a book by bell hooks called *All About Love*. In English...”

“It gave me an opportunity to reflect once again on the pride and prejudice that anyone can have in life. It made me think about the prejudices that can lead anyone to misunderstand others, as well as my own arrogance, and it is the book that has had the greatest influence on my actual values and way of life.”

“I think this is a perfect novel.”

“If the comfort I gave myself was what I needed to survive, reading this book felt as though my life was being healed.”

“I thought about what would be interesting and worth watching all the way through. It’s about a girl who’s a born idol but is actually hiding a huge secret, and makes it into the underground scene…”

“Maybe it’s also similar to the story of *Peter Pan*. So before this round of activities, I started digging into *Peter Pan* and went through various dark fairy tales. The dark fairy tales in particular felt new to me because they were different from what I knew as a child.”

“I read this book.”

“A friend from my hometown whom I met then gave me a book by writer Yeonjeong called *The Sun Will Rise Tomorrow, but What About Tonight?* Rather than explaining how to overcome hardship, it simply presents difficult and happy moments as short episodes. It also has lots of beautiful words and comforting phrases. I was happy because, as I read it on the rooftop, I realized for the first time that I was enjoying that moment.”

“As I felt changes in my vocal production while taking lessons from Director Lee Yun-seok and reading the book alongside them, I kept thinking that I had understood vocal production in an overly complicated and difficult way all this time. “Use your abdominal muscles,” “sing as if sending the sound backward,” “lift the sound,” and so on—one of the things that confused me most when learning vocal production was these abstract expressions. I was the same way. They are not incorrect expressions, but when you are encountering vocal production for the first time, it seems inevitable that you’ll feel confused and wonder, “What does that mean?” After taking the director’s lessons, what struck me most was singing in the most natural state. Don’t try to embellish your sound too much; make sound as comfortably as possible, without tension. Since everyone’s appearance is different, the sounds and pronunciations that feel comfortable to produce may differ, but ultimately the path the sound takes is the same for everyone, and I think a person’s own color emerges from how they sing along that path. This is the point most emphasized in the book, too, so I hope you’ll remember to make sound in the most comfortable state. This book helped me realize that sound isn’t something I create, but something that comes naturally when I’m most comfortable, and I think it explains that in the simplest way. If your work involves using your voice, I hope you’ll read it at least once and find a more comfortable sound. I hope everyone who reads this book finds a sound that is not the best, but their only one!”

“As I read this, I was able to learn a little about the CEO’s life before I joined the company, since I first got to know the CEO after I started working there. It was also a chance to spend that kind of time.”

“A book? Ah, but I haven’t finished reading everything yet... I’m still in the midst of reading it... Guns, Germs, and Steel... It’s sort of like a history book~”

“The process of a lonely cat and a person exchanging love and finding happiness felt so warm to me.”

““I read it when I was young, too, but it seems to mean something different each time I read it. As I get older, and at each stage of my life, my interpretation changes. There are lots of plays on words in the book, and it’s a world of make-believe, isn’t it? They stimulate my imagination, and it’s fun to picture a Wonderland in my mind. And above all, I think the book’s strength is that it doesn’t force a lesson on you.””

“This book is so good ❤️❤️”

“Thank you, poet #NaTaejoo”

“The Little Prince is such a famous work, you know. I first encountered it as an animated film, and later read it as a book. I want to express the feelings I experienced through contemporary dance.”

“I found some time to relax on this trip.”

“A book that spoon-feeds you.”

“Tongue Fu! is a book I've read several times.”

“I read Gu Byeong-mo's book *Gills* three times.”

“There’s a book called Kind People Win that I read recently. I really found it very relatable.”

“I’m Going to Be Lovely Next Year Too”

“I have read the manga since I was little, so its characters have influenced me.”

“In the end, both those inside the book and all of us outside it were alive, and living.”

“I did my reading with those.”

“Even though I may seem easygoing, I get hurt a lot. The book I read when the hurt caused by those words reached its peak was [The Temperature of Language]. I read whenever I have time. It gives me a sense of stability whenever I’m exhausted. And I feel the depth of words and the power of words with a ‘warm temperature.’”

“It's called 'You Shine in the Moonlight'”

“Please show lots of interest in my yoga book.”

““My time is musical notes; I’m making notes day by day. I find myself thinking, ‘I hope that on the day the piece is complete, I’ll be able to sing it with a smile.’” Is that the kind of meaning that comes to mind?”

“Which one should I choose?”

“I immediately bought this author’s Brunch Award-winning book, “An Uncloying Essay Collection.””

“Since our juniors probably haven’t had many chances to travel around Korea, I think it would be nice to give the books to junior girl groups.”

“Honestly, I’m not that amazing a person, but in the book I seem like such an amazing and wonderful person. (Laughs) It made me think I should treat myself a little better. It also gave me the confidence that I can do even better going forward.”

“Rather, I think it’s a book that makes me look back on myself, so it has a lot of meaning.”

“🐶 It's a book called A Good Day Will Surely Come! I read it really quickly... I've read two books this year... That's a first 🐶 But!! It's kind of!! a positive book?!? 🐶 When I read it, I feel like my personality and way of thinking are similar to mine, so I relate to it so much that I stop reading 😄😄”

“I remember being captivated by Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea when I read it as a kid.”

““Torrent””

“When I first heard about this book, I couldn't help laughing. ‘A whole book about Bibi Curry?’ But after reading it to the end, I completely changed my mind. I could feel how the owner, who likes me, had thoughtfully put each and every word on the page with sincerity and honesty. It's wonderful and impressive, and I feel both pleased and proud. Someday, I'll definitely take Bibi to have Bibi Curry. Bibi can't eat curry, but they'll give Bibi an apple, right? Lucky you, Bibi. They say they like you more than me. Let's go soon. Let's just drop by. Even if I can't go inside, I'll have the car waiting out front.”

“Recently, I read Stephen King's Billy Summers.”

“Encyclopedia of Strange Diseases.”

“The first flapping of wings toward freedom”

“It's another manga I like. I bought all the collected volumes. It really feels like actual people are in it.”

“Though our nationalities, languages, and ways of expressing ourselves are all different, I feel that sincerity always gets through.”

“I first read it in middle school at a church student council book club, and when I picked it up again recently, I ended up sobbing all over again.”

“A life journey with Dor!!!~ It’s a book I received as a gift~ As I travel through life with Dor, I should study Korean hard too, right? ^^♥”

“It felt new to imagine the personalities and ways of speaking of the characters in the book.”

“I’m going to read my first book (manga) today!”

“At the time, I really liked the great insight I gained from the story of the Indians in writer Park Min-gyu’s book *Pavane for a Dead Princess*.”

“It contains ways for creators to express how they communicate with the public and inspire empathy, as well as methods for finding inspiration.”

““Reading is the foundation of music creation.””

“I watched the drama and read the book, too. I also read the original script book.”

“I love the story, too,”

“I sympathize with the fox, waiting for the Little Prince [to express his desire for friendship.] When it comes to relationships, I usually take time to observe and wait for the other person [to express their feelings] first.”

“Living in a different environment [is] like living on a different planet,”

“I have a larger heart in understanding the difference between others than I had before.”

“Biases block the path to healing and change. To address the root of the problem, we must begin with affirmation through prevention and education, not law and punishment.”

“I hope that through this book, readers can truly empathize with the dangers of drugs and focus on healing.”

“I am trying to convey a message of prevention and healing through music. I hope this book will also create a peaceful world where you do not doubt yourself at the end of a day, just like after a test.”

“I’ve read it all once, but it made such an impression on me that I wanted to read it again, so I brought it: Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight.”

“I immediately bought and read the translated original novel.”

“Thanks to this book, I learned a lot about what I hadn’t known about everything that goes into an artist coming into being. I felt grateful to everyone who was with me, and is still with me, on the journey to becoming the ‘Baek A-yeon’ I am today. If you’re curious about the idol industry, this book will be a great help.”

“It also makes me think about those kinds of things, so I zone out a lot while reading. That’s why I think it’s a book that takes a while to get through. I recommend it.”

“The novel I’m reading these days is The Gurney by Hideo Okuda. I’ve always liked reading.”

“Art is close to us. I sincerely respect CEO Kim Do-hoon, who takes it and creates another kind of art. I think this book, too, is a “work” made from another part of Kim Do-hoon’s blood.”

“I had to appear on a broadcast and comment, and I referred to *The Temperature of Language* at the time.”

““Hatrick” is actually inspired by The Great Gatsby, which I was reading while trying to improve my SD reading scores.”

“At one time, I was greatly comforted after reading Kim Shin-hee’s *I’m Glad I Lived Like Bonobono*. I felt happy just having the book with me, so I read it over and over.”

“I’m just going to read one more chapter and then go to sleep.”

““I’ll recommend a book for the first time!! It’s a novel I’ve been reading casually whenever I have a little time: [My Don Quixote — Kim Ho-yeon].””

“Ah, is that it?”

“Since I’m not a children’s book author, it was difficult to create new characters. I thought it might be a good idea to use Tori and Seoa, the dogs who actually live with us at home.”

“The professor explained positively that being sensitive means you’re someone with highly developed senses and someone who can stand out in a particular field, so this is a book that gives me even more comfort.”

“Be sure to read it, everyone.”

“The book contains not only writing, but also many forest photographs taken by the author. Just looking at the photos can be healing. The contents of the book also have a comforting feel. It gives you the feeling that you can relax while sitting in your room. I would like to recommend this book to people who do not get to spend much time outdoors because of work.”

“The way it unfolds is so unique and captivating that I read the whole thing in one sitting. I had been caught up in a hectic routine amid my busy schedule, but throughout the book, its gripping storytelling gave me a very new feeling.”

“Last fall, an artist senior to me whom I’ve been close to for a long time recommended this book, and that’s how I learned about it. I’ve always trusted their recommendations, so I naturally became interested and opened the book to find inspiration while working on a project. I’ve read about half of it so far.”

“It opened my mind to the thought that anyone can live creatively in their own way. I was impressed by the idea that creativity isn’t something only special people have.”

“Creating something often comes with profound loneliness, and this passage helped me learn how to manage myself. After reading it, I felt more mature.”

“I think it’s right now. I can see <You Have to Look at It for a Long Time to Find It Lovely> right in front of me. It’s a book I’ve been reading recently. As I was reading it, I suddenly felt a sense of romance.”

“The scenes where Tsuchida, a bookstore clerk, delivers monologues about impressions he has formed while watching customers, family members, and others are striking.”

“An Ordinary Existence.”

“I also read poet Kim Seung-il’s *Prometheus*. Poet Kim Seung-il’s poems were very difficult, but I was shocked in many ways.”

“I was involved from the direction stage myself and created the booklet.”

“I didn't really like it before, but after reading The Analects, so much of it resonated with me, and I enjoyed learning from it.”

“There are many ways to win people's hearts. Among them, let's take a look at one... where is it? How to persuade busy people quickly.”

““I read Tuesdays with Morrie with my private tutor while studying English.””

“My life will be divided into before and after this book comes out.”

“In particular, the poetry collection *Love as if You Have Never Been Hurt* left a deep impression on me.”

“I think I've read these three books several times: The Lighthouse Keeper, You Too Are a Sky Lily, and Yeontan-gil.”

“The Miracle of the Namiya General Store.”

“You have to put down deep roots so that you can stand more firmly as you grow.”

“The book I always recommend to SWITH as my all-time favorite is Hector and the Search for Happiness (François Lelord).”

“There was nothing to do at the training camp, so I read books. I also kept a diary, and I cried twice.”

“This book is called “Anyway, Memo” by Hyeyoon Jung.”

“I was worried that I might write down too many notes, but I felt comforted as soon as I read the title.”

“And I felt like my actions were being validated.”

“The first chapter is called “I Should’ve Written It Down.””

“This is the thought that comes to mind most often.”

“So I thought that as I read this book, I’d feel like my thoughts were really understood.”

“So if you write down notes as much as I do,”

“or if you’re the opposite and want to build a habit of taking thorough notes,”

“I recommend reading “Anyway, Memo” by Hyeyoon Jung. (Recommend) (recommend)”

“My favorite is the knit outfit I wore while roller-skating. It’s sexy, sporty, and cute. I think I was able to show different sides of myself.”

“It’s provocative and captivating. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to turn to the next chapter faster.”

“I used to read a lot. If I become interested in a movie, I look for the original work. The one I remember most is Pride and Prejudice. To be honest, the story was a little difficult, but I found the process of understanding it interesting.”

“I didn't start writing because of any particular occasion. I gathered the things I had jotted down—fleeting thoughts, like entries in a diary—and they came to be a book.”

“I’m studying Japanese on my own using Japanese books. I work hard at it whenever I have free time between schedules.”

“I think I read it when I was about six, starting around 11 a.m.”

“Scary Stories Are the Best!”

“Writer! I read *Human Acts* in the military.”

“Our mountain grandfather, who grades our pointy day as a long oval.”

“When I was in my teens, I was deeply impressed by Bernard Werber’s book *Papillon*, and its story remained in my heart even into my twenties.”

“It’s a book I really hope you’ll make time to read.”

“The 8 Rules of Love, by Jay Shetty.”

“I read a book called “Courage To Be Disliked” which something you read in life, it really helped when I was stressed, it also helped me to become more mature.”

“Reading this script while imagining the drama can be helpful and fun. Everyone, try reading it this way sometime.”

“Like the picture diary you kept as a child, try drawing your own memories each day, following wherever your heart takes you. Finding little moments of happiness in everyday life is quite a joyful thing.”

“I definitely recommend reading it as a book, too.”

“The book I read quickly and enjoyed just as much is Dante’s Divine Comedy. Turning each page is so enjoyable and fun.”

“I bought a book, not a poetry collection. <Quiet Excitement>. It's a book about what happened during the author's three-month trip to Europe. Even the really trivial things are written down, and they're all so cute.”

“Reading this book helped spur me on in that mindset.”

“This time, I bought a book called The Practice of Not Reacting. I wanted to calm my mind. (Laughs)”

“It’s a work that reflects on the value of human life through a doctor named Sashal, who is a metaphor for a “lucky person” in modern society, where most people are unhappy. But more than that, what resonated most with me was Sashal’s way of embodying the ideal human relationships I hope for.”

“I recently read Almond, but I don't know what it was about. I'm the type who only reads the beginning and can't make it to the end.”

“There are times when I feel that way too, but it made me think I should pull myself together again and work hard at living.”

“Teacher, you taught us that the world is full of sounds, and when those sounds come together, they become music. You loved music and people until your final moments. May you have a peaceful journey on your long, long journey.”

“Kind of a Reborn Rich vibe, lol.”

“It’s called ‘Übermensch’—advice you need for living? That’s the sort of thing it is. I haven’t finished reading it yet either. It has content similar to the ‘values’ I mentioned earlier. I haven’t even read quite half, but it was such a good book that I’d like to recommend it! And it’s not thick. You know how the book Cosmos is, like, this big, hahaha. I think it’s good to carry around and read. I think it was in the car...”

“Pieces of You was originally written in English, you know. It should have been translated by a professional translator, but I think it was a mistake for me to stubbornly insist on translating it myself. The English version is much better, but I got carried away by my own ambition.”

“I’m rereading the novel Almond, which takes me straight back to my middle-school days.”

“To be completely honest, it’s a fresh, barely-read book—I’ve actually only read about eight pages.”

“I usually don’t like rereading books because I want to hold on to my initial impression of them. I happened to find this book while tidying my room and read it again, and it was fun because it felt different from when I first read it.”

“Please see it as an honest account of my experiences, not an autobiography.”

“After reading this book, I thought I wanted everyone to find their own happiness and live at their own pace. We can run, but we can also walk or crawl. Everyone has a different way of living, so this book made me realize that we should respect and be considerate of one another. It's a science fiction novel, but its warm, sensitive expressions touch your heart, so anyone should be able to read it without difficulty.”

“Each chapter in this book is organically connected to an album track.”

“Of course, you need to have practiced enough, and you also need to be fully prepared in terms of how you look onstage. But what matters most is believing in yourself and enjoying the stage.”

“For me, who has been running nonstop since my debut, books give me a little breathing room and help me gain insight.”

“After reading the book, I also gained the courage to take on a field I want to study, using my spare time even when I’m busy with group activities.”

“Oh, I did like that. I did like that classic. That was was a good book,”

“These days, I've been reading <When Attitude Becomes the Work>.”

“Make notes.”

“I read a novel called Horrorstör.”

“Wow ㅠㅠ Make sure you read it all!!”

“I usually read books, but I've been busy lately and haven't been able to read often. I'm reading The Fault in Our Stars, the book the movie The Fault in Our Stars was based on.”

“I don’t have any Chinese books over here, so I can only borrow books. And if I borrow books, I can only borrow them from SEVENTEEN’s The8 because he has a lot.”

“It was a book called The Success of Self-Control.”

“I rarely imagine, while reading a novel, “What if I were to play this character?” But I feel like I might want to play Nakahara, the protagonist of this novel. Though it seems difficult.”

““The love and psychology between men and women in many different situations are captured like a movie.””

“I collected about 20 volumes of the Conan manga.”

“‘SAME STORY’”

“I’m Karon’s mom, Kim Jae-kyung, pleased to greet you as an author.”

“It was an interesting and profound experience.”

“A book that comes to me when I make time to read, even for just five minutes, because I want to clear my mind and feel happy.”

“When I go to a bookstore, I sit down, pile up a whole lot of books, and read. I like that people at bookstores don’t pay attention to others. I bought a whole pile just the other day, too: The Children of Gwaengiburi Village, The Little Prince, Confession, March Is a Red Ravine, Norwegian Wood, and a collection of poems by poet Lee Byeong-ryul. I usually get a lot of book recommendations.”

““The way it looks at events from a fresh perspective felt refreshing, and it’s an immersive book that allows you to think about the human nature the author intended to portray.””

“While browsing Instagram, I saw a book posted by an upperclassman from school and bought it. It was a book called *Lessons in Self-Esteem*.”

“The Devotion of Suspect X.”

“The first book I cried while reading”

“It felt very fresh to learn that the sijo poems in *Cheonggu Yeongeon*, which I had encountered only in textbooks, are being newly reinterpreted as K-pop lyrics.”

“It was a book I really enjoyed reading when I was young. Just as I was forgetting about it, I saw the title and immediately thought, ‘This is it,’ so I chose it.”

“You might think that a story about losing someone precious and getting the chance to see them one last time is a familiar premise, but the stories and heartfelt longing of each character will move you. I especially want to recommend this book to anyone who misses someone, or who wants to make up with someone after a fight but is hesitating. I hope you don’t lose someone precious in a moment of impulsive emotion and regret it later.”

“I didn’t know much about “The Rabbit’s Trial.” I think it’ll be more fun to listen to it in Jiae’s voice. I’m looking forward to it.”

“A story where something special seeps in, seemingly without effort. Entranced, I found myself facing the finish line at the end of the book. Thank you for telling us about a youth as beautiful as could be.”

“I think this is the book of my life, and one that can help many other people, too.”

“I brought a book, an iPad, and headphones with me, you know? Once I finish eating, I’m going to read a book. I’m going to read while listening to music.”

“This is exactly where my heart is.”

“There’s a book by author Kim Eana called *Ordinary Words*.”

“A book I want to take out and read whenever I think of my beloved pet who went to Dog Star. I related to Jiyul’s feelings and was deeply moved by Byeol’s love!”

“This is a classic rumination on how to live your best life, as if each day could be your last. It feels important now more than ever to remember that happiness doesn’t come from your circumstances, but your spirit. It’s a reminder to shut out the noise and be in the moment, whenever you can.”

“The Courage to Be Disliked.”

“When I first started writing, I felt more fear than excitement, but now I’m glad I can share my stories in writing.”

“The book *The Power of Being Alone* was a comfort to me. I read it when I was consumed by self-reproach, wondering if there was something wrong with me.”

“A piece that once again reminds us how precious and radiant it is, in the midst of life, to ask one another how we are.”

“Ah, but certainly, since the era is a little different from the tone we use these days, it feels distinct.”

“This is really interesting. You absolutely have to read it. People who create things absolutely have to read this. It’s a book called Sparks of Genius.”

“I really hope you’ll read this work.”

“I like the title ‘Knowledge and Love’ better than ‘Narcissus and Goldmund.’”

“First of all, Yamanhagu is, well, truly living up to its reputation.”

“I also liked *The Little Prince* and *Harry Potter*, among others.”

“Please give A Man a read.”

““The first book that made me cry while reading was Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si Do.””

“The last book I read was in middle school—Life at Nine?”

“The book I’m reading is There Is No Such Thing as Nothing Now. I get a lot of comfort from it, and I’m learning how to think differently.”

“As for books, I enjoyed Ito Ogawa’s The Snail Restaurant.”

“I brought a book”