Today Yuliana is joined by Jimin Han, the author of the novel, A Small Revolution. Born in Seoul, Korea, Jimin grew up in the United States, eventually attending Cornell University and earning an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. Her writing can be found in a number of publications, and A Small Revolution, her first novel, has appeared on many ‘Best Fiction’ and ‘Must Reads’ lists. Jimin currently teaches at The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College and Pace University, and today she takes us on the journey of how the passing of her mother left her heartbroken but still gave her strength to continue writing.
Jimin begins by delving into the event that redirected the course of her life - her mother’s passing, how that event strongly affected her, and the further strain it put on her relationship with her father. She discusses how she channels rage and becomes more protective of her energy and space as a writer, and describes the way that realizing how fragile life can be makes us slow down to catch our breath. The episode rounds off as Jimin talks about playing the piano, be it Beethoven or ABCs, and how it resonates with her life. Having learned just how very precious each and every day is in our lives, Jimin has gained much wisdom which she shares with listeners here today.
Episode Highlights:
The event that redirected the course of Jimin’s life - her mother’s passing
Stepping into our own after a parent’s death
How rage made Jimin more protective
The concessions Jimin made
How a sense of mortality affects our decisions
Jimin’s second book
Navigating a strained relationship with a parent
The preciousness of time and how it makes us slow down
Getting comfortable in a certain amount of discomfort
Playing the piano
Quotes:
“As writers, we want to make complex characters, we want to live in the nuances of feeling.”
“As writers, we need to be more protective of our time and our sort of emotional and mental space.”
“I feel that a lot of the lessons that she was able to teach me, I feel that I still carry her with me.”
“What...I want my children to learn from me, and what I wanted them to be able to say is ‘Yes, my mother did write the book she wanted to write.’”
“I wish I'd recorded her. I wish I had been able to stay up and listen to everything else she wanted to say. I look back and I wish I'd been able to spend those moments.”
“Every day is so precious.”
“How is it that we just assume life is just going to go on? And yet we have to make plans. That’s the best way to live is to make those plans.”
“I didn't give myself that breathing space and now, I try to schedule a few big things a week, as opposed to, in a day. Maybe a few things in a month as opposed to a week...just not forcing yourself.”
“I've just learned that if I wait a little longer, then the answer comes."
“I think what it taught me ...that... for many years...and I will just speak for myself that I had made a lot of concessions and I feel that after my mother died I was able to see more clearly how I should be more protective. As writers we become more protective of our time, sort of emotional and mental space. All of that has become more clear to me.“
