Summary
Skull Water is a fusion of autobiography, coming-of-age fiction, myth, and adventure by Heinz Insu Fenkl. Set in the 1970s in South Korea, Insu is born to a Korean mother and a German father who’s a sergeant in the U.S. Army. At 14 years old, he skips school, sells scavenged Western goods on the black market, and watches Hollywood movies. Though he’s a bit of a rebellious teenager, he has close family ties and is deeply concerned about his mother’s ailing brother. When he hears a legend that water collected from a human skull will cure any sickness, he goes on a skull water quest with his friends to help his Big Uncle.
Review
All thanks to Gong Yoo of Train to Busan, the first Korean movie that I watched and became my favorite zombie movie of all time, I have been hooked on Korean movies and series ever since. I watched all of Gong Yoo’s movies and TV shows and when I’ve exhausted all of them, I watched other Korean dramas. This is how I got accustomed with the Korean culture in 2016. Then without warning, BTS stepped into my life in 2019 when I was searching for ways to die. Their music healed my broken soul, and this made me love Korean entertainment even more. Not long, I was watching more Korean dramas and listening to Korean songs more than anything else, and last year I’ve started reading English-translated Korean bestselling novels.
Then, there’s Skull Water. It’s a book that brings nostalgia to me because it’s rich in Korean culture, folklore, superstitions, and history. I was pulled into this mesmerizing fusion of different genres that is largely autobiographical, making it more interesting than it already is. I wouldn’t say this book is impeccable. I did find a couple of things I didn’t like but that didn’t impact the overall reading experience, so I’m giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. A lot of readers find flaws in books and let that influence their judgment. If a book gave me knowledge, I would give it five. If a book gave me wisdom, I would give it five. If a book evoked emotions and allowed me to escape from reality, I would definitely give it a five. This book did all these things, so I hope that more people will see the beauty in it. I recommend this book to readers who are up for a unique autobiographical novel that will feed their mind and soul.
https://www.amazon.com/Skull-Water-Heniz-Insu-Fenkl-ebook/dp/B09RSRH4HM/ref
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