[eBook] Colors and Loves

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A large tree silhouette stands on a hill beneath a rainbow-gradient sky with a shining star above. The title “Colors and Loves 01. Namu’s Story” appears in the center, with a fish symbol and the author name “Condemiang” at the bottom.
Cover Page

Book Introduction

Colors and Loves – Book 1: Namu’s Story is a lyrical coming-of-age novel that follows the inner journey of a young boy.

A prism-like rectangular shape disperses a white beam of light into a rainbow spectrum on the right. Pastel curves and overlapping colors create a dreamy, abstract atmosphere.
Random Thoughts


Colors and Loves: 1. Namu’s Story is a reflective coming-of-age novel set against the backdrop of Korea’s modern history from the early 1970s to the early 1990s. At its heart is the quiet journey of a young man named Namu, who navigates love, suffering, and awakening in the midst of personal and historical upheaval. Through the twists and turns of ordinary life, he begins to forge a spiritual, philosophical, and emotional language of his own.

Rooted in the insight that the essence of life is suffering, the novel offers a bold yet tender proposition: that this life, with all its grief and beauty, is made up of twelve kinds of love—and one kind of anti-love. Each chapter unfolds through the lens of a different “color” (yellow, blue, red, black, and so on), symbolizing the emotional tone and texture of a particular memory of loves. The story is framed through the metaphors of “the Prism of memory” and “the Treasured memory chest,” reflecting the way recollection refracts and reassembles the past.

The narrative drifts through spaces familiar yet haunting—a kindergarten, an old two-story home, churches, schools, a cousin’s house, libraries, a neighborhood clinic, back alleys, a cram school, a moonshine bar, Hyochang Park, and university campuses. In those spaces suspended in different moments of time, events both great and small unfold—encounters with Jesus, Rilke, Freud, secret letters, banned songs, literature and music, studies and exams, love, protests and demonstrations, farewells, and death.

A partial view of a guitar in orange and deep purple appears on the left, with musical waveforms flowing from the strings across a violet background—visually representing the resonance of sound.
Chapter 15. 1982 October

Philosophical reflection, a deep affection for literature and music, and an exploration of God and humanity run throughout the narrative, posing profound questions that lead the reader to re-examine personal growth and the meaning of existence. A critical view of society harmonizes with an emotional inner narrative, suffusing the story with memories of a forgotten era and its people, as well as a longing for the awakening from unawareness.

This book is not merely a recollection of one person’s past, but a story about the human nature that seeks the meaning of life beyond the void of “unawareness of the self.” Colors and Loves: 1. Namu’s Story is a work that hopes to become a mirror reflecting the reader’s own memories and identity through the confession of a single character.


Author's Note

"This book is not merely a coming-of-age novel. To me, it is a record of the heart that lived through that era, and at the same time, a literary response to share the depth of 'Korean sentiment' with the world."

- Condemiang -

Features

  • Originally written in Korean → Translated into English by the author himself.
  • Includes 226 footnotes: Clear and helpful explanations of unique Korean terms and cultural elements.
  • A lyrical writing style that is literary yet easy to read.

Recommended Readers

  • Readers who wish to deeply understand Korean history, culture, and sentiment.
  • Those seeking literature where philosophy, emotion, faith, and reflection coexist.
  • Anyone who holds memories of Korea’s spirit, music, streets, and love from the 1970s to 1990s.

Start Reading Now:

Colors and Loves: 1. Namu’s Story @ Amazon in US, UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, NL, JP, BR, CA, MX, AU and IN.

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