문학과 지성사

To Say That It's Nothing is the second book of short stories by Lim Sol-A, a writer who offers thoughtful words with care. The characters in Lim Sol-A’s stories age with the author: whereas her first short story collection focused on the stories of late teens and early to mid-twenties, her second collection covers those in their mid-twenties to thirties. As we do in our daily lives, the people in Lim Sol A’s stories carefully notice the roles expected of them. The author mentioned in an interview that she also feels self-conscious about her role-playing as a writer, a daughter, a younger sibling, and a big sister. Everyone has their own position— some devote themselves to playing the roles assigned by the system or expected by others. Others refuse to take them and become ostracized, voluntarily or involuntarily, for being unable to play the roles. Those who deceive themselves or exchange benign evil with each other to play along and those who strive to not become accomplices intermingle in Lim Sol-A’s book. The author does not judge but quietly continues their stories.

In the title story “To Say That It’s Nothing,” saying “That It’s nothing” bears two meanings. Moonkyung and Aran met ten years ago at a boarding cram school. Feeling that taking care of others was her vocation, Moonkyung wanted to attend a nursing school but had to forgo her dream. She doesn’t want to keep ranting about this to Aran. Aran, who has known Moonkyung too well and supported her dream, feels sorry for her disappointed friend. To avoid hurting each other (or themselves), they act friendly while keeping a distance from each other by repeatedly saying “It’s nothing.” One night, as they chat on the phone just like ten years ago, Moonkyung’s attempt at concealing her feelings behind “It’s nothing” suddenly opens a can of worms and leads them to disclose how they actually feel. About the characters in Lim Sol-A’s stories, literary critic Hong Sunghee writes, “[they reflect how] people create and defend their roles.” With her kind, responsible gaze, Lim Sol-A affirms the lives of the people she creates. Through this affirmation, she expands her scope both as a writer and a member of a society, with her ever-renewing contemporary sentiments.