A/P/A Reads: Human Acts by Han Kang

For its November meeting, A/P/A Reads will discuss Human Acts (Hogarth, 2017) by Han Kang. Set during the democratization uprising of May 1980, Human Acts is a fictionalized story about the death of a young boy named Dong-ho amidst a violent student uprising in South Korea. This tragic episode unfolds in a sequence of interconnected chapters as the victims and the bereaved encounter suppression, denial, and the echoing agony of the massacre. From Dong-ho’s best friend who meets his own fateful end; to an editor struggling against censorship; to a prisoner and a factory worker, each suffering from traumatic memories; and to Dong-ho’s own grief-stricken mother; and through their collective heartbreak and acts of hope is the tale of a brutalized people in search of a voice.

Launched in Fall 2020, A/P/A Reads is a student-run book club for NYU students with an interest in A/P/A writing and literature. Members meet monthly to discuss selected works, and engage in meaningful dialogue together. The club is sponsored by the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU.

Accessibility note: This venue has an elevator and is accessible for wheelchair users. There are single-stall, all gender restrooms available. If you have any access needs, please include them on the registration form below.