The Three-Year Tumble: Based on a Korean Folktale by Dayeon Auh and translated by Tim Mohr was read via an online reader copy as it is not due until mid-late March 2025. And I was unaware of this until after I read it and really liked it. But it is worth the wait.
Auh’s story is a clever story about how we see things and how our attitude can shape that. The story follows a grandfather who must go over a mountain to get to his destination. But the legend is if you fall down the mountain, you only have three years to live. One day, the grandfather falls down the mountain. This makes the superstitious grandfather fear for his life, and by the third (and supposedly) final year of his life his depression is beyond help. Or so one might think. However, his smart grandchild knows that half the medicine needed to keep her grandfather from falling into a deeper despair is to…. tumble down the hill some more!
The artwork is clever, with bold colors and minimalistic details. This allows you to focus on the story and yet, also allows you to feel the tone of things. However, the style is not for everyone as it is unique. Things are almost childish, or a beginner’s attempt at art. The colors and lines are brash. You have spots that seem to not “jive” with the rest of the image. Things are abstract, and off kilter. Or you can think that they are the most clever things as they catch your eye, focusing you on the event at hand, and showing you where you should be looking at.
This is an experience to read and each time you read it will be a different one.