Publisher Description
From the internationally bestselling author of THE VEGETARIAN, a “rare and astonishing” (The Observer) portrait of political unrest and the universal struggle for justice In the midst of a violent student uprising in South Korea, a young boy named Dong-ho is shockingly killed. The story of 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. An award-winning, controversial bestseller, HUMAN ACTS is a timeless, pointillist portrait of an historic event with reverberations still being felt today, by turns tracing the harsh reality of oppression and the resounding, extraordinary poetry of humanity. Read by Sandra Oh, Greta Jung, Jae Jung, Jennifer Kim, Raymond J. Lee, and Keong Sim, with an introduction read by Deborah Smith
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“A wide cast of narrators personalizes the Gwangju uprising in South Korea in 1980. The many voices include well-known actor Sandra Oh, from Grey’s Anatomy, as well Deborah Smith, Greta Jung, Jae Jung, Jennifer Kim, Raymond J. Lee, and Keong Smith. The mix of male and female narrators helps the listener keep track of the many characters in a swiftly moving plot involving violence and fear. The diverse cast also helps the listener feel the tragic loss of those who suffered during this turbulent time. The cast works together to deliver a story that many outside of South Korea may not have heard.”
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About the Narrators
Piper Goodeve began narrating in 2011 and has since given voice to over a hundred titles. As a stage actress, Piper has appeared off Broadway as well as at theaters across the country, such as the McCarter, the Weston Playhouse, and Syracuse Stage. Happily splitting her time between Brooklyn and Vermont, Piper holds a BA from New York University and received her MFA in acting from Brown University/Trinity Rep.
Cary Hite has performed in several theaters across the country as a cast member in the longest-running African American play in history, The Diary of Black Men. He also appeared in Edward II, Fences, Macbeth, Good Boys, Side Effects May Vary, and the indie feature The City Is Mine. He has voiced several projects for AudibleKids, including Souls Look Back in Wonder, From Slave Ship to Freedom Road, and Papa, Do You Love Me?
Sandra Oh is a two-time Genie Award-winner, Golden Globe Award-winner, and three-time Emmy Award-nominated Canadian actress. She is known to American audiences for her Emmy nominated role in ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, her roles in the films Under the Tuscan Sun and Sideways, and her supporting role on HBO’s Arli$$.
Deborah Smith is a New York Times bestselling author of numerous contemporary romance novels, including A Place to Call Home, On Bear Mountain, and The Crossroads Cafe. There are more than 3 million copies of her books in print. She is married and lives in the mountains of northern Georgia.
Timothy Andrés Pabon is an English- and Spanish-speaking voice-over artist who has worked extensively in advertising and audiobook narration. He has had acting roles on House of Cards and has also been a costar on HBO’s acclaimed series The Wire opposite country music legend Steve Earl. As a stage actor, he has worked off-Broadway at the June Havoc Theatre, and his regional credits include Center Stage, the Shakespeare Theatre, Arena Stage, the Hippodrome, Olney Theatre, Rep Stage, and GALA Hispanic Theatre.
Neil Hellegers grew up in New Jersey and attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a BA in theater arts and a minor in psychology before getting an MFA in acting from the Trinity Rep Conservatory in Providence, Rhode Island. He moved to New York City in 2003 and, since then, has made a career of theatrical performance, percussion, theater education, and audiobook narration. He currently lives in Brooklyn with his wife and son.