The White Book

No other word beyond ‘beautiful' comes to mind as I reflect on this book. Up there with [b:Gratitude 27161964 Gratitude Oliver Sacks https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445791421s/27161964.jpg 47201204] by Oliver Sacks, and [b:The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness 13579364 The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness Timothy J. Keller https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1352949769s/13579364.jpg 19163471] by Tim Keller, The White Book is in a class of ‘small books' that are so incredibly rich, profound, and mysterious that they deserve multiple readings over a lifetime.Meditations on metaphors, stories, philosophies, and musings to do with the color ‘white' may seem shallow at face value, but within these pages (with a layout designed so intentionally) lies words that have been thought and labored over. The result is anything and everything, short paragraphs to longer contemplations that cause tears to well up in ones eyes; the kind of reflections that make you stop wherever you're reading, look up, and honestly feel the emotions Kang is channeling into her stories of growing up, wandering the streets of Waraw, as the ghost of her older sister, who died during childbirth, haunts her mind and heart on every corner.PartingDon't die. For God's sake don't die.I open my lips and mutter the words you heard on opening your black eyes, you who were ignorant of language. I press down with all my strength onto the white paper. I believe no other words of parting can be found. Don't die. Live.Powerful things await inside this book. Truly one of the most original, haunting and melancholic things I've ever read.