Broccoli Punch by Lee Yuri

Translated by Amber HJ Kim

A collection of short stories flirting with the surreal and Kafkaesque: a father whose ashes turn into a chatting plant, a boyfriend whose hand becomes a broccoli, a group of investigative aliens fascinated by idol culture. Yuri’s world is permeated with humour, emotions, and style, giving us a refreshing perspective into the complexities of human nature and contemporary Korean society.

Lee Yuri's writing stands out for introducing an unexpected and bizarre fantastical element into a hyper-realistic domestic environment in a hypnotizing combination of humor, absurdity, and wit. Stylistically, she sits comfortably between the literary and genre fiction categories.