Title inspiration is obvious, mainly due to the fact that I have this mini obsession with Alice in Wonderland. I loved the animated movie, adored Alice's love or...fall for adventure and as I grew older, I loved the story in general. I thank Lewis Carroll for this work of wonder and sheer nonsense as logic is, excuse me, thrown out the window. Don't get me wrong of course, I love someone with a good sense of logic because it makes the world easier, but to see such an "upside down" world makes the writer in me kind of jump for joy. And I thank the girl who requested him to write such a tale on paper. Alice Liddell you have my innermost thanks.
Of course Chasing Wonderland will resemble little, I'm afraid of Carroll's wonderful story. Chasing Wonderland takes on the life of Kim Jin Ae, a 20-year old Korean girl who is a mess of contradictions and extremes. She is a girl you will find you will hate at times, love at others, sympathize with and then.... you will just want to strangle her.
Jin Ae's life is not one without problems both in the relationship field and work field. For the moment Jin Ae works for her friend Andy Lee who owns a bakery with an Italian name, Il Mare Dolce, The Sweet Sea which has nothing to do with baking in general. She is a waitress, Andy's most favorite waitress and for Jin Ae this is merely a job to pay the bills. I've yet to explore into what Jin Ae should have a real passion for, but I'm sure as the writing goes on Jin Ae will explain to me what she wants.
Jin Ae has been broken up with her ex-boyfriend "Z" whom you have met in the form of a stranger (Preface). Their relationship is a strained one, since for the past 2 years, Jin Ae and Z have been nothing but sexual towards each other. While Z can maintain an indifferent feel towards Jin Ae when around people, that part of their "relationship" hurts her. Jin Ae subsequently ends this which doesn't bring closure of any kind to her disappointment.
Jin Ae, as you will find, takes on a lot of philosophical moments. She wonders about life and love and laughs at the encounters she has with people and the day to day events that make up her life.
Now, you're asking yourself, where does the conflict come in?
How does this almost boring, philosophical, insightful girl run into some real action?
The action.....comes in the form of skinny Shim Taebin. (a delight to write about, actually) Shim Taebin is a wonder to Jin Ae. He confronts her, he stops her, which in turn is a constant shock to her. In comparison with Z, Taebin seems physically inept although definitely not lacking in giving attention to Jin Ae. Taebin is shaggy, rugged with the constant hint of a 5 o'clock shadow which makes him look considerably older.
To Jin Ae, Taebin comes off as this relaxed, charismatic man whose confidence surprises her mainly because it looks like he doesn't have anything to be cocky about. He is, most definitely, cocky, but delicate. Unlike Z who is cocky, but cold. Jin Ae's first encounter with Taebin comes immediately after Z's departure at the beach where Jin Ae remains to think about why she isn't feeling the relief she should feel.
At this crucial time for Jin Ae, she comes face to face with Taebin who isn't afraid to meet her gaze. (Jin Ae has this obsession with eyes) But what Taebin does and says to her will be the fall she takes into "wonderland". Which will lead us into Chapter 3 so titled "Falling into Wonderland".
Which will be the end of The Intro to Chasing Wonderland and Jin Ae's journey will officially begin with Chapter 4 - White Rabbit.
What does Taebin say to Jin Ae? How does Jin Ae fall? Where are all the girls in this???
Chasing Wonderland is not a tale about simply finding someone to love because you can most certainly love anyone in varying degrees. Chasing Wonderland is a complicated expedition with an unplanned end. So together, we will find where Jin Ae ends up, IF she ends up anywhere at all.
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