Elisa Shua Dusapin's 'Winter in Sokcho' is a beautifully spare and haunting novella that delves into the themes of identity, otherness, and the complexities of human connection. Set against the backdrop of a desolate Korean seaside town in the depths of winter, the story follows a young French-Korean woman, a guesthouse employee, as she navigates her anomie and observes a visiting French cartoonist. Their tentative interactions illuminate unspoken desires and cultural divides, exploring questions of belonging, body image, and the search for meaning in a stark, unforgiving landscape. Dusapin's prose is as chillingly precise as the winter air, crafting an unforgettable meditation on solitude and the quiet drama of everyday life.