“I was afraid, but I risked everything for an adventure. The three of us were each sitting somewhere between danger and adventure.”
In an ordinary office for a large snack corporation, three workers bond over the mundanity of their lives. They each feel stuck in their dead-end jobs, never quite escaping their working-class backgrounds, dreaming of something more. Dahae is obsessed with the idea of renting a bigger apartment, while also making sure her mother is looked after. Jisong spends all her spare money on trips to Taipei to see her boyfriend. And Eun-sang is always looking for new ways to make money, even selling everyday essentials from her desk.
So when Eun-sang comes to the group with the idea of investing in cryptocurrency, it seems like just another one of her get-rich-quick schemes…until they decide to dabble. The trio soon gets sucked into the turbulent world of crypto markets and become obsessed with watching the prices skyrocket—to the moon. Can their investments lead them to financial freedom?
To the Moon is an interesting examination of the ways capitalism works to keep the average person tied to it, and how moving outside of its confines can be exciting but risky. While this novel is told in a slice-of-life style, it can grow quite tense when the crypto prices fluctuate and add pressure to the characters; you’ll be waiting for the crash, or willing the group to get out before it does. But the crypto aspect is merely a narrative device to highlight the ways in which the characters are looking for something, anything, to break up the monotony of their lives.
The bonds of friendship in this story fluctuate much like their investments; the characters are flawed and sometimes unlikeable, willing to turn on one another when it suits them, while simultaneously worrying about how each other’s actions will affect them. It makes it harder to connect with the characters emotionally, but you’ll still find yourself rooting for their risks to pay off; after all, don’t we all dream of financial freedom? Experiencing their dynamic shift and crack under pressure is where the story shines and gives way to some of the characters’ standout revelations.
The writing is clean and flows well, and always has a little bite to it; told from Dahae’s perspective, her thoughts and feelings color her narration and lean into her general cynicism and apathy. Through her, we also see how often women are expected to hold their tongue and hide their emotions, particularly in the workplace—and ooh, it’ll bring you a sense of camaraderie when Dahae tells us how she really feels. I also appreciated the insight into certain Korean traditions and structures, including the workplace hierarchy and the renting differences that Western readers may be new to.
Crypto is still very much a grey area that many of us don’t understand or don’t understand the appeal; To the Moon flits in and out of the unease around the subject to open up the conversation. In doing so, it tells a compelling story that might not grab your heart, but it will tickle your brain and make you wonder if you can start your own journey to the moon, too.
