Picture books
May 2017
Over the Hill Together
by Da Chuzhe
From the fifth year of their marriage, Sumiko had to receive treatment in hospital for the acute pain caused by multiple rheumatoid arthritis. From that time on the disease had seized her. From 1982, Sumiko had to lie in the bed or rely on a wheelchair for the significant dysfunction of the upper limbs and the paralysis of the lower limbs, so she had to let her husband see to her daily life. And Oochuje took care of her basically all by himself unless he had a business trip and he would hire a care worker. This illustrated book elaborately depicts the story between them, including how they met and fell in love with each other during childhood, their daily conversations, their poems as well as their relentless fighting against disease. At the final part of the book, it mainly records the last thirty-three days from December 1997 to January 1998 during which the couple spent together until Sumiko had passed away. The words of the book is selected and the drawings simple yet profound through which one will be deeply touched for the deep and unchangeable love. “Over the hill” in common sense is an expression for death, but it means a whole new world for Oochuje and Sumiko where they would also walk side by side. Their love and cherish for each other was well beyond life and death for they never ceased to bring happiness for each other. And their love story has also enriched the world with pure beauty and wonder of love.
