Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Amêndoas by Won-pyung Sohn

45 reviews

rtthalia's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Cursing, Animal cruelty, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Child abuse, Bullying, and Cancer

dprekta's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

It’s an easy book to get through. As I  read it - I felt myself connect with characters very easily from the get go. Yunjae’s character and personal development in the book is my favourite part of it, Gon’s character is complicated but the author does a decent job at giving you enough background to make sense out of his actions and reactions. 

A great book to explore human emotions and how it gets translated into the day-to-day business of life. I loved the questions Yunjae would occasionally ask from the readers. Made me think more deeply about the importance of words and language. 

Dips toes in childhood trauma and emotional conditioning of a child which is very insightful. 

“Children long to be loved, but at the same time they give the most love.” 

“Love was an extreme idea. A word that seemed to force something undefinable into the prison of letters. But the word was used so casually, so often. People spoke of love so casually, just to mean the slightest pleasure or thanks.” 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, and Child abuse

leanne_miron's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Violence, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, and Medical content

Moderate: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and Ableism

Minor: Gun violence

giannasoph's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I cried during the last chapters. I did also tear up a couple of time before that. The development of the story and language that was used was so subtle at first, but so impactful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Rape

lilybear3's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was a good audiobook, if you choose to listen.  I thought the balance and dynamic between one character who has extreme emotions with one that feels nothing was interesting.  The ending was nice and wrapped any loose ends.  I loved the almond symbolism and candy (that specific one mentioned) metaphor throughout, it fit the story quite well.  I wanted to see more of Dora (sp? again, audiobook) and Yunjae's friendship.  Seeing some other reviews, I would've liked to hear the translator's notes because it sounds like it had an impact.  I loved the translation as it was simple, yet emotional.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Death, Murder, Suicide, Grief, and Medical content

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Child death and Child abuse

milaju's review against another edition

challenging fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Death, Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Cursing, and Bullying

ujjworldofbooks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It was fast paced, emotional, shocking at moments. 

I had no idea the book was going to take such a sharp turn with the grandmother dying and the mother falling in a coma. (The foreshadowing was there but the violence involved in all of it was shocking.

Loved the ending-- it was maybe too perfect but it is a YA book.  The friendship between the two main characters was fun to read about. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Murder, and Death of parent

starlit_pathways's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, and Child death

emilyharmonica's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The brilliance of this novel is how, despite the story being told through the lens of someone incapable of experiencing typical emotions, the overall effect is a highly emotional one. It’s unsettling and upsetting, yet strangely uplifting. Yunjae’s inner monologue is oddly charming as he tries to make sense of the world and of human nature without a frame of reference most people take for granted. What is “good” or “evil” without the fear most of us are born with, or without the moral compass our society instills into us? What is love, exactly, without the fear of losing the ones who are dearest to us?

I enjoyed the short “chapters” of this book, which made it quick to read through and enhanced the fragmented, almost stream-of-consciousness style of the narrative. Part of me felt like resolution of the story was way too convenient, and while I was expecting a slightly darker or more ambiguous ending, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t relieved that everyone got a happy ending, more or less.

Almond clocks in at under 300 pages, making it easy to breeze through in a day or two. This was such a unique little story, and I’m so glad I picked it up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Bullying, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, Animal death, and Blood

libroscaramelle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Such an incredible book! I was surprised how much I enjoyed it and how engaging it was. Pulled at my heartstrings and I loved these characters and felt for what they went through from page one. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Torture, Violence, and Death