Reviews

Almond by Won-pyung Sohn

gardensoup's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-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? Yes

5.0

I read “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon, and this is what I wanted that book to be.

All the characters, with their flaws on the main display, are still so lovable. You’d think reading from the perspective of an person without emotion might make for a dull or frustrating story, but instead I feel like we get a realistic portrayal of a straight-laced boy who’s questions about the complexity of human relationships make us realize how amazing it is, most of us understand the subtext of human interactions. 

The growth Yunjae went though was subtle and well done. Describing the physical reaction he seemed to feel when he developed a crush, as that was the only “emotion” he could identity. 

Also when Yunjae mentioned he had no plan to sell the book that inspired his mother to become a writer, it was a moment that touched me. It made me feel like the love his mother and grandmother gave Yunjae did really reach him, which I was glad for. 

I also love how everyone he made connections with cared for him as he was. Furthermore, all the changes they may have wanted for him was in his best interest.

It was really a lovely and heartwarming story. 

orendameraki's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

cassiejones11's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

yousraa's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Good for getting out of a book slump 

churrah's review against another edition

4.0

4.5⭐️

mtstellens's review against another edition

3.0

Boy with a disorder that makes it difficult to feel emotions sees grandmother killed in front of him and his mother seriously injured. As he is visiting his mother in the hospital, a man who was there for his wife asks Yunjae to pretend to be their missing son. The son has recently been found but has grown up on the streets and is not in a place to meet his mother again. Yunjae agrees and comforts the woman before she dies. Yunjae ends up meeting and getting into several fights with the boy, Gon. Gon and Yunjae end up talking and kind of becoming friends after Gon comes and visits Yunjae’s bookstore. Yunjae seems determined to learn more about feelings from Gon. Yunjae also befriends and forms a somewhat romantic relationship with a girl at school as well, he begins to open up and feel more. Gon ends up being accused of theft and runs away. Yunjae finds him and in his attempt to get him back home is stabbed and almost dies. Something seems to unlock as he faces down death and he wakes up having much more of an emotional range to find that his friends are safe and his mother is out of his coma.
I liked this book but I felt like there were things that were missing. I wish that Gon had opened up more as well in more direct ways. I think that the dichotomy set up between Gon and Yunjae was good, Gon felt too much even though being more like Yunjae would have made him safer. The ending felt a bit abrupt and too happy.

ellamelieblop21's review against another edition

4.0

4.5! Estuvo demasiado cerca a las 5 estrellas, pero creo que no me impacto lo suficiente. Claro, rescató muchísimas cosas, la escritura, narración, creación de personajes y el mensaje sobre todo me parece hermoso. Un libro que recomiendo al 100%

boanoite152's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.75

alreiceighn's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad 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

4.5

armandosantana's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

3.5