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matthewbrand's review against another edition
2.0
It's a very well written book, but definitely not my taste. They were emotional (sad) stories about everyday people living their lives with regrets. I'm not sure if I was the target audience (or what the target audience was), it just didn't float my boat.
shoelaceofdoom's review against another edition
5.0
An absolutely stunning collection of narratives that explore the granular nuances of relationality in South Korean-Americans and the new identities forged in relation to other communities. So relatable, insightful, and material for deep reflection.
bentohbox's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
I love short story fiction pieces, and as soon as I began reading Skinship, it felt as if this is a book I've been waiting for my entire life. It was so beautifully written, evoking so many familiar and complicated emotions in me that I had to sit and consider far longer than I expected. In the end, it felt like this book wraps you up and pulls you in all directions. The trajectory of the stories, the way they all fall into place, the diasporic variation, the intensely familiar challenges of multi-generational households, aging parents, growing kids, and so many different coming-of-age stories at so many ages... it's hard to find the words for how I felt page after page.
The only reason I gave this 4.5 instead of 5 stars is that I found a few of the middle stories mundane, or less driven than the others. Maybe it's just where I am in life right now, or the experience I've had and my expectations. They're not bad, they're just not my favorites. That being said, aside from 2 stories, I loved all the others front to back. Paired alongside East to America by Elaine Kim, I think this is a book I will come back to again and again because it reminds of me of home and family.
I love short story fiction pieces, and as soon as I began reading Skinship, it felt as if this is a book I've been waiting for my entire life. It was so beautifully written, evoking so many familiar and complicated emotions in me that I had to sit and consider far longer than I expected. In the end, it felt like this book wraps you up and pulls you in all directions. The trajectory of the stories, the way they all fall into place, the diasporic variation, the intensely familiar challenges of multi-generational households, aging parents, growing kids, and so many different coming-of-age stories at so many ages... it's hard to find the words for how I felt page after page.
The only reason I gave this 4.5 instead of 5 stars is that I found a few of the middle stories mundane, or less driven than the others. Maybe it's just where I am in life right now, or the experience I've had and my expectations. They're not bad, they're just not my favorites. That being said, aside from 2 stories, I loved all the others front to back. Paired alongside East to America by Elaine Kim, I think this is a book I will come back to again and again because it reminds of me of home and family.
jpark414's review against another edition
4.0
3.5?
I never quite knew where each of these stories was going, I can’t tell if that’s a good or not good thing?
The specificity of Korean American-ness works: the candies, the plastic shoes, the reminder of many days watching the Korean news about the mall collapsing in the mid-90s. I esp liked The Art of Losing and The Loved Ones.
I never quite knew where each of these stories was going, I can’t tell if that’s a good or not good thing?
The specificity of Korean American-ness works: the candies, the plastic shoes, the reminder of many days watching the Korean news about the mall collapsing in the mid-90s. I esp liked The Art of Losing and The Loved Ones.
rebeccaopiela's review against another edition
3.0
A compilation of many stories. I liked some more than others.
bertthelamb's review against another edition
5.0
There’s something about a collection of short stories, each a quick glimpse into a life, intentionally leaving you hanging to ponder a piece of the human condition. Often in these collections there will be hits and misses, some pieces that resonate more strongly than others. But this collection is all hits. Each of these imprinted on me and will stay with me. Truly an incredible collection.
katja_weinert's review against another edition
reflective
medium-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
3.75
coldprintcoffee's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent and stunning and beautiful collection of short stories that just made me feel so damn much.
Standouts:
Church of Abundant Life
First Language
Solo Works for Piano (probably my favorite)
Song and Song
I truly love novels and stories about stark differences in generations and how people navigate growth and life in a new country, particularly when the shift is so dramatic (Korea to the United States.) The translations are fascinating to me, how words are built and handled in the hands in such different ways among languages and how to bridge the gap between the two. Trying to exist somewhere in between. The stories covered a variety of scenarios and situations that were not reduced to simply "immigrant" but rather covered birth and death, family relations, neurodivergence, loss, and characters that did not fall into the often-referenced stereotypes about how people from a country or culture *should* be - this is what made this a 5-star collection of stories for me. It showcased the diversity not only on a level of culture and ethnicity but in individuals and did away with the notion that they don't exist, which is important, because they can often take a backseat and the experiences glossed over and it may be easy to come away with the notion that they aren't present.
All in all, spectacular, would read again, might get a copy.
Standouts:
Church of Abundant Life
First Language
Solo Works for Piano (probably my favorite)
Song and Song
I truly love novels and stories about stark differences in generations and how people navigate growth and life in a new country, particularly when the shift is so dramatic (Korea to the United States.) The translations are fascinating to me, how words are built and handled in the hands in such different ways among languages and how to bridge the gap between the two. Trying to exist somewhere in between. The stories covered a variety of scenarios and situations that were not reduced to simply "immigrant" but rather covered birth and death, family relations, neurodivergence, loss, and characters that did not fall into the often-referenced stereotypes about how people from a country or culture *should* be - this is what made this a 5-star collection of stories for me. It showcased the diversity not only on a level of culture and ethnicity but in individuals and did away with the notion that they don't exist, which is important, because they can often take a backseat and the experiences glossed over and it may be easy to come away with the notion that they aren't present.
All in all, spectacular, would read again, might get a copy.
_soraya_pl's review against another edition
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.0
jlem's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5