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judythedreamer's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content warnings: explicit/implicit eating disorders (eetstoornissen) / objectification of women (objectivering van vrouwen) / bodyshaming and plastic surgery (bodyshaming en plastische chirurgie) / implied suicide attempt (geïmpliceerde poging tot zelfmoord).
Laat ik deze recensie maar even in het Nederlands schrijven, aangezien dat ook de taal is waarin ik ‘Winter in Sokcho’ gelezen heb. Onder normale omstandigheden zou ik de stroefheid van een leeservaring hieraan kunnen wijten, maar niet in dit geval. Het boek leest nu eenmaal stroef in eender welke vertaling.
Kijk alsjeblieft heel goed de inhoudswaarschuwingen na voordat je aan ‘Winter’ begint, want het boek is totaal niet wat er geadverteerd wordt. Je zou durven denken dat het een verhaal is dat bezint over de schoonheid van het Koreaanse platteland in het koudste seizoen maar niets is minder waar. Sokcho is een bedroevend dorp dat amper couleur locale meebrengt en het verhaal is de oppervlakkigste slice of life die ik al ben tegengekomen. Het grootste drama is het verlangen van ons vrouwelijke hoofdpersonage naar een onbereikbare man terwijl ze zichzelf stilletjes verhongert en de misnoegde commentaren over haar uiterlijk ondergaat. Haar mannelijke tegenspeler is al even vlak en troosteloos: een uitgebluste illustrator die wat toerist komt spelen in een wanhopige poging om inspiratie op te doen.
Kortom, net zoals de personages is ‘Winter in Sokcho’ een boek om depressief van te worden. Er zit geen boodschap achter, of toch niet zover ik kan zien. Gelukkig is het maar een dun boekje en heb je het op een paar uur uit. Korte pijn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Xenophobia, and Body shaming
larazager's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
absolutely love the way this book is written
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Animal death
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Toxic friendship and Xenophobia
gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
//TW: Disordered Eating, Racism, Body Shaming
I feel like this book had a lot of potential that ended up being overshadowed by questionable writing choices by the author. I appreciated the delving into binge eating disorder and how that can be a generational trauma coupled with gaslighting on the part of the abuser (see: the mother of the unnamed narrator constantly making snippy side remarks about the MC's body, yet when confronted with criticism of her daughter's figure from her sister claims that "it's perfect the way it is, nothing has to change").
However, despite the book being a short story, I almost did not finish the story. The other MC, a Frenchman, is derogatory and truly embodies the White Man who visits Asia to "discover inspiration (himself)." With the way that he is framed, coupled with realizing that this book was originally written in French + the author identifies as Franco-Korean (vs. Korean-French), it's quite easy to piece together the author's colonized and white upbringing, and what this brings to the story. As an East Asian POC , the tone and plot felt very much like the author was trying to distance herself from her non-white identity by over-romanticizing a story where the half Korean main character is dissatisfied with her native homeland and yearns for something More through the Frenchman who comes to stay at the hotel she works at. Lastly, while I understand that this is a short story and I do commend that the MC criticizes the Frenchman's racism regarding the issue, the author's brief quips about the state of the North/South Korea border felt like they lacked critical thinking, before the issue was brushed under the rug never to be brought back up.
Overall, this story left a sour taste in my mouth and I'm hoping my next couple reads will be much more palatable.
I feel like this book had a lot of potential that ended up being overshadowed by questionable writing choices by the author. I appreciated the delving into binge eating disorder and how that can be a generational trauma coupled with gaslighting on the part of the abuser (see: the mother of the unnamed narrator constantly making snippy side remarks about the MC's body, yet when confronted with criticism of her daughter's figure from her sister claims that "it's perfect the way it is, nothing has to change").
However, despite the book being a short story, I almost did not finish the story. The other MC, a Frenchman, is derogatory and truly embodies the White Man who visits Asia to "discover inspiration (himself)." With the way that he is framed, coupled with realizing that this book was originally written in French + the author identifies as Franco-Korean (vs. Korean-French), it's quite easy to piece together the author's colonized and white upbringing, and what this brings to the story. As an East Asian POC , the tone and plot felt very much like the author was trying to distance herself from her non-white identity by over-romanticizing a story where the half Korean main character is dissatisfied with her native homeland and yearns for something More through the Frenchman who comes to stay at the hotel she works at. Lastly, while I understand that this is a short story and I do commend that the MC criticizes the Frenchman's racism regarding the issue, the author's brief quips about the state of the North/South Korea border felt like they lacked critical thinking, before the issue was brushed under the rug never to be brought back up.
Overall, this story left a sour taste in my mouth and I'm hoping my next couple reads will be much more palatable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
More...