Reviews

The Specters of Algeria by Hwang Yeo Jung

kimran_rana's review

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

2.5

jbogerhawkins's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I'm very confused. I read this book in one sitting while a little bit drunk, so maybe that's on me? I somehow had the impression that this book was about an attempt to stage The Specters of Algeria, but the play itself is really a void. There's both intergenerational and international drama at play here, but the most interesting part for me by far was the relationship between Yul and Jing. Their connection felt compelling from the very beginning, and I wish we had spent more time on that and less time on the details of how much soju everybody drank. I do think there's something here, but it wasn't the slam dunk that I expected it to be based on the blurb.

jackalop3's review

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

kiranpearce's review

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

munyapenny's review

reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

victoriathuyvi's review

5.0

4.5 rounding up because this small book packs so much between the lines. Clever, absurd, and sad. Better to skip the blurb and go into the book with no expectations because the blurb does not do this book justice.


*Mild spoilers: this reminded me of the Taiwanese video game/movie/show Detention. Maybe my new favorite niche subgenre is martial law in East Asia and secret book clubs in times of anti-communist sentiment. A lot to unpack here. Love a story of intergenerational trauma.

sophiavas's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

isirla's review against another edition

I couldn't follow the story line. 

On two pages in Yul's story:

My dad died.
Something I knew about my dad.
My last conversation with my dad.
Random facts about me, shop opening and here dad is alive.
Third anniversary of his death.

I'm too sick to focus on a story that jumps around like that. Maybe I'll try  reading it later.

katydaly's review

4.0

Evasive and often confusing. I’m erring on the side of a generous rating because I think something interesting was attempted and the tricky plot and its retelling was intentional. Not sure I enjoyed it but I’m glad I read it.

riso_allegro's review

mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0