rieviolet's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Earlier this year I read Human Acts by the same author and was completely stunnend by it, so I was a bit scared to try
any of her other works, especially because they seemed quite different in style and I feared I would not love them as much. Well, I fretted for nothing really, I was absolutely mesmerized by The White Book.
I found the writing style so poetic and evocative. I loved the poetry sections, even as someone who reads very little poetry.
I was completely absorbed in this sober but at the same time deep and powerful exploration of grief. The final chapter really moved me and I got a bit teary-eyed.
It is a book that I'm surely going to return to.
any of her other works, especially because they seemed quite different in style and I feared I would not love them as much. Well, I fretted for nothing really, I was absolutely mesmerized by The White Book.
I found the writing style so poetic and evocative. I loved the poetry sections, even as someone who reads very little poetry.
I was completely absorbed in this sober but at the same time deep and powerful exploration of grief. The final chapter really moved me and I got a bit teary-eyed.
It is a book that I'm surely going to return to.
There are certain memories that remain inviolate to the ravages of time. And to those of suffering. It is not true that everything is colored by time and suffering. It is not true that they bring everything to ruin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: War, Pregnancy, and Death
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Animal death, and Antisemitism
kell_xavi's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
This is a poetic memoir often shrouded from complete sight, with Kang exploring distinct memories and scenes, often in isolation. We learn her depths more than a full picture of her life. I was moved by reading about her mother’s grief, her experience with migraines, her attention to the effects of war. This is travel writing too, where travel is about how one individual sees with their own senses and introspection. Interesting, I’d love to read more by her (I’ve read her two translated novels and loved them both).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Animal death
Minor: Medical content and War
tomoonarmy's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage, Death, and Animal death
nikexistiertnik's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death and War
Minor: Animal cruelty, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
madisonfoster's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Dead babies, dead dogs, loss of a childsirisolh's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Temporary a 3/5, but I'll have to think about it. It's so different from what I expected if honestly a mix of confused and impressed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Grief, and Miscarriage
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, and Death of parent
nanasanchez's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
It struck a chord with me I wasn't aware of having. Was it the winter, the city, or having but not having siblings? But still our life experience is totally different, the winter no longer as wintry as it used to be then, she - the stranger in my city, all my siblings- well and alive. I will definitely go back to this short book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Minor: Animal death
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