m4rtt4's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Beautiful.
For me, white has always been one of my least favourite colours, one I've considered dull, empty, sterile and soulless. This book not only made me see white, but also hear and taste it — it was so vivid, as it deserves to be. Because after all, if you add up all the colours — the visible wavelengths of light — you get white.
This book made me feel so many things, it submerged me in melancholy and made me yearn for things I already have (been taking for granted) and as I look outside to the soft fall of February snow, I can't quite see it the same as I used to.
For someone who's lived her entire life in Northern Europe, the endlessly dark winters and heaps of snow are so mundane that Kang's protagonist being in awe of them really took me aback. The winters can be (and will be) depressing, yet they also are a home — something to be appreciated, to be missed — and miss them I would, were I ever to set my foot on a foreign soil.
For me, white has always been one of my least favourite colours, one I've considered dull, empty, sterile and soulless. This book not only made me see white, but also hear and taste it — it was so vivid, as it deserves to be. Because after all, if you add up all the colours — the visible wavelengths of light — you get white.
This book made me feel so many things, it submerged me in melancholy and made me yearn for things I already have (been taking for granted) and as I look outside to the soft fall of February snow, I can't quite see it the same as I used to.
For someone who's lived her entire life in Northern Europe, the endlessly dark winters and heaps of snow are so mundane that Kang's protagonist being in awe of them really took me aback. The winters can be (and will be) depressing, yet they also are a home — something to be appreciated, to be missed — and miss them I would, were I ever to set my foot on a foreign soil.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Child death
Minor: Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Death of parent
kianga_black's review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: War, Genocide, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Death
readingwithnic's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Minor: Death of parent
belladonnashrike's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
this was so beautiful and so incredibly sad. definitely something I will revisit in the future, i’m going to be thinking about some of these essays & poems for awhile.
favorites (in no particular order)
- breast milk
- she
- wave
- moon
- breath cloud
- small white pills
- white pebble
- sand
- black writing through white paper
- parting
sand.
favorites (in no particular order)
- breast milk
- she
- wave
- moon
- breath cloud
- small white pills
- white pebble
- sand
- black writing through white paper
- parting
sand.
and she frequently forgot,
that her body (all our bodies) is a house of sand.
that it had shattered and is shattering still.
slipping stubbornly through her fingers.
also hey bestie if you’re reading this thank you for the book xx I loved it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
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
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
sirisolh'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
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