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yaporfavor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Torture, Sexual assault, Rape, Ableism, Sexism, and Physical abuse
Minor: Incest
nerwenie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I finished it completely but it wasn’t what I was expecting at all for a “bestseller and masterpiece in the Korean literature “.
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Child death, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Infidelity, Death, and Abandonment
etherealsuju's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Torture, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death, and Mental illness
kyleyraemccoy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Abandonment, Child abuse, Sexism, Torture, Child death, Classism, Blood, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
lorenag5's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Child abuse, Colonisation, Mental illness, Animal death, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Torture, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
jayisreading's review against another edition
4.75
Whale will make a lot more sense if you’re familiar with modern (South) Korean history. It will be a startlingly thought-provoking read as Cheon explores this history with incredible depth through his themes and characters as allegories of the brutality and violence that South Koreans have faced throughout the twentieth century. I can see why Cheon deliberately chose women as his protagonists, though I fully recognize the discomforts that come with a male writer putting female characters in horrific situations. It’s complicated, to say the least, and I’m still trying to process how I feel about all of this.
This probably isn’t the most insightful reflection, but it’s mostly because I need to sit with this book a bit longer. I will say, though, that this is the first time that I felt Cheon did wonders in addressing han throughout Whale. (I realize han is a disputed concept, with South Koreans not really thinking much of it while the Korean diaspora have made it a large part of their identity. I think it’s something well worth considering in Whale, though, when you historically contextualize it.)
I think this is one of those books that will have polarizing opinions. You’ll either find it repulsive, but others will find it brilliant. I happen to fall in the latter category, but it definitely comes with complicated feelings about the delivery.
Graphic: Child abuse, Body shaming, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Police brutality, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Torture, War, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Self harm
krista_lm's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Torture, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Transphobia and Sexism
clemist's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Violence
thomasdj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and War
purplemuskogee's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
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Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Ableism, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Fatphobia