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I felt like she was writing my parents’ stories. The details are amazing.
emotional
reflective
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
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“Skinship” by Yoon Choi
In this debut collection of stories, author Yoon Choi has produced compelling works of Korean identity. Focused on the experiences of first and second generation Korean-Americans, many of whom are women, the collection offers a thoughtful look into a population which is rarely featured. Choi’s command of observation in these narratives is a particular strength for me; when her characters pause to observe, there is a natural curiosity which permeates the experience and feels very real to life. For me personally, the overall effect of the collection was slightly dampened because the range of emotional timbre was not very wide, but within that relatively narrow range the stories are masterfully executed. There was no story I can point to as a weak link, but I believe the strongest stories are the titular “Skinship,” the frustrating “A Map of the Simplified World,” and the haunting “The Art of Losing.” All together, this is a wonderful collection which makes impactful the everyday experiences of Korean-Americans and I highly recommend it for those interested in intercultural fiction and short story enthusiasts in general.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Dementia, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Alcohol
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I just skimmed the last story, honestly. I was so ready to be done. There is some great writing in this collection! But the plots never hit me right. I think "Solo Works for Piano" could have been transcendent, but it ended up falling a little flat. Still, that and "The Church of Abundant Life" were my favourites.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes