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Listened to the audiobook. Wow, these beautifully crafted stories about the Korean American diaspora immediately sucked me in and I could not stop listening. I’m not usually a fan of short story collections, but this book has me questioning that assumption. Stunning work! Brava!! Encore!!
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Favorite short story was Map of the Simplified World. Discussed parent expectations around life/school in a way I have never seen done before. So matter-of-fact.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racism, Death of parent
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
did not finish :/// I just felt that the writing was a slog to read... quite over-explanatory and just very mellow, which got old quickly.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a good book with good short stories. Although, I think it is typical when a book is a collection of short stories that there will be some that I like more than others. From those that I read, I think I wanted a continuation or longer version of two or three stories, as I got hooked and wanted more. There were some stories that I did not quiet understand fully. But I will definitely think about.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wowww, Yoon Choi is a student of the human character!! I don’t think I’ve ever read a collection of stories with such RICH, heart wrenchingly understandable characters. Each story is subtle, and with minimal plot - however, they all stand as distinct and intensely intimate portrayals of what it is to be human (and specifically, what it may be like to be human AND Korean). AH! Cheers to Choi!
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5.
Skinship is a collection of short stories about the lives of first and second generation Korean-Americans--slice of life stuff. I enjoyed the little details that Yoon Choi added about common themes such as the free towels with church emblems, golfing, and the garlic aftertaste of doenjang jjigae. Depending on the main character's life story, even the narration was attuned to the cross-cultural translations of the inner mind which were often awkward to read but with tingling accuracy.
Skinship reminded me of Jhumpa Lahiri's short story collections, but with an emphasis on the Korean-American identity which resonated greatly with me.
Skinship is a collection of short stories about the lives of first and second generation Korean-Americans--slice of life stuff. I enjoyed the little details that Yoon Choi added about common themes such as the free towels with church emblems, golfing, and the garlic aftertaste of doenjang jjigae. Depending on the main character's life story, even the narration was attuned to the cross-cultural translations of the inner mind which were often awkward to read but with tingling accuracy.
Skinship reminded me of Jhumpa Lahiri's short story collections, but with an emphasis on the Korean-American identity which resonated greatly with me.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes