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entropyseeker's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and War
chemicallykat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
alisonw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Firstly a TW: It deals with extremely heavy subjects of loss, war, corruption, all kinds of abuse, murder including all ages, all very graphically so please be warned if you think you can’t handle that.
But if you’re unsure, don’t let that put you off. This book tells the true story of the people of Jeju and all they have gone through in the last century through a fictional narrative and the graphic elements are there because they happened, reading them feels similar to the sobering feeling of going to a concentration camp has, it’s horribly sad but feels like a necessity to be able to respect and remember - in my case as a European who was taught nothing about Korea’s history, it felt so important to acknowledge and learn about these events for the first time.
The author is masterful at weaving history and fiction together, none of the fictitious story line feels forced to bring in a historical event, while at the same time the story does not steal from the history, I would actually say it helps give it more blood and feel more tangible rather than cold facts on a page about somewhere far away.
Highly highly recommend.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Sexual harassment
emissaryorca's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
On an Island of World Peace, shouldn't those who inflicted terrible harm on others be forced to confess and atone, and not make widows and mothers pay for stone monuments?
Brutal prose, and by brutal I mean matter-of-fact; no beating around the bush here. Mixed feelings on the ending, but I don't think "rushed" is the right word. Maybe "convenient"? We would all be so lucky to be reminded of how we can move on, of what "home" or "true friendship" could have looked like and be at peace. There's something to be said about the power of a story of people, passing through time.
Moderate: Rape, Xenophobia, Grief, and War
galexy_brain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Classism
naomi_k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
annaclaire18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
The characters are convincing and complex, and the plot drags you under and doesn’t let you up for air.
I was less fond of the modern timeline that wove in and out of the story, but it did serve to help break up the heavy topic of the novel.
Warning: this is not a light read. Prepare for graphic descriptions of violence.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
abrdoodle's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Blood, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
ilana_pop's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Pregnancy