Scan barcode
apersonfromflorida's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, War, and Animal death
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Fatphobia, and Suicide
Minor: Blood, Gore, and Body horror
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I wanted to enjoy this book and then I got to the dog fighting chapter and that was where the story fully lost me (and lost itself 1.5 stars). My biggest problem was that the dog fighting had zero relevance to the plot and only served to write off an already detestable character. This same character could have been written off with the gambling/stealing money thing anyways. I can't speak to the accuracy of the setting but it did feel like a real place torn apart with violence and corruption of multiple shades.
The characters had very little redeeming qualities and that made it difficult to root for Insu, let alone his South Park-esque (in that they were rude and crude and otherwise awful people) friends. I also understand the use of slurs made it realistic and may have been appropriate for some characters but it felt inappropriate for the reader to be reading said slurs.
The transitions between Insu's POV and Big Uncle's POV were clunky and multiple times I forgot who I was reading until another character was mentioned.
The characters had very little redeeming qualities and that made it difficult to root for Insu, let alone his South Park-esque (in that they were rude and crude and otherwise awful people) friends. I also understand the use of slurs made it realistic and may have been appropriate for some characters but it felt inappropriate for the reader to be reading said slurs.
The transitions between Insu's POV and Big Uncle's POV were clunky and multiple times I forgot who I was reading until another character was mentioned.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Vomit, War, Animal death, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Violence, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Suicide
elishagu's review
I really want to like this book. The parts I enjoyed I throughly enjoyed. But then those parts really stopped showing up.
For me the tone shift between the first two chapters to where I stopped was not explained/expected. And not in a jarring ‘the explanation will make this make sense.’ But a jarring ‘I don’t understand where this is coming from.’
I don’t like to not finish books. Anytime I tried to keep reading it felt like a chore. Maybe I will come back and try this book again later. Right now this is not for me.
For me the tone shift between the first two chapters to where I stopped was not explained/expected. And not in a jarring ‘the explanation will make this make sense.’ But a jarring ‘I don’t understand where this is coming from.’
I don’t like to not finish books. Anytime I tried to keep reading it felt like a chore. Maybe I will come back and try this book again later. Right now this is not for me.
avidreadr's review
3.0
DNF for me - this book was written beautifully, and had beautiful cover/binding. However, there was something about the novel that felt very slow and non urgent, i felt no need to finish the story. When i found out it was based heavily on his own life / was kind of a memoir, i realized why i did not like it as that is not a genre i tend to enjoy.
colindac's review
4.0
Coming of age story of Insu, son of Korean mother and German American father. Insu is searching for the "skull water" that he believes will cure his Big Uncle, and in the search learns about himself and the Korea of his memory.
briannahay's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
deebury's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
blazing_orchids's review
I just couldn't get that into this book. The writing was good, and it was interesting, but it just wasn't grabbing me at all. I've been dragging my feet about reading it and decided to return it to the library. Maybe I'll pick it up again another time.
tightropetothesun's review against another edition
Not in the mood. Will probably come back to it in the future
_sara_j's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty