Reviews

Folklorn by Angela Mi Young Hur

omgitsofg's review against another edition

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

readersbutterfly's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

• 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

1.25

I was really intrigued by some of the themes in this book, particularly “culture-bound disorders,” but sometimes the storytelling suffered in its disjointed retelling. The mythology was woven in beautifully though, and the last pages were my favorites.

lightqueer's review against another edition

3.0

god i wish i understood this book

solenodon's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

helenmeigs's review against another edition

4.0

Really enjoyed this book and read it in only a couple days! A complex page turner that deals with family and myth and how an individual can never be separate from them. Interesting companion to Pachinko which I read earlier this year.

han_nur's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

4.0

ifollowedthatrabbit's review against another edition

4.0

"You and I-we are descended from women whose lives have been degraded into common folktales."

Angela Mi Young Hur has crafted a unique story. She has gracely woven a modern folktale using complex threads such as immigration, racism, misogyny, violence against women, mental problems, forgiveness, siblinghood, and more.
There’s so much meaning in this story. I feel like a can’t write a proper review, one that could make it justice without revealing too much information.

I don’t want to give you spoilers, so I’ll just tell you that the main character of this story, Elsa Park, must find and understand her mother’s stories in order to finally live her own life. She never understood why her mother used to tell her all these folktales when she was a child, therefore she didn’t understand their true meaning. The only way to understand her mother and herself is by seeing beyond the words of these tales.

Thanks to Erewhon Books, NetGalley and the author for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

audthecodewitch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-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

4.5

ninacharlem's review

5.0

Magical realism at its finest.

birchmezz's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0