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challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I wish I had much to say other than I am left speechless and devastated. We do not part, not any part of us.
dark
informative
mysterious
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:
Complicated
This was the first time I'd learned about the Jeju massacre, and what may not be obvious from the book summary is that We Do Not Part is an exploration of the trauma wrought from the massacre and the brutalities of post-WWII Korean history. The first act genuinely feels as if it's about a woman (Kyungha) trudging through a snowstorm to feed an injured friend's (Inseon) bird, but the second act feels like a historical reportage or autofiction, as Kyungha delves through Inseon's house and finds evidence of a life's worth of investigation into the massacre. It's a tonal shift, one that's different from the magical realism that the first act seems to set us up for. The memories conjured up in the second act are unsparing in their brutality and reality. As a result, it hits hard.
With We Do Not Part, I had a similar experience with The Vegetarian where I was like, "Wait, what just happened?!" and I felt like I had lost control of my own interpretation of what was going on. In both instances, it wasn't a bad thing per se; having experienced it again, I'm guessing that Han Kang deliberately allows for a loose, hazy interpretation of the events that transpired in the book. It makes sense, as this story in particular calls for reflection and questioning.
I'm still unsure if framing the entire story with Kyungha and Inseon's friendship was entirely effective, especially since their relationship wasn't the eventual focal point of the book and it could have been expanded upon more. In spite of that, I found this to be an effective, haunting portrayal of trauma and a needed confrontation of brutality and violence.
With We Do Not Part, I had a similar experience with The Vegetarian where I was like, "Wait, what just happened?!" and I felt like I had lost control of my own interpretation of what was going on. In both instances, it wasn't a bad thing per se; having experienced it again, I'm guessing that Han Kang deliberately allows for a loose, hazy interpretation of the events that transpired in the book. It makes sense, as this story in particular calls for reflection and questioning.
I'm still unsure if framing the entire story with Kyungha and Inseon's friendship was entirely effective, especially since their relationship wasn't the eventual focal point of the book and it could have been expanded upon more. In spite of that, I found this to be an effective, haunting portrayal of trauma and a needed confrontation of brutality and violence.
This novel feels like holding something delicate in your hands — so delicate that even turning the page feels like it could disturb its balance. The prose is hushed, almost whispering, and demands a kind of deep, attentive listening. There’s a flat, introspective emotional register running through the syprytwlling. I found myself revisiting the synopsis often just to be sure I was keeping my bearings.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, War
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is gorgeously written — beautiful, sad, and haunting. It is understandable why this author is a Nobel Prize winner. This book has opened my eyes to war crimes that were unknown to me and it saddens me that nothing in this world has changed. It calls for us to remember everyone in this world who has ever suffered a similar fate of mass murder and ethnic cleansing that has happened and continues to happen in the world for various reasons through the focus of Jeju 4:3 points massacres that took place in April 1948. Jeju 4:3 encompasses atrocities that stretched back into preceding months and continued over 1 year later where horrendous war crimes and other atrocities were committed. This is a powerful work and worth reading, I highly recommend it. The translation of this work is exquisitely written. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Hogarth for this ARC. This is my honest review.