Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Almond by Won-pyung Sohn

35 reviews

molly_rose's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Grief, Violence, Mental illness, Murder, Torture, and Death of parent

Moderate: Abandonment and Toxic friendship

wollhaarmammut's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

While I enjoyed the overall premise of the book, the plot was a bit much for me. I would have loved to explore the thoughts and human connections of the protagonist more, to be able to really get inside his head. Unfortunately, the overwhelming and sometimes painfully absurd plot did not allow me to relate as much with the characters as I would have liked.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Toxic friendship

sarahemhavens's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am absolutely blown away by this book. This book floats around all over Bookstagram and I am so grateful for that because it deserves not only popularity, but to be digested and appreciated by many. 

Almond is a story of true identity, the core of people, friendship, family, and love. It is an incredibly unique look at human emotions, through the eyes of a boy who “can feel nothing.” Both Won-Pyung Sohn and translator Sandy Joosun Lee capture Yunjae’s emotional constrictions while letting him soar with more understanding and care than most people capable. Almond faces the human condition with grace, tackling not only the question of inherent good vs inherent evil, but also whether a story is happy or tragic. 

I was not expecting this book to steam roll over me and my emotions, but I am truly enthralled by this book. The characters, the writing, the story, the translation - this book is a masterpiece. I already wish I could read it for the first time again. I wish I could teach myself a whole new language just to read this in it’s original text 😭(Please make sure you go in blind and don’t spoil this book for yourself and please please read this!!!!😭)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Torture, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic friendship, Murder, Grief, Gore, and Blood

tinyjude's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

2.5

I liked the idea better than the execution by far. Many people with this condition have already explained how the narrative and the portrayal of Yunjae feel ableist and ignorant at many points, so I won't add anything because they did a much better job and it's not my place. It's true however, that the final chapters' message rubbed me the wrong way, as it seemed to suggest that someone with that condition was not human and only through love they can be considered human. He is described as a heartless monster too. I found that very disrespectful. 

Furthermore, although the idea of using such polar opposites (Yunjae-Goni) to make them more complex and have some development, was interesting, Goni was such an unlikeable character, who fell flat and underdeveloped. The social critique was interesting in some points, thou, like calling out how some people who are considered compassionate and empathic, can look at someone else's pain or tragedy and not be moved, since it's not their own.

Many other plot points just were completely unrealistic and jarring in contrast with the overall narrative (which attempted to be realistic). Such is the climax of the novel, the way the teacher introduces Yunjae to the other students, and the lack of depth/research in the descriptions of the condition.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Animal death, Violence, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship

bookrecsanddnfs's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I came here because it was free on KU and I stayed because I saw that Yoongi read it during In the Soop. I thought the writing itself and the style was really spectacular. This book was short, and the chapters were short, which I liked. I enjoyed the writing and the characters, and I liked reading the book. However, I thought the ending was wrapped up too nicely and illogical.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Death, Blood, and Bullying

leanne_miron's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Violence, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, and Medical content

Moderate: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and Ableism

Minor: Gun violence

stardustdreamer's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Grief, Toxic friendship, Murder, Bullying, Blood, Violence, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Medical content, Ableism, and Torture

Moderate: Confinement

mykes's review against another edition

reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Blood, Body horror, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Torture, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

rudychleb's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

szybko się czyta, rozdziały są krótkie, przez co akcja też szybko mknie do przodu. jest pierwszoosobowa narracja, pisane jako forma jakiegoś dziennika głównego bohatera.
ciężkie tematy są poruszane, bardzo graficzne opisy przemocy wobec ludzi i zwierząt, momentami ciężko się czytało.
pierwsze 160 stron mi się podobało, ale ostatnie 60 stron... miałam wrażenie, że wszystko za szybko się zmienia. i końcówka w ogóle mi się nie zgrywa, na przestrzeni 5 stron 5 różnych wątków się domknęło i zakończyło happy endem, ale przez to że wydarzyło się to nagle i tak szybko, nie odczuwa się zbytnio szczęścia z tego powodu. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Medical content, Physical abuse, Animal death, and Death

abibliophobic_nerd's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

I see why 남준 and 윤기 liked this book. I see both of them in it. Should have written the review sooner though, my links are starting to blur but again it was still interesting to see, throughout my reading, two of my favorite people “reflected” in this story.

 Contrary to what I heard from some people, I thought the author did a good job of telling a story through someone who cannot feel emotions without making it seem lifeless. Not the most memorable book but still one that will stick with me, I think.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Hate crime, Animal cruelty, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Bullying, Cursing, Animal death, Blood, and Toxic friendship