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lucyatoz's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I Went To See My Father by Kyung-Sook Shin, translated from Korean to English by Anton Hur, tells the story of Hon, a writer living in Seoul, South Korea, who returns after a long time away to her family home in the Korean countryside when her mother is in hospital being treated for cancer and her elderly father is alone.
Across 5 long chapters, we learn about the family through a series of reflections by Hon and her 4 brothers and one other sister, their experiences of life growing up in rural Korea, with many of them eventually leaving drawn by the pull of the bright city lights and having varying degrees of success in their careers.
Father's life was different, living through the Korea War, going to Seoul for work once only to return home within a few months, exchanging letters with his eldest son, which he kept safe in a wooden box, who works in Libya during the early 1990's, which always start with "Read this, Seungyeop", and finally becoming the shell of who he once was following a number of strokes.
The novel is more of a series of anecdotes and memories than a cohesive storyline and this left it feeling a little stilted and unstructured.
I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on CloudLibrary. I read this for prompt 38, published by Hachette, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Across 5 long chapters, we learn about the family through a series of reflections by Hon and her 4 brothers and one other sister, their experiences of life growing up in rural Korea, with many of them eventually leaving drawn by the pull of the bright city lights and having varying degrees of success in their careers.
Father's life was different, living through the Korea War, going to Seoul for work once only to return home within a few months, exchanging letters with his eldest son, which he kept safe in a wooden box, who works in Libya during the early 1990's, which always start with "Read this, Seungyeop", and finally becoming the shell of who he once was following a number of strokes.
The novel is more of a series of anecdotes and memories than a cohesive storyline and this left it feeling a little stilted and unstructured.
I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on CloudLibrary. I read this for prompt 38, published by Hachette, for the 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2024.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Chronic illness, and Mental illness
Moderate: Vomit, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
sakisreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I wanted to love this because I ADORED ‘Please Look After Mother’, but this one did fall slightly short for me unfortunately 🥲
Obviously Father’s challenges and traumas become evident in this story. Kyung-sook Shin knows what she is doing when she writes 🥹 But the start was incredibly slow and I had to drag myself through some parts.
I perhaps should have given myself a bit more time to reflect upon the first of the series before delving into the other one, but alas.
3.5 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨ Cannot wait to pick up Kyung-sook Shin’s next story 🥰
Obviously Father’s challenges and traumas become evident in this story. Kyung-sook Shin knows what she is doing when she writes 🥹 But the start was incredibly slow and I had to drag myself through some parts.
I perhaps should have given myself a bit more time to reflect upon the first of the series before delving into the other one, but alas.
3.5 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨ Cannot wait to pick up Kyung-sook Shin’s next story 🥰
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Mental illness
catandherbooks's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Child death
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