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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book delves into South Korea's industrial past through the memories of a writer. As a young girl, the narrator dreamed of becoming a writer, and her writing forces her to confront her past as a factory worker in Seoul in the 1970s. As one of the most challenging periods of her life, the narrator struggles to recall this period and the stories of the countless women working in wretched conditions and striving to improve their own lives and the quality of life for factory workers.
This book is incredibly slow, but also highly informative. It offers quite a lot of insight into a period of time not often brought up, particularly in the Western world. I appreciated the insight this novel provided and helped me expand my knowledge on Korean culture and history.
This is a good read for history fans, but also fans of feminist literature!
This book is incredibly slow, but also highly informative. It offers quite a lot of insight into a period of time not often brought up, particularly in the Western world. I appreciated the insight this novel provided and helped me expand my knowledge on Korean culture and history.
This is a good read for history fans, but also fans of feminist literature!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Minor: Self harm
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
On a scale of cotton candy to Brussels sprouts, The Girl Who Wrote Loneliness by Kyung-Sook Shin is a pint of Ben & Jerry's Coconut 7 Layer Bar ice cream. Creamy with nuts, fudge swirl, caramel, and graham cracker, every bite offers something different. You'll spoon your way to the bottom of the pint before you know it.
A teenage girl arrives in Seoul to begin working at a factory and pursue her dream of education to become a writer. Set in Korea’s industrial sweatshops of the 1970s, this story unravels with an up-close look at family dynamics, dream chasing, and exploitation. As the story flips between past and present, the reader is offered a full picture of the life of the character from teenage years to adulthood and the processing of her life.
I admit that I chose this book solely based on the title. I was intrigued by what the story could be for someone who "wrote loneliness," and I admit that the story often left me in a state of loneliness myself. The way that the author chose to write the story created a lot of distance between the character and the reader. This was not an easy read as it pressed you in close to the smell of humanity, but I'm glad that I took the time to listen to it on audiobook.
If you enjoy exploring the history and experiences of other cultures and countries, The Girl Who Wrote Loneliness is for you.
A teenage girl arrives in Seoul to begin working at a factory and pursue her dream of education to become a writer. Set in Korea’s industrial sweatshops of the 1970s, this story unravels with an up-close look at family dynamics, dream chasing, and exploitation. As the story flips between past and present, the reader is offered a full picture of the life of the character from teenage years to adulthood and the processing of her life.
I admit that I chose this book solely based on the title. I was intrigued by what the story could be for someone who "wrote loneliness," and I admit that the story often left me in a state of loneliness myself. The way that the author chose to write the story created a lot of distance between the character and the reader. This was not an easy read as it pressed you in close to the smell of humanity, but I'm glad that I took the time to listen to it on audiobook.
If you enjoy exploring the history and experiences of other cultures and countries, The Girl Who Wrote Loneliness is for you.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality, Grief
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Wonderful. Kyung-Sook Shin delves into her past, into writing, into what memories do with a person, creating a fascinating autobiographically inspired book.
As someone not very familiar with Korean history, many historical references passed me by even when the oppressive political atmosphere came across clearly enough at any time. The perspective goes back and forth between the narrator in the past as a sixteen to twenty year old and her thirty two year old present. Changes are often abrupt and references to people and events vague, which tunes you in to the narrator's own ignorance to what's going on at times (although some might also get frustrated with this jumping back and forth).
What I enjoyed most was the struggle with writing and the writing process. How the words do not always come out as planned, might take her anywhere. To me that is very similar to how memories are as well, they are hard to influence, to steer in the direction you want them to. And they are so powerful, they will take you over completely. So can writing when you find those missing words.
As someone not very familiar with Korean history, many historical references passed me by even when the oppressive political atmosphere came across clearly enough at any time. The perspective goes back and forth between the narrator in the past as a sixteen to twenty year old and her thirty two year old present. Changes are often abrupt and references to people and events vague, which tunes you in to the narrator's own ignorance to what's going on at times (although some might also get frustrated with this jumping back and forth).
What I enjoyed most was the struggle with writing and the writing process. How the words do not always come out as planned, might take her anywhere. To me that is very similar to how memories are as well, they are hard to influence, to steer in the direction you want them to. And they are so powerful, they will take you over completely. So can writing when you find those missing words.
The story and the characters are interesting and well written, but a few things kept me from rating the book higher. I'm not sure how to describe the writing style but it's very hard to read. It has a way of distancing the reader. I realize though that this could be the translation, not the original Korean. The politics also don't make a lot of sense to a naive reader. I understand why they're introduced so late in the book, because the protagonist herself is unaware of what is happening in the larger world, she only sees the sweatshop and anti-union activity of her employer. But for those of us outside of Korea (and perhaps some inside Korea as well, given that the story talks about how much of this was hidden from the general populace), who aren't familiar with the protests, the camps, the changes in government, some additional information would be very helpful (it could come from the adult parts of the book).