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karmapen's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Rape
Minor: Classism, Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Abortion
emmareeser's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While incredibly long this book kept me captivated until the end! Minus one star for the ending, it didn’t really leave you with much closure and didn’t really make sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Infidelity, Addiction, Rape, Sexism, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, Cursing, and Death of parent
Gamblingtheknitpick's review against another edition
emotional
medium-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
I really enjoyed reading this book, not so much because I love the characters (I feel okay to meh about most of them) but because the writing is so good. Lee has a way with words. I was transported and this book made me think a lot. For a generally slow to moderate pace, I read this book quickly (for me). I wanted to know where it would lead, and though not a lot happens, I feel satisfied by the ending.
The character development is very strong, and the omnipotent narrator really gives you an idea of what nearly every character encountered is thinking, which I find incredibly interesting. Many different walks of life are covered within this book, and that makes it interesting, too. It's not just about the Korean family that sits at the center of this story, but about their friends and acquaintances, too. Nearly every character in this book that shapes the main characters in one way or another is considered. The character study within this book is masterful and makes it a worthwhile read regardless of anything else.
Now, while I normally don't enjoy books with such morally gray characters, I think Lee wrote them in such a way that I still found connected to them, was curious about what would happen to them, and still enjoyed seeing where they would end up. Despite the book not really pulling you along with the plot, I found myself easily turning pages.
I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you're a fan of character-driven stories, contemporary fiction, and fiction about a diverse group of people (living in New York).
The character development is very strong, and the omnipotent narrator really gives you an idea of what nearly every character encountered is thinking, which I find incredibly interesting. Many different walks of life are covered within this book, and that makes it interesting, too. It's not just about the Korean family that sits at the center of this story, but about their friends and acquaintances, too. Nearly every character in this book that shapes the main characters in one way or another is considered. The character study within this book is masterful and makes it a worthwhile read regardless of anything else.
Now, while I normally don't enjoy books with such morally gray characters, I think Lee wrote them in such a way that I still found connected to them, was curious about what would happen to them, and still enjoyed seeing where they would end up. Despite the book not really pulling you along with the plot, I found myself easily turning pages.
I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you're a fan of character-driven stories, contemporary fiction, and fiction about a diverse group of people (living in New York).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content, Rape, Miscarriage, and Cursing
Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Suicide attempt, and Violence
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