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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I'm always hesitant starting with a book of short stories, mostly because I am uncertain if all the short stories will tie together. However, this book was a delight to read. Short stories, all of which feel a little macabre, a little focused on a philosophical truth, and read like a Brothers Grimm collection in a new way for a new age.
Love all the themes and I can’t say there is a bad story in the bunch.
“Gratitude. What gratitude should I have for you? Did I ask you to give birth to me? Did you ever take care of me or even say a kind word to me, your indisputable offspring?”
“But by the time I sit at that armchair by the window, there will be no child or grandchild to listen to my story. And in this twisted, wretched life of mine, that single fact remains my sole consolation.”
“No one asked us, when we were still nameless
Whether we wanted to live or not
Now I wander the big city alone
Looking in doors and windows
There was nothing left for me to wait for.”
“Gratitude. What gratitude should I have for you? Did I ask you to give birth to me? Did you ever take care of me or even say a kind word to me, your indisputable offspring?”
“But by the time I sit at that armchair by the window, there will be no child or grandchild to listen to my story. And in this twisted, wretched life of mine, that single fact remains my sole consolation.”
“No one asked us, when we were still nameless
Whether we wanted to live or not
Now I wander the big city alone
Looking in doors and windows
There was nothing left for me to wait for.”
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
my second favorite of Bora Chung’s collections…i love the titular story and the first one (you know the one) deeply.
A collection of short stories ranging from pure horror to spooky legends, to contemporary contemplations of longing and connection. Slightly uneven in execution, but always imaginative like a nightmare.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was a fascinating experience, reading a Korean novel in English. I know the book got lots of praise for the translation, but as a native and having read some of the excerpts in Korean, I have to say lots of things got lost in translation - compared to the original, the writing felt significantly drier and it lacked a lot of the specific nuance and "feeling" that you get from reading Korean, especially in literature. I definitely loved certain stories more than others, but all in all, really enjoyed reading this book. Definitely going to be picking up the original for a fuller experience, though.
If you're looking for a collection of short stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then look no further than Bora Chung's Cursed Bunny. Despite not being a fan of short stories, I was blown away by the ten incredible, inspiring, and horrific tales that filled the pages of this book.
Chung's writing style is so detailed and passionate that it will grip you from the very first sentence. The stories are so unpredictable that your mind will be running on overdrive, trying to keep up with all the twists and turns.
From furry woodland creatures to everyday apartment buildings, monsters take on all sorts of shapes in Chung's absurd and haunting universe.
Each story in this collection is unique, and you'll be torn between racing through them and savoring Chung's wit and frenetic energy on every page. And with a book that screams to be read late into the night, you'll be passing it on to the nearest set of hands the very next day. In short, Cursed Bunny is a must-read for fans of horror, sci-fi, fairy tales, and speculative fiction.
Chung's writing style is so detailed and passionate that it will grip you from the very first sentence. The stories are so unpredictable that your mind will be running on overdrive, trying to keep up with all the twists and turns.
From furry woodland creatures to everyday apartment buildings, monsters take on all sorts of shapes in Chung's absurd and haunting universe.
Each story in this collection is unique, and you'll be torn between racing through them and savoring Chung's wit and frenetic energy on every page. And with a book that screams to be read late into the night, you'll be passing it on to the nearest set of hands the very next day. In short, Cursed Bunny is a must-read for fans of horror, sci-fi, fairy tales, and speculative fiction.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Rape, Suicide
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated