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fireth's review
3.75
"Mujae asked me how my shadow was doing these days."
A short dark and odd read, however its very hard for me to start on it. Definitely a mood-read, once I'm into it, I couldn't stop reading. And when I reached the end, I was disappointed that it ended.
Will definitely be looking out for more works by Hwang Jungeun.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-arc of this ebook.
A short dark and odd read, however its very hard for me to start on it. Definitely a mood-read, once I'm into it, I couldn't stop reading. And when I reached the end, I was disappointed that it ended.
Will definitely be looking out for more works by Hwang Jungeun.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-arc of this ebook.
laurareads87's review
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
"I wonder if they call this kind of place a slum, because if you called it someone's home or their livelihood that would make things awkward when it comes to tearing it down."
One Hundred Shadows is a novella that is inspired by, and reflects on, the 2009 Yongsan Disaster - an incident in which tenants threatened with eviction faced a a SWAT team in defense of their building, slated for 'redevelopment;' amidst the clash, a fire broke out and killed several people.
The novella's commentary is subtle. The storyline follows Eungyo and Mujae, two young people who work in electronics shops in Building B, one of five buildings that are being threatened with gentrification and displacement. This story almost fades into the background as the meandering text explores the characters' emerging relationship, several of their days out, and the strange phenomenon of people's shadows detaching and drifting away.
The book is atmospheric, and the moving shadows are eerie and foreboding, signalling an immanent risk of losing the individual entirely -- a hopelessness. I did struggle with the dialogue not being demarcated by quotation marks, and I found that the ending was far too abrupt. The writing is lovely, and the world-building is effective; I wish this was longer and that some aspects were elaborated upon more.
One Hundred Shadows is a novella that is inspired by, and reflects on, the 2009 Yongsan Disaster - an incident in which tenants threatened with eviction faced a a SWAT team in defense of their building, slated for 'redevelopment;' amidst the clash, a fire broke out and killed several people.
The novella's commentary is subtle. The storyline follows Eungyo and Mujae, two young people who work in electronics shops in Building B, one of five buildings that are being threatened with gentrification and displacement. This story almost fades into the background as the meandering text explores the characters' emerging relationship, several of their days out, and the strange phenomenon of people's shadows detaching and drifting away.
The book is atmospheric, and the moving shadows are eerie and foreboding, signalling an immanent risk of losing the individual entirely -- a hopelessness. I did struggle with the dialogue not being demarcated by quotation marks, and I found that the ending was far too abrupt. The writing is lovely, and the world-building is effective; I wish this was longer and that some aspects were elaborated upon more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
catsy2022's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
An eArc was provided by NetGalley for this review.
One Hundred Shadows is a Kprean-authored surreal slice-of-life about two individuals: Mujae and Eungyo, who live a pretty ordinary country life until Eungyo becomes aware of moving shadows in their world.
The novel crafts a strange and dreamlike atmosphere evocative of typical Korean fiction, the story meandering and eerie as it progresses. I thought the scenes would translate so well into film, with the world built up so well and so many artistic scenes that are described with the viewpoint of a Korean author. The way that Korean fiction is written is typically translated like this.
I did enjoy the strange magical quality of the novel and I found the mystery drew me in but I felt little payoff from the conclusion - seeing the book as purely a snaphot of life might help one digest it. Additionally the choice to include zero quotations was interesting and reminded me of other literary authors (like Cormac McCarthy).
An interesting piece of Korean fiction and definitely worth exploring but possibly not something I would read again.
One Hundred Shadows is a Kprean-authored surreal slice-of-life about two individuals: Mujae and Eungyo, who live a pretty ordinary country life until Eungyo becomes aware of moving shadows in their world.
The novel crafts a strange and dreamlike atmosphere evocative of typical Korean fiction, the story meandering and eerie as it progresses. I thought the scenes would translate so well into film, with the world built up so well and so many artistic scenes that are described with the viewpoint of a Korean author. The way that Korean fiction is written is typically translated like this.
I did enjoy the strange magical quality of the novel and I found the mystery drew me in but I felt little payoff from the conclusion - seeing the book as purely a snaphot of life might help one digest it. Additionally the choice to include zero quotations was interesting and reminded me of other literary authors (like Cormac McCarthy).
An interesting piece of Korean fiction and definitely worth exploring but possibly not something I would read again.
charliereadsalot's review
3.0
3 STARS
CW: death (of loved ones), suicidal ideation
Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was quintessentially Korean and I really enjoyed that, but, at the same time, the serene and atmospheric writing style is not what I usually gravitate towards. Had I not had the expectation that it would be like this, I think I would have been very disappointed but, alas, I had expected a style that is not necessarily my favorite.
Generally, I thought the story was enchanting, you are dropped in when Mujae and Eungyo are walking through the woods and get pulled out at a later point in time at another location and every scene and chapter you read felt dream-like to me. In the beginning, I was constantly trying to figure out why the main characters were in the forest, how had they gotten there but a lot of questions never get answered.
One thing I have to mention is that none of the dialogue was marked with quotation marks which is usually something that drives me insane. I could work with it in this story because it fit this questionable reality / dreamscape where oftentimes I found myself asking who was even saying what and being relieved when a name was mentioned again so I definitely knew who was speaking. Maybe that was the formatting in the eBook though.
All in all, this was a very interesting book and even though I know magical realism is not really my favorite, I did enjoy the book and had many thoughts while reading. Therefore, I'd definitely recommend picking this up if the summary intrigues you in any way.
CW: death (of loved ones), suicidal ideation
Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was quintessentially Korean and I really enjoyed that, but, at the same time, the serene and atmospheric writing style is not what I usually gravitate towards. Had I not had the expectation that it would be like this, I think I would have been very disappointed but, alas, I had expected a style that is not necessarily my favorite.
Generally, I thought the story was enchanting, you are dropped in when Mujae and Eungyo are walking through the woods and get pulled out at a later point in time at another location and every scene and chapter you read felt dream-like to me. In the beginning, I was constantly trying to figure out why the main characters were in the forest, how had they gotten there but a lot of questions never get answered.
One thing I have to mention is that none of the dialogue was marked with quotation marks which is usually something that drives me insane. I could work with it in this story because it fit this questionable reality / dreamscape where oftentimes I found myself asking who was even saying what and being relieved when a name was mentioned again so I definitely knew who was speaking. Maybe that was the formatting in the eBook though.
All in all, this was a very interesting book and even though I know magical realism is not really my favorite, I did enjoy the book and had many thoughts while reading. Therefore, I'd definitely recommend picking this up if the summary intrigues you in any way.
ayeitsdaye's review against another edition
3.0
"One Hundred Shadows" presents itself as a short yet enthralling slice-of-life novel, certainly leaning more contemporary fiction with a touch of magical realism. In my experience with the book, the characters Eungyo and Mujae felt somewhat stiff and awkward, and their interactions seemed burdened by stilted dialogue. This aspect hindered my ability to form a strong connection with the characters, leaving room for improvement in terms of natural and engaging character dynamics. I think this is more of a result of translating conversation patterns to English and don't necessarily hold it against
On a positive note, the novel excels in crafting an exceptionally immersive background environment. The author skillfully paints a vivid picture of the surroundings, allowing me to feel truly present in the story's setting. The atmospheric elements contribute significantly to the overall tone, creating a palpable sense of place that enhances the reading experience.
The concept of shadows rising, while initially intriguing, left me yearning for more exploration. However, the symbolism of shadows as a metaphor for despair is executed with excellence. The shadows serve as a disorienting yet surreal vehicle for poignant commentary on the impacts of gentrification, offering valuable insights into the struggles of those marginalized and pushed out by societal changes.
In summary, "One Hundred Shadows" just lacks a solid plot, but makes up for it with the evocative surroundings. While the characters and their interactions may leave something to be desired, the almost tactile environment and the clever use of the shadow metaphor for social commentary make it a worthwhile read. The novel provides a unique perspective on the effects of gentrification and the challenges faced by those caught in its shadows. Not at all what I was expecting, but I'm glad to have taken the time.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exhange for this honest review.
On a positive note, the novel excels in crafting an exceptionally immersive background environment. The author skillfully paints a vivid picture of the surroundings, allowing me to feel truly present in the story's setting. The atmospheric elements contribute significantly to the overall tone, creating a palpable sense of place that enhances the reading experience.
The concept of shadows rising, while initially intriguing, left me yearning for more exploration. However, the symbolism of shadows as a metaphor for despair is executed with excellence. The shadows serve as a disorienting yet surreal vehicle for poignant commentary on the impacts of gentrification, offering valuable insights into the struggles of those marginalized and pushed out by societal changes.
In summary, "One Hundred Shadows" just lacks a solid plot, but makes up for it with the evocative surroundings. While the characters and their interactions may leave something to be desired, the almost tactile environment and the clever use of the shadow metaphor for social commentary make it a worthwhile read. The novel provides a unique perspective on the effects of gentrification and the challenges faced by those caught in its shadows. Not at all what I was expecting, but I'm glad to have taken the time.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exhange for this honest review.
melismatic's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
cafes's review against another edition
4.0
Lo leí de forma descontinuada en el tiempo, y quizás eso influye en mi opinión, pero no dejo de sentir que sigue siendo interesante haberlo leído así y también en el momento en que lo leí, esto porque la historia sigue un orden separado en momentos aleatorios en el tiempo, donde si bien es lineal desde ayer-hoy, la separación de días puede ser de semanas o meses; el tiempo no tiene importancia, sólo el espacio. Lo empecé hace mucho pero quise terminarlo hoy.
La forma en la que la historia se centra en los espacios físicos en que se mueven las personas, me recordó mucho a esas canciones que hablan de ciudades, de cómo se puede manifestar el sentir de las personas mediante el retrato de una ciudad en decadencia (y agradecí mucho esa conexión mental con mono.) y sus espacios oscuros y fríos, pero que al mismo tiempo, es el único refugio conocido para otros. Desde espacios ruidosos y donde cunde el movimiento, la rapidez y el ajetreo de un nuevo proyecto (como lo es el proyecto de demolición) hasta un espacio silencioso, tranquilo, donde el tiempo no parece pasar y donde la verdadera humanidad puede verse funcionar (el viejito que vendía las bombillas de luces). Los diálogos son lo más cercano a la realidad que puede verse en un libro, con silencios y palabras mundanas y repetitivas, realmente la autora quiso adentrar al lector en el escenario que construyó (y que según leí, está orientado a un caso de demolición real de un edificio en Corea del Sur).
Me gustó mucho la edición chilena (por @neonediciones) porque se tradujo las cinco anotaciones de Hyeongchul Shin sobre el libro, y a mi parecer fue un buen inicio para entender el trasfondo y el objetivo que tuvo la autora en tantas sombras.
''El fenómeno de rebelión de la sombra (...) de separación de la sombra-que si se tiene en cuenta, sucede solo cuando un sujeto llega al límite de su paciencia ante una realidad violenta''
No es un libro que me haya tocado la fibra sensible al punto de no parar de llorar, pero me generó muchos pensamientos y conexiones neuronales, porque también su concepto de sombra lo relacioné mucho a Carl Jung, porque para él la sombra también involucra la ''banalidad de la desdicha'' como dice el libro, es decir, miedos, frustraciones e inseguridades. Me gustó haberlo leído en un momento donde mi sombra también se levanta de a ratos y me consume, para luego volver a esconderse en esas esquinas donde no llega la luz. Se vive con esa sombra siempre, porque realmente ¿se puede luchar contra ella si es parte de ti? Unguio, no creo que exista otra vida después de esta. Siempre he pensado que era inevitable para todos los seres humanos sentir un poco esa sensación de vacío, vivan en las condiciones en las que vivan y en la situación en la que vivan.
La historia tiene más profundidad lingüística y sentimental que la que le estoy dando en esta reseña y que la que podría llegar a entender, pero me gustó mucho la escritura y la repetición de palabras hasta dejarlas desnudas y sin sentido. Las alusiones a un sistema capitalista tan frío como en el que estamos inmersos, donde todo debe sumar y nada debe restar, donde nuestras formas de ser y nuestras relaciones siempre son un cálculo y un trabajo. Hacemos mucho ruido, siempre estamos muy ocupados, queremos alcanzarlo todo muy rápido y, en muchos sentidos, somos además muy agresivos.
Como dijo Hyeongchul Shin, la historia tiene tantas temáticas y tan bien combinadas, me divertí y pensé mucho (algo que extrañaba de encontrar en una lectura). Gracias Hwang Jungeun!
La forma en la que la historia se centra en los espacios físicos en que se mueven las personas, me recordó mucho a esas canciones que hablan de ciudades, de cómo se puede manifestar el sentir de las personas mediante el retrato de una ciudad en decadencia (y agradecí mucho esa conexión mental con mono.) y sus espacios oscuros y fríos, pero que al mismo tiempo, es el único refugio conocido para otros. Desde espacios ruidosos y donde cunde el movimiento, la rapidez y el ajetreo de un nuevo proyecto (como lo es el proyecto de demolición) hasta un espacio silencioso, tranquilo, donde el tiempo no parece pasar y donde la verdadera humanidad puede verse funcionar (el viejito que vendía las bombillas de luces). Los diálogos son lo más cercano a la realidad que puede verse en un libro, con silencios y palabras mundanas y repetitivas, realmente la autora quiso adentrar al lector en el escenario que construyó (y que según leí, está orientado a un caso de demolición real de un edificio en Corea del Sur).
Me gustó mucho la edición chilena (por @neonediciones) porque se tradujo las cinco anotaciones de Hyeongchul Shin sobre el libro, y a mi parecer fue un buen inicio para entender el trasfondo y el objetivo que tuvo la autora en tantas sombras.
''El fenómeno de rebelión de la sombra (...) de separación de la sombra-que si se tiene en cuenta, sucede solo cuando un sujeto llega al límite de su paciencia ante una realidad violenta''
No es un libro que me haya tocado la fibra sensible al punto de no parar de llorar, pero me generó muchos pensamientos y conexiones neuronales, porque también su concepto de sombra lo relacioné mucho a Carl Jung, porque para él la sombra también involucra la ''banalidad de la desdicha'' como dice el libro, es decir, miedos, frustraciones e inseguridades. Me gustó haberlo leído en un momento donde mi sombra también se levanta de a ratos y me consume, para luego volver a esconderse en esas esquinas donde no llega la luz. Se vive con esa sombra siempre, porque realmente ¿se puede luchar contra ella si es parte de ti? Unguio, no creo que exista otra vida después de esta. Siempre he pensado que era inevitable para todos los seres humanos sentir un poco esa sensación de vacío, vivan en las condiciones en las que vivan y en la situación en la que vivan.
La historia tiene más profundidad lingüística y sentimental que la que le estoy dando en esta reseña y que la que podría llegar a entender, pero me gustó mucho la escritura y la repetición de palabras hasta dejarlas desnudas y sin sentido. Las alusiones a un sistema capitalista tan frío como en el que estamos inmersos, donde todo debe sumar y nada debe restar, donde nuestras formas de ser y nuestras relaciones siempre son un cálculo y un trabajo. Hacemos mucho ruido, siempre estamos muy ocupados, queremos alcanzarlo todo muy rápido y, en muchos sentidos, somos además muy agresivos.
Como dijo Hyeongchul Shin, la historia tiene tantas temáticas y tan bien combinadas, me divertí y pensé mucho (algo que extrañaba de encontrar en una lectura). Gracias Hwang Jungeun!
youthfulexpression's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
3.0
mahaila's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
For me, this was perfect.
I loved the style of Hwang Jungeun's writing and I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
The story follows Mujae and Eungyo, two young people working in repair shops in building B of a crowded market complex. The complex is in the early stages of being gentrified.
In this world, a person's shadow can rise, becoming a 3-dimensional figure, separate from their body, after they experience trauma and compounded sadness. This feels very realistic and troubling in the book.
I really liked the critique of the desensitization that is cultivated by capitalist systems. I think this quote captures it well, "I wonder if they call this kind of place a slum, because if you called it someone's home or their livelihood that would make things awkward when it comes to tearing it down."
Mujae describes the memory of seeing a woman and a man fight over reclaimed rags and cardboard boxes, which they plan to sell. The man ends up giving up his and the woman dies later that day, depicting the futility of human life in capitalist systems. As Mujae says, "Even after her children came and held a funeral for her, her handcart remained where she'd left it. There wasn't much in it, just a few boxes, lumps of Styrofoam and torn sheets of plastic, and as I looked at it I thought, A person can die for the sake [of] such things, a person can die and this is all they leave behind,"
I really enjoyed how the story was told through a series of separate scenes and memories. And I liked how Jungeun wrote dialogue without using quotation marks. While somewhat confusing at times, it gave the book a unique and familiar conversational feel.
I liked how the book begins with Mujae guiding Eungyo thorugh dangerous terrain after her shadow rises, and ends with Eungyo doing the same for Mujae.
I found it somewhat amusing that Mujae passes the orange peel theory TikTok challenge.
Also, I made a playlist for this book, because I guess that's what I do now. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0FXS4MZCTW5JKw9gVLPZXQ
Thank you to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for providing me with an e-arc ahead of the publication of the new edition.
I loved the style of Hwang Jungeun's writing and I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
The story follows Mujae and Eungyo, two young people working in repair shops in building B of a crowded market complex. The complex is in the early stages of being gentrified.
In this world, a person's shadow can rise, becoming a 3-dimensional figure, separate from their body, after they experience trauma and compounded sadness. This feels very realistic and troubling in the book.
I really liked the critique of the desensitization that is cultivated by capitalist systems. I think this quote captures it well, "I wonder if they call this kind of place a slum, because if you called it someone's home or their livelihood that would make things awkward when it comes to tearing it down."
Mujae describes the memory of seeing a woman and a man fight over reclaimed rags and cardboard boxes, which they plan to sell. The man ends up giving up his and the woman dies later that day, depicting the futility of human life in capitalist systems. As Mujae says, "Even after her children came and held a funeral for her, her handcart remained where she'd left it. There wasn't much in it, just a few boxes, lumps of Styrofoam and torn sheets of plastic, and as I looked at it I thought, A person can die for the sake [of] such things, a person can die and this is all they leave behind,"
I really enjoyed how the story was told through a series of separate scenes and memories. And I liked how Jungeun wrote dialogue without using quotation marks. While somewhat confusing at times, it gave the book a unique and familiar conversational feel.
I liked how the book begins with Mujae guiding Eungyo thorugh dangerous terrain after her shadow rises, and ends with
I found it somewhat amusing that Mujae passes the orange peel theory TikTok challenge.
Also, I made a playlist for this book, because I guess that's what I do now. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0FXS4MZCTW5JKw9gVLPZXQ
Thank you to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for providing me with an e-arc ahead of the publication of the new edition.
care__'s review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0