Reviews

Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS by Myeongseok Kang, BTS

lunemoondune's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

5.0

sevie_xx's review

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emotional medium-paced

4.75

call_me_ana's review

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adventurous funny hopeful informative inspiring relaxing fast-paced

5.0

Nothing better than getting to know your favorite artist through the book. 

ninilovesbooks_07's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

offbrandmusclemilk's review against another edition

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5.0

okay I know I’m the crazy bts lady but this was such a special book, getting to read about these events in their own words. I was genuinely crying at the end because I’m just so thankful to have them in my life. To have something to turn to when things feel too ugly or overwhelming.

lamina_miah's review

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5.0

I refuse to rate BTS anything less but damn do I wish it went into more depth.

marshmellowraven's review

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

kwagner's review

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5.0

I went into this expecting a memoir. Once I began viewing it as a literal text book, I had a better time. The audio is what made me finish it.

I am of course biased BUT - this is a well done journalistic record of BTS's career and achievements. The organization of reference notes and incorporation of external material was impressive. I really learned a lot. It was like a comprehensive guide to their career but also a deep dive into the meaning, composition, and success of every song they released. I need to do a closer listen to their albums now.
The personal anecdotes from members sprinkled throughout made it all the more fun.

I honestly would recommend this book if you're interested in general music production, kpop, or consider yourself as ARMY lol.

shania_siobhan's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

ipsita's review

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5.0

This made me feel so many things and above all I’m so very proud of them. I’m grateful and euphoric that I was born in the same era as bangtan <3 truly cannot imagine my life without them (and thankful to my book friend who first introduced me to them)


”We were working on LOVE YOURSELF, but we couldn’t love ourselves.” - made me sob so hard cause I was struggling so much at that time and ly truly came to my rescue, I found parts of myself that I loathed and some parts I loved and learnt to accept them all regardless. While unknowing, we both went through the same journey and maybe that’s why bangtan seemed so real as we share similar stories and found solace in music together.

”We wondered whether we should quit.” - this hurt so much as I became a fan during the last months of 2018 and that was a terrible year even though it was their breakthrough year, it came with so many harsh times. I remember that speech by Jin, I saw that MAMA award ceremony on twitter late at night, cried so hard after seeing them so emotional on stage, even though I had only known them for some weeks. It felt like my heart was ripped apart, I was feeling regretful that why didn’t I get to know them sooner, why couldn’t I become a part of their fandom sooner. But knowing that it wasn’t the end, that they decided to continue to walk this path together also made me feel immense relief cause I didn’t want to miss out on their journey. And what came after was a much needed healing time, and understanding myself and them equally. Oh I miss those times, one of my happiest days after I became an ARMY.

”I believed the team [BTS] couldn’t stay together if even one of us left.” this reminded me of Bon Voyage (season 3 episode 8 I guess), each member wrote a letter addressed to someone and those were so raw, and heartfelt. This part made me admire their love and passion, the struggle, the harshness they’ve faced together; they couldn’t have done it alone. They are all equally so strong and bright but they shone the brightest when they are together. Really BTS is a team spirit and nothing or no one can break them. And I think that mostly for this I admire them a lot more than any other artists; seeing the bond they share, the love, the selflessness, the friendship, the support and the way they care for each others - makes you feel that this world after all is not so cold but warm and beautiful when you realise there’re people who care and love you for who you truly are.

I know there was a lot to take from this book - they each shared part of their journey unknown to us, the unseen world behind K-pop and the true reality behind all the shiny things - it makes you feel so raw. I’ll probably re-read this book again and again cause this has now become so close to my heart. There’s so much more that I wish I could say but words are never enough to express how much they have changed my life and made me feel so alive, fortunate to be born and to be able to share the same universe; expectant for the future and mostly to enjoy every single moment in life and care for my loved ones as well.

First Read - 23 July | Second Read - 28 December