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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
informative
this was an emotional and heartfelt look into the impact of bts. not to sound like a raging nerd but i really enjoyed that it went era by era, breaking down not just how they were thinking and feeling, but how the sales, fans, and money were impacting the choices they made. it really gave new perspective on it and was really refreshing to see. overall i liked just how frank this was, not afraid at all to talk about shitty conditions or fears and arguments. it really just adds to the authenticity that i always get from them.
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
My first BTS song was “Boy in Luv” in 2016. I remember being mesmerised by their synchronisation. Have you seen their hair flips in that dance practice vid?!
But my favourite songs were “2! 3!” and “Young Forever” because they resonated with me.
1. The romanticisation of youth in how fleeting it is
2. The fear of the future in its unpredictability; and
3. The tenacity (or just pure stubborn determination) to overcome struggles
With that said I don’t think I qualify as an Army, I just listened to their songs and watched their dance practices.
What’s interesting about Asian biographies, I realise, is the focus on overcoming struggles. There seems to be a romanticisation of the pain that must be felt before success. What is unsaid is that it is a rite of passage. It seems like if you do not experience difficulties in life, you are unworthy of success.
Truth be told I didn’t know BTS was facing so many challenges in their strive for success and then, following success. It was a humbling experience to learn about their thoughts at different stages of their careers. I note interestingly the paradox of the desire to be successful and the cost of success. It’s as if there is no middle ground, that the grass is not greener on the other side and that there is a price for every circumstance in life. It is a question of whether the choice is worth the price.
I do think the book overcompensates by painting Bang Si-Hyuk as an all knowing elder that sheds light where wisdom is needed. And I do believe to an extent he is a respectable figure BTS looks up to (based on some of the BTS vids I’ve come across). I wonder, however, whether his aspirations were purer when BigHit was a smaller company. That things were more genuine because there was a co-dependent relationship between BigHit and BTS.
With all that said, I really did enjoy this book and I’m so happy BTS became successful. I think they deserved it and I know that this is only the beginning for sky is the limit. I do hope for the sake of their mental and physical health, that they take time to rest. And rest without guilt because I believe Army will wait for however long is necessary for their comebacks. I believe Army would put the members’ wellbeing before anything.
May all 7 of them be surrounded by love, filled with joy and endless fun. May they have the courage to stay strong when time gets difficult and know when to press pause when the situation calls for it. May they have someone to confide in and lean on. May their legacy live on.
But my favourite songs were “2! 3!” and “Young Forever” because they resonated with me.
1. The romanticisation of youth in how fleeting it is
2. The fear of the future in its unpredictability; and
3. The tenacity (or just pure stubborn determination) to overcome struggles
With that said I don’t think I qualify as an Army, I just listened to their songs and watched their dance practices.
What’s interesting about Asian biographies, I realise, is the focus on overcoming struggles. There seems to be a romanticisation of the pain that must be felt before success. What is unsaid is that it is a rite of passage. It seems like if you do not experience difficulties in life, you are unworthy of success.
Truth be told I didn’t know BTS was facing so many challenges in their strive for success and then, following success. It was a humbling experience to learn about their thoughts at different stages of their careers. I note interestingly the paradox of the desire to be successful and the cost of success. It’s as if there is no middle ground, that the grass is not greener on the other side and that there is a price for every circumstance in life. It is a question of whether the choice is worth the price.
I do think the book overcompensates by painting Bang Si-Hyuk as an all knowing elder that sheds light where wisdom is needed. And I do believe to an extent he is a respectable figure BTS looks up to (based on some of the BTS vids I’ve come across). I wonder, however, whether his aspirations were purer when BigHit was a smaller company. That things were more genuine because there was a co-dependent relationship between BigHit and BTS.
With all that said, I really did enjoy this book and I’m so happy BTS became successful. I think they deserved it and I know that this is only the beginning for sky is the limit. I do hope for the sake of their mental and physical health, that they take time to rest. And rest without guilt because I believe Army will wait for however long is necessary for their comebacks. I believe Army would put the members’ wellbeing before anything.
May all 7 of them be surrounded by love, filled with joy and endless fun. May they have the courage to stay strong when time gets difficult and know when to press pause when the situation calls for it. May they have someone to confide in and lean on. May their legacy live on.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
DNF
I was looking forward to this book so much but have to admit I got quite disappointed. The translation feels rushed, sometimes the English barely makes sense. This was a huge turnoff and together with the somewhat monotonous chronological storytelling, the reason why I didn't finish the book. I liked however the QR codes linking to the songs and videos described in the chapters. Very immersive and a clever way to attract more views to their YT videos.
I was looking forward to this book so much but have to admit I got quite disappointed. The translation feels rushed, sometimes the English barely makes sense. This was a huge turnoff and together with the somewhat monotonous chronological storytelling, the reason why I didn't finish the book. I liked however the QR codes linking to the songs and videos described in the chapters. Very immersive and a clever way to attract more views to their YT videos.
informative
slow-paced
there's no reason why this book needs to be as long as it is. i gave it three stars because as a fan, it was enjoyable to read through quotes from the members themselves and their comments about certain periods in their career. nevertheless, the book glorified the band itself too much in my opinion. when i picked this up, i was hoping to see a more humanly side of the guys. unfortunately, it's not what this book is offering.
it's great for new fans who don't know a lot about their history as a band, but probably useless for anyone who's already known them for more than five minutes
it's great for new fans who don't know a lot about their history as a band, but probably useless for anyone who's already known them for more than five minutes