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allthelovers's review
4.5
added half a star solely for the content matter alone-- it was really, really cool to see this sort of story published in english.
l1ttlel1braryn00k's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.0
danileighta's review
This was great. It wrapped up pretty at the end, which was a little annoying, but they emphasized the fact that no matter who is in office we must always fight for our rights. That is an essential truth that feels so vitally important today.
laura_cs's review
5.0
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The year is 1983. The place, South Korea. Hyun Sook is going to university, though against her mother's wishes, to study literature. However, her education is going to be more than novels and poetry. Her very first day, she must wade through the swarm of college students protesting, Molotov cocktails, and tear gas. On college campuses around the country, students are protesting the corrupt government. Despite her attempts to stay apolitical, Hyun Sook soon realizes that it is impossible, even in the folk dance group she joins. When one of the members invites her to a book club, she thinks she has an opportunity to make new friends and talk about books. And they do. The catch? All of the books they read are banned by the South Korean Government.
A brilliant, thought-provoking, and timely debut autobiographical graphic novel written by Kim Hyun Sook, "Banned Book Club" provides readers a look at South Korean history from someone who lived it--and is still fighting to make her home a better place. "Banned Book Club" provides a much-needed narrative about politics and freedom of speech, particularly in Asian history and countries, as well as finding yourself and coming of age in times of political unrest.
The year is 1983. The place, South Korea. Hyun Sook is going to university, though against her mother's wishes, to study literature. However, her education is going to be more than novels and poetry. Her very first day, she must wade through the swarm of college students protesting, Molotov cocktails, and tear gas. On college campuses around the country, students are protesting the corrupt government. Despite her attempts to stay apolitical, Hyun Sook soon realizes that it is impossible, even in the folk dance group she joins. When one of the members invites her to a book club, she thinks she has an opportunity to make new friends and talk about books. And they do. The catch? All of the books they read are banned by the South Korean Government.
A brilliant, thought-provoking, and timely debut autobiographical graphic novel written by Kim Hyun Sook, "Banned Book Club" provides readers a look at South Korean history from someone who lived it--and is still fighting to make her home a better place. "Banned Book Club" provides a much-needed narrative about politics and freedom of speech, particularly in Asian history and countries, as well as finding yourself and coming of age in times of political unrest.
historybowler's review
4.0
Thank you Netgalley for the arc!
This book is a stunning depiction of an era of world history that I was not aware about. My only complaint with this book is that I wish the supporting characters were a little more developed. Other than that, I think it is a great read and highly worthwhile.
This book is a stunning depiction of an era of world history that I was not aware about. My only complaint with this book is that I wish the supporting characters were a little more developed. Other than that, I think it is a great read and highly worthwhile.
koreanlinda's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
4.0
It's a fast read about a portion of South Korean history of the democracy movement. Although it does not provide a lot of details, it shares a good summary through a fictional story. The briefness and cartoon format allowed me to learn about very violent and painful events without being too triggered. I would recommend this book to anyone who believes in the power of books and the power of collective movement.
Review by Linda (Any Pronouns) in March 2024
Personal essays on DefinitelyNotOkay.com
Artwork on Instagram @KoreanLinda
Review by Linda (Any Pronouns) in March 2024
Personal essays on DefinitelyNotOkay.com
Artwork on Instagram @KoreanLinda
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Torture