Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Human Acts by Han Kang

47 reviews

katiemcgregor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

To call Human Acts heart wrenching would be a misnomer. This book shook me to the very core of my soul. Kang does a magnificent job of introducing her readers to a historical event, they very likely haven't heard before, not through a dull recount of names and dates, but through the grief and destruction left in it's wake. The stories of those who live are just as tragic as of those who die and the whole book feels eerily close to non-fiction.

My main misgiving with Human Acts is the switches in perspectives. I found the second person perspective so jarring that, ironically, it was difficult to put myself in the shoes of the characters whose stories were told from this point of view. Along with the fact that I read a translation, the book is simply stilted in some places where it likely isn't in the original transcript.

I wouldn't say these issues prevent Human Acts from being effective in it's mission. Kang asks questions about humanity that are impossible to answer, but still left me steadily weeping through every section; not the intense type of crying that leaves you dehydrated, but the silent tears that can't be stopped because it feels like there's no other way to grapple with the unimaginable cruelties of this world. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, and Violence

sydneybedell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Police brutality, Torture, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child death, Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, and Death

Moderate: Suicide

ksenie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Moderate: Excrement, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, and Panic attacks/disorders

emmaoswald's review

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gun violence, Grief, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, and War

graceagy's review

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and War

mxpringle's review

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Self harm

lola_lab's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicide, Violence, and War

badspringbye's review

dark slow-paced

2.0

 I feel bad about this and for being detached most of the time. the povs, connection of characters, and timeline are all puzzling I had a difficult time (literally, 200 pgs 7 days) in comprehending the message of the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Slavery, and Torture

moraleegray's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, and Police brutality

jaelabi's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault