Scan barcode
sheepz's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
frooblie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Sometimes I read books in translation and feel like I’m watching a movie through a foggy window. This isn’t a reflection of the translation, but how much is lost when a story leaves its cultural and historical context. Han Kang isn’t writing for me, overseas, born the year after. There are pieces of the story her audience doesn’t need filled in that I floundered with. But the emotional rawness, the wounds, the loss…that hit me in the heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Torture, Gun violence, War, Sexual assault, Death, Grief, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Suicide
lottie1803's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lostcupofstars's review against another edition
3.75
This isn’t really my kind of read; it’s incredibly bleak, has historic roots and a ton of military violence, but it was beautifully written.
The Boy’s Mother, 2010 - this chapter was the one that held the most impact for me.
I learnt a lot from reading this.
The Boy’s Mother, 2010 - this chapter was the one that held the most impact for me.
I learnt a lot from reading this.
mareikereads's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
I picked this book up during my exchange in South Korea. I wanted to challenge myself to read books from local author. As someone that enjoys learning about the history of the countries that she visits, I thought this would be a good choice.
I did not start out with that much factual background on the student uprising besides the little info that I got while visiting Gwangju for 1.5 days and seing the museum for the uprising from the outside (it was a monday *sigh*).
I loved the different perspectives that were given. Really emotional and poignant. For me, the most eye opening chapter was the last one, where the author explains her own personal feelings and emotions. It also tied all the other chapters together.
After scrolling through some reviews after finishing the book, I need to agree with two smaller criticisms:
The missing perspectives of the perpetrators or the ones that were forced to pull the trigger on those students.
The second person perspectives is not really my cup of tea. Even though it was masterfully done and at some point really surprised me how well it fit. At other times, it did confuse me and slowed down my reading experience.
All in all it is a great book! Sooo many profound quotes. Wished I would have had a pen with me to underline while reading it. Ohh well good reason to read excerpts again. It did take me some time to finish it because it is not the most easy literature there is. However it kind of made we want to get out of my reading slump....and also study up some more of the history behind the uprising.
I picked this book up during my exchange in South Korea. I wanted to challenge myself to read books from local author. As someone that enjoys learning about the history of the countries that she visits, I thought this would be a good choice.
I did not start out with that much factual background on the student uprising besides the little info that I got while visiting Gwangju for 1.5 days and seing the museum for the uprising from the outside (it was a monday *sigh*).
I loved the different perspectives that were given. Really emotional and poignant. For me, the most eye opening chapter was the last one, where the author explains her own personal feelings and emotions. It also tied all the other chapters together.
After scrolling through some reviews after finishing the book, I need to agree with two smaller criticisms:
The missing perspectives of the perpetrators or the ones that were forced to pull the trigger on those students.
The second person perspectives is not really my cup of tea. Even though it was masterfully done and at some point really surprised me how well it fit. At other times, it did confuse me and slowed down my reading experience.
All in all it is a great book! Sooo many profound quotes. Wished I would have had a pen with me to underline while reading it. Ohh well good reason to read excerpts again. It did take me some time to finish it because it is not the most easy literature there is. However it kind of made we want to get out of my reading slump....and also study up some more of the history behind the uprising.
shortsmarts's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
julianneale's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5
Kang's writing shines in the last quarter of the novel. The way she depicts familial relationships is just as gripping and visceral as her portrayal of wartime violence. Personally, I found there to be too much "telling" which was unfortunate since her writing is so good when she "shows." There were definitely some golden sections, but I found many moments to be dull despite there being such an interesting plot. I wonder what nuances (if any) were lost due to having read the translated version.
Kang's writing shines in the last quarter of the novel. The way she depicts familial relationships is just as gripping and visceral as her portrayal of wartime violence. Personally, I found there to be too much "telling" which was unfortunate since her writing is so good when she "shows." There were definitely some golden sections, but I found many moments to be dull despite there being such an interesting plot. I wonder what nuances (if any) were lost due to having read the translated version.
this_little_bookshelf's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
This was a heart wrenching account of the aftermath of a violently suppressed student uprising in 1980s South Korea. It was told through several interconnected perspectives across a 33 year time period in a mix of first and second person. I really struggle to connect with second person narration and just as I felt so was, the perspective would shift. This took away some of the emotional impact for this book. I was so close to loving this one, but it didn’t quite get there for me.