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dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
I picked up ALMOND because of its gorgeous cover. The story inside is equally stunning — a lovely / thoughtful / tender gem on growing up. I also love the thread on love and fear — and how our displays of both emotions are in tandem more often than we think.
And kudos to Sandy Joosun Lee for translating it with such evident care!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-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
This book is sad, f*cked up, uncomfortable, and beautiful. It really makes you think about emotions and empathy and how we take those things for granted. The ability to love, and how love can change everything. I found the nuanced similarities of Yunjae and Gon fascinating. One can speak eloquently and give you all the definitions of emotions but can’t express them. The other desperately wants to express their feelings but doesn’t know how to and lacks the vocabulary so they resort to frustrated physical acts. One is searching for a way to feel love but can’t feel it and the other is looking to be loved but can’t find it. I also found it really telling who the real monsters in this book were, all of the people that were so quick to judge, stereotype, and so slow to sympathize, and understand.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tbh everything was an easy 5 stars for me untill it begin to close with the ending. serius, chapter 1-3 beneran ringan tapi seru buat diikutin.
chapter 1
perkenalan tokoh utama yg mengidap penyakit alexitimia karena ukuran amigdala nya yg kecil serta interaksi tokoh utama dengan keluarganya dideskripsikan dgn cara yg apik. trus juga kadang tuh lucuuuu misal kaya pas dia deskripsiin ibunya yg awet muda tapi pemilihan katanya tuh aduhhhhh malah bikin kesannya jadi kaya sebuah ejekan😭👎
chapter 2
penggambaran interaksi sosial tokoh utama setelah peristiwa naas yg dialami oleh nenek dan ibunya. interaksi sosial bermakna tuh pertama sama prof. shim dan ke depannya dia bakal bantuin tokoh utama buat berinteraksi.
trusss nanti di sini bakal ketemu sama gon, tokoh yg ngajarin arti "teman" buat tokoh utama.
chapter 3
MULAI KENAL CINTA AHAHAHA lucuuuu bgt pas deskripsiin perasaannya ke dora😭
pokoknya sampe chapter 3 semuanya oke oke aja gue seneng bgt. humornya dapet, dinamika kisahnya gak datar, and the protagonist is also lovable. besides that, tbh gon is such a cliche character. kelakuan preman tapi hati hello kitty. tapi tuh tetep bikin simpati sama gon atas semua masa lalunya😭😭😭💕
oke sekarang bagian ending sama epilog
alias alasan kenapa kaga jadi 5 stars soalnya
jujurrrr kecewa sama endingnya. kaya hah sinetron bgt ga sieee ueueueueue
sebenernya juga ga ada riset terbaru ttg how to cure alexithymia cuma tuh dari ceritanya juga ga dijelasin secara rinci penyebab penyakitnya (cuma dijelasin kalo secara anatomis ukuran amigdala nya kecil) dan proses patofisiologisnya jg ga dijelasin secara rinci jadiiii pas tiba2 endingnya bisa sembuh dgn kekuatan cinta dan persahabatan tuh kaya ???? sinetron bgt😭😭😭
sebenernya si masih masuk akal, soalnya dari awal jg dijelasin progress interaksi sosialnya. mulai dari mengamati mimik wajah gon, trus nanya2 ke prof. shim, apalagi pas naksir dora itu jelas ada bgt perkembangannya. cuma tuh gatauuuuu kenapa tapi gue kecewa bgt pas endingnya dia nangis kaya wahhhh sembuh nih??? padahal jg sebelumnya dia udh ngalamin peristiwa tragis jg. ngeliat anak dibully sampe meninggal, nenek ditikam, nyokap koma. tapi giliran kecelakaan sm temen dia gitu😭👎 ah gatau dehhhh mungkin ekspetasi gue aja yg krg sesuai hhhhh emg harusnya mah gausah berekspetasi hiks
oiya gue sukaaaa bgt karakter yoonjae si tokoh utama. dia memandang dunia apa adanya tanpa bias emosi karena alexitimia yg dideritanya. dia jg kesannya terlalu serius dan apa adanya tapi justru itu yg bikin lawak. his struggles to understand the complexity of our society is enjoyable to read.
overall, this book is really worth to read. serius deh ringan, easily-read, informative in fun way!
chapter 1
perkenalan tokoh utama yg mengidap penyakit alexitimia karena ukuran amigdala nya yg kecil serta interaksi tokoh utama dengan keluarganya dideskripsikan dgn cara yg apik. trus juga kadang tuh lucuuuu misal kaya pas dia deskripsiin ibunya yg awet muda tapi pemilihan katanya tuh aduhhhhh malah bikin kesannya jadi kaya sebuah ejekan😭👎
chapter 2
penggambaran interaksi sosial tokoh utama setelah peristiwa naas yg dialami oleh nenek dan ibunya. interaksi sosial bermakna tuh pertama sama prof. shim dan ke depannya dia bakal bantuin tokoh utama buat berinteraksi.
trusss nanti di sini bakal ketemu sama gon, tokoh yg ngajarin arti "teman" buat tokoh utama.
chapter 3
MULAI KENAL CINTA AHAHAHA lucuuuu bgt pas deskripsiin perasaannya ke dora😭
pokoknya sampe chapter 3 semuanya oke oke aja gue seneng bgt. humornya dapet, dinamika kisahnya gak datar, and the protagonist is also lovable. besides that, tbh gon is such a cliche character. kelakuan preman tapi hati hello kitty. tapi tuh tetep bikin simpati sama gon atas semua masa lalunya😭😭😭💕
oke sekarang bagian ending sama epilog
alias alasan kenapa kaga jadi 5 stars soalnya
jujurrrr kecewa sama endingnya. kaya hah sinetron bgt ga sieee ueueueueue
sebenernya si masih masuk akal, soalnya dari awal jg dijelasin progress interaksi sosialnya. mulai dari mengamati mimik wajah gon, trus nanya2 ke prof. shim, apalagi pas naksir dora itu jelas ada bgt perkembangannya. cuma tuh gatauuuuu kenapa tapi gue kecewa bgt pas endingnya dia nangis kaya wahhhh sembuh nih??? padahal jg sebelumnya dia udh ngalamin peristiwa tragis jg. ngeliat anak dibully sampe meninggal, nenek ditikam, nyokap koma. tapi giliran kecelakaan sm temen dia gitu😭👎 ah gatau dehhhh mungkin ekspetasi gue aja yg krg sesuai hhhhh emg harusnya mah gausah berekspetasi hiks
oiya gue sukaaaa bgt karakter yoonjae si tokoh utama. dia memandang dunia apa adanya tanpa bias emosi karena alexitimia yg dideritanya. dia jg kesannya terlalu serius dan apa adanya tapi justru itu yg bikin lawak. his struggles to understand the complexity of our society is enjoyable to read.
overall, this book is really worth to read. serius deh ringan, easily-read, informative in fun way!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Blood
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child death
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death
Minor: Bullying, Violence
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This book punched me in the face. Several times. In a good way! The very beginning and the ending were my favorite parts; they hit the hardest. I was freaking out during my classes as I read them, because they were so good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-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
this book was so easy to read, it felt as if the time wasn't going by and as if i wasn't even reading. the pace is nice to follow and it's like we are reading the main characters journal, so we are seeing the world through his eyes and seeing the world thru his eyes is honestly calming - except in the hard core scenes, then it gets sad to see.
this book is also beautifully written, even the smallest and simplest things are well written, and gain a special meaning.
this book is also beautifully written, even the smallest and simplest things are well written, and gain a special meaning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Death, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
fast-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
Started this book bc Namjoon and Yoongi read it. It’s a quick audiobook of 5-hours. Interesting relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Child death
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
one of my favorite book, i somehow find comfort in reading it from time to time, love how it’s written
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"I have almonds inside me.
So do you.
So do those you love and those you hate.
No one can feel them.
You just know they are there.
This story is, in short, about a monster meeting another monster. One of the monsters is me."
Have you ever met a 'monster' and stopped to think about what made them the way they are? Or are you one of those who has always skirted past such monsters in cold deserted streets hunched up against the dusty floor, not stirring to either offer help or ask how they are?
Translated from the Korean by Joosun Lee, 'Almond' begins with our narrator Yungae retelling the events starting from his birth, his boyhood days to his early teens.
These lines from the prologue set the tone for rest of this incredibly compact, quick paced novel about a boy who feels no emotions, who is incapable of any feeling or empathy. The disease is called Alexithymia which renders Yunjae's amygdala (the 'almond' in his brain) imperceptible to human emotions like love, happiness, anger, or pain. He can't react if someone physically injures him.
Throughout his childhood, Yunjae has been prepared by his mother & later his grandma to 'normalise' his behaviour and to put on an act of showcasing emotions in everyday situations even if he feels none, in order to blend in with the kids at school.
Christened with all kinds of names like a freak, a robot, a weirdo - he is affectionately called 'monster' by his grandma. But what happens if this solid support system is uprooted by an unforeseen tragedy? Yunjae must learn to survive and adapt in a cruel and unforgiving world, navigating the dark seas of emotions all alone. In this journey of self actualisation, he will come across some unexpected friends, a lot of bullies, a monster- another monster like him that will bind them together in an inseparable bond.
'Almond' is a story replete with beautiful descriptions of Seoul set against the backdrop of changing seasons in the streets, but is also haunted by the memories of sickness & tragedies. The ending will make you feel warm, teary & hopeful in unlikely friendships and about 'monsters' who can be saved. #ipreview via @preview.app
So do you.
So do those you love and those you hate.
No one can feel them.
You just know they are there.
This story is, in short, about a monster meeting another monster. One of the monsters is me."
Have you ever met a 'monster' and stopped to think about what made them the way they are? Or are you one of those who has always skirted past such monsters in cold deserted streets hunched up against the dusty floor, not stirring to either offer help or ask how they are?
Translated from the Korean by Joosun Lee, 'Almond' begins with our narrator Yungae retelling the events starting from his birth, his boyhood days to his early teens.
These lines from the prologue set the tone for rest of this incredibly compact, quick paced novel about a boy who feels no emotions, who is incapable of any feeling or empathy. The disease is called Alexithymia which renders Yunjae's amygdala (the 'almond' in his brain) imperceptible to human emotions like love, happiness, anger, or pain. He can't react if someone physically injures him.
Throughout his childhood, Yunjae has been prepared by his mother & later his grandma to 'normalise' his behaviour and to put on an act of showcasing emotions in everyday situations even if he feels none, in order to blend in with the kids at school.
Christened with all kinds of names like a freak, a robot, a weirdo - he is affectionately called 'monster' by his grandma. But what happens if this solid support system is uprooted by an unforeseen tragedy? Yunjae must learn to survive and adapt in a cruel and unforgiving world, navigating the dark seas of emotions all alone. In this journey of self actualisation, he will come across some unexpected friends, a lot of bullies, a monster- another monster like him that will bind them together in an inseparable bond.
'Almond' is a story replete with beautiful descriptions of Seoul set against the backdrop of changing seasons in the streets, but is also haunted by the memories of sickness & tragedies. The ending will make you feel warm, teary & hopeful in unlikely friendships and about 'monsters' who can be saved. #ipreview via @preview.app
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent