Reviews with content warning for Murder - アーモンド

Reviews tagging 'Murder'

アーモンド by Won-pyung Sohn

288 reviews

sayacanread's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

i feel like my heart was ripped out after reading this but in a good way

Content Warnings

snipinfool's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful informative 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

Yunjae was born with underdeveloped amygdalae in his brain which caused him to have difficulty feeling and expressing emotion. Yunjae's mother tried to help him recognize expressions and responses others had as a way to help him navigate relationships with others. Sometimes, it helped him to respond in an expected way, but usually people thought Yunjae was strange. His mother gave him almonds to eat in hopes the almond shaped amygdalae would grow and function properly. Unfortunately, Yumjae's doctors had no cure for his condition.

On Yunjae's sixteenth birthday, a tragic act left him alone in the world. He had to look to others for help. He became friendly with the landlord of his family's used book store, but otherwise withdrew from people. Gon, a new boy at school, tried to establish himself by picking a fight with Yunjae. Yunjae did not back down, but did not fight back either. This reaction confused Gon and he spent time talking to and watching Yunjae's reactions. Over time, the boys became friendly. Yunjae made another friend at school, a girl who he was drawn to. Slowly, Yunjae opened his circle to add people who made him feel comfortable. Overtime, he began to see he was starting to understand emotion and human relationships.

I thought this was a very interesting book. I read it because I saw the members of BTS reading it during the first season of In the Soop. It likely inspired SUGA to write his recent song, Amygdala. The amygdala is a fascinating and very important part of our brain. I knew very little about it or how its malfunction would affect someone. It was sad that Yunjae saw himself as a monster, but understandable when one was very different from the rest of those around you. The ending was very good and I was happy with how it played out.

Content Warnings

destiny106's review against another edition

3.75

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

icedcoffee's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

hannahleigh's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

Content Warnings

lilholmn's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional funny reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This story as a whole was great. It was extremely interesting to read about gon and yunjae and their relationship. Those two have completely different and opposing characters and despite struggling to show or even understand their own feelings, deeply care for each other.
The last two parts felt a bit rushed compared to the other ones. It kinda undermines what the first parts build up and leaves me with some questions and holes (not really plot holes it would’ve been nice tho to get to know more about what happened, especially in part four)
All in all still a great book and recommendation!

Content Warnings

mmccombs's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

A wonderful story with superb translation work, it’s a book where I can tell the translator strived to stay true to the words while also bringing their own passion to it. I loved the themes this book tackled: who is a “monster,” why do we watch bad things happen without intervening, what does it mean to live without fear (is it strength? Is it a danger?). Yunjae’s voice is really interesting, it’s distant and detached but still incredibly relatable and perceptive, painting his internal world in such a striking way. I really enjoyed reading this one, I feel like it could quickly become a classic.

Content Warnings