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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
A little pearl of a novel! I have been reading mostly Japanese and Korean fiction for the past couple of months, and this is the story that has stuck with me the most thus far. It’s a book about human existence, love, grief, and growing up - what’s not to like?
Extra points goes out to the beautiful translation. While I know no Korean, it’s always obvious when the translator has done an excellent job at translating the flow of writing and the dialogue between characters. The original voice of Won-Pyung Sohn seems to flow effortlessly here. Almond is a big recommendation!
Extra points goes out to the beautiful translation. While I know no Korean, it’s always obvious when the translator has done an excellent job at translating the flow of writing and the dialogue between characters. The original voice of Won-Pyung Sohn seems to flow effortlessly here. Almond is a big recommendation!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Abandonment
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
What are you going to do here? Do you think enduring all this will make you strong? This isn’t strong. It’s just pretending to be.
i absolutely enjoyed this book. it started out rocky for me, and i was even contemplating DNF-ing this book due to some plot continuity issues early on. if i could give a word of advice to someone interested in this book (namely people like me who read reviews to see if it’s up their alley and worth the read), hang on. it WILL get better.
i LOVED the characters, even though some were more fleshed out than others. the story, as well as the world around it, is so interesting and beckons you to lean in and feel what others can’t. it explores emotions and the boundaries of it, imposed by ourselves and what we are simply exposed to.
i recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bittersweet coming-of-age story or anyone who just wants a fresh perspective. it felt a bit preachy in the beginning, maybe even pretentious. however, understanding the character put everything into perspective and helped me to best grasp what the author was trying to say in the first place. you realize, towards the end, the author and MC may be more similar than different.
this is a book that earned all of its 4.75 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Yet another banger. I wish I had known earlier that there are so many great Korean authors, and I hope others won't make the same mistake as me and wait so long to explore Korean literature. I can easily see this becoming a modern classic, and it will be completely justified. Almond is a flawless exploration of disability in society, and a character study of a boy unable to feel emotions. This book had me gasping, tearing up and giggling.. highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship
Minor: Gun violence
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Blood, Medical content, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
It’s an easy book to get through. As I read it - I felt myself connect with characters very easily from the get go. Yunjae’s character and personal development in the book is my favourite part of it, Gon’s character is complicated but the author does a decent job at giving you enough background to make sense out of his actions and reactions.
A great book to explore human emotions and how it gets translated into the day-to-day business of life. I loved the questions Yunjae would occasionally ask from the readers. Made me think more deeply about the importance of words and language.
Dips toes in childhood trauma and emotional conditioning of a child which is very insightful.
“Children long to be loved, but at the same time they give the most love.”
“Love was an extreme idea. A word that seemed to force something undefinable into the prison of letters. But the word was used so casually, so often. People spoke of love so casually, just to mean the slightest pleasure or thanks.”
A great book to explore human emotions and how it gets translated into the day-to-day business of life. I loved the questions Yunjae would occasionally ask from the readers. Made me think more deeply about the importance of words and language.
Dips toes in childhood trauma and emotional conditioning of a child which is very insightful.
“Children long to be loved, but at the same time they give the most love.”
“Love was an extreme idea. A word that seemed to force something undefinable into the prison of letters. But the word was used so casually, so often. People spoke of love so casually, just to mean the slightest pleasure or thanks.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Abandonment
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Abandonment
Minor: Gun violence
dark
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
I cried during the last chapters. I did also tear up a couple of time before that. The development of the story and language that was used was so subtle at first, but so impactful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Rape
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a good audiobook, if you choose to listen. I thought the balance and dynamic between one character who has extreme emotions with one that feels nothing was interesting. The ending was nice and wrapped any loose ends. I loved the almond symbolism and candy (that specific one mentioned) metaphor throughout, it fit the story quite well. I wanted to see more of Dora (sp? again, audiobook) and Yunjae's friendship. Seeing some other reviews, I would've liked to hear the translator's notes because it sounds like it had an impact. I loved the translation as it was simple, yet emotional.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Blood, Islamophobia, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse, Child death
challenging
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment