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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
This story really touched me and formed a thread linking several texts I've read throughout the years:
The friendship in the children's book [b:Freak the Mighty|8953|Freak the Mighty (Freak the Mighty, #1)|Rodman Philbrick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440388999l/8953._SX50_.jpg|2049173] between two outcast boys with respective mental and physical disabilities reminded me of the friendship between Gon and Yunjae. Both books deal with ostracism, "troubled" children, and neurodivergence/ableism.
[b:The Stranger|49552|The Stranger|Albert Camus|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590930002l/49552._SY75_.jpg|3324344] and Almond both feature characters who are subjected to society's ire due to their failure to react to their family's deaths in a socially acceptable way. Along the lines of [b:Frankenstein: The 1818 Text|35031085|Frankenstein The 1818 Text|Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631088473l/35031085._SY75_.jpg|4836639], Almond draws out the humanity in the "monster" and the monstrosity in humanity. Both novels, along with The Stranger, further suggest that society projects its own indifference onto nonconforming individuals.
In Almond, Yunjae's mother warns him that, "Every social community needs a scapegoat." In this Aeon article, Alexander Plakias argues that the "awkward," or nonconforming individual, often becomes the scapegoat for awkward situations, which should instead be understood as a collective failure. Yunjae says that, "Without Mom to come up with sample dialogue for every new scenario, I was utterly helpless," evoking Plakias definition of awkward situations—those for which there is no social "script."
W.H. Auden's poem, "Musee des Beaux Arts," grapples with society's apathy and the bystander effect. Society's hypocrisy confounds Yunjae too, who says, "Most people could feel but they didn't act. They said they sympathized but easily forgot." Empathy does not make a good person. Emotions and ethics are distinct.
I found the translator's note fascinating as well—It must have been a challenge to provoke the reader's emotions when translating the words of a character who is meant to be emotionless. I also appreciated that the translator sensed the homoerotic undertones of Gon and Yunjae's friendship :D
Giving this five stars because it's the first book in a while that has impacted me so deeply and also helped me think through my thesis on criminal insanity. But that's not to say the novel is without fault:.
The friendship in the children's book [b:Freak the Mighty|8953|Freak the Mighty (Freak the Mighty, #1)|Rodman Philbrick|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440388999l/8953._SX50_.jpg|2049173] between two outcast boys with respective mental and physical disabilities reminded me of the friendship between Gon and Yunjae. Both books deal with ostracism, "troubled" children, and neurodivergence/ableism.
[b:The Stranger|49552|The Stranger|Albert Camus|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590930002l/49552._SY75_.jpg|3324344] and Almond both feature characters who are subjected to society's ire due to their failure to react to their family's deaths in a socially acceptable way. Along the lines of [b:Frankenstein: The 1818 Text|35031085|Frankenstein The 1818 Text|Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631088473l/35031085._SY75_.jpg|4836639], Almond draws out the humanity in the "monster" and the monstrosity in humanity. Both novels, along with The Stranger, further suggest that society projects its own indifference onto nonconforming individuals.
In Almond, Yunjae's mother warns him that, "Every social community needs a scapegoat." In this Aeon article, Alexander Plakias argues that the "awkward," or nonconforming individual, often becomes the scapegoat for awkward situations, which should instead be understood as a collective failure. Yunjae says that, "Without Mom to come up with sample dialogue for every new scenario, I was utterly helpless," evoking Plakias definition of awkward situations—those for which there is no social "script."
W.H. Auden's poem, "Musee des Beaux Arts," grapples with society's apathy and the bystander effect. Society's hypocrisy confounds Yunjae too, who says, "Most people could feel but they didn't act. They said they sympathized but easily forgot." Empathy does not make a good person. Emotions and ethics are distinct.
I found the translator's note fascinating as well—It must have been a challenge to provoke the reader's emotions when translating the words of a character who is meant to be emotionless. I also appreciated that the translator sensed the homoerotic undertones of Gon and Yunjae's friendship :D
Giving this five stars because it's the first book in a while that has impacted me so deeply and also helped me think through my thesis on criminal insanity. But that's not to say the novel is without fault:
Spoiler
I was not a fan of the simplistic writing, overly neat ending, and the idea of Yunjae being "cured"—a plot point that I think ultimately undermined the author's argument
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
*4,5
"Livros me levavam a lugares a que nunca poderia ir de outra maneira. Compartilhava confissões de pessoas que eu nunca conheceria e vidas que jamais presenciaria. As emoções que não conseguia sentir e as experiências pelas quais não passara podiam ser todas encontradas naqueles volumes."
não sei muito bem como descrever essa leitura, tive várias emoções ao mesmo tempo, algo bem conflitante. mas não deixei de achar uma escrita bem profunda e complexa, a história do yunjae (e do gon) me prendeu bastante.
"Livros me levavam a lugares a que nunca poderia ir de outra maneira. Compartilhava confissões de pessoas que eu nunca conheceria e vidas que jamais presenciaria. As emoções que não conseguia sentir e as experiências pelas quais não passara podiam ser todas encontradas naqueles volumes."
não sei muito bem como descrever essa leitura, tive várias emoções ao mesmo tempo, algo bem conflitante. mas não deixei de achar uma escrita bem profunda e complexa, a história do yunjae (e do gon) me prendeu bastante.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Unfortunately I was disappointed by this. After reading Sohn Won-Pyung's second novel (Counter Attacks at Thirty) and seeing how people who disliked that one actually loved this one, I was interested in seeing how I would compare. I really enjoy Won-Pyung's writing style and I thought that this had an interesting enough premise. However, towards the last 1/3 of the book I become disappointed with the turn of events. I felt that this book was making a really strong case about the power of friendship and having people in your life who do not give up on you, but the very sudden love interest took me took out of the story. Very out of left field and I ultimately found that it didn't add anything to the story as the love interest wasn't even fully explored as a character herself.
Overall, I enjoyed the first 2/3's of this book and I just wish Won-Pyung had taken a different route with exploring connection between people. Will definitely keep checking out their work in the future though.
Overall, I enjoyed the first 2/3's of this book and I just wish Won-Pyung had taken a different route with exploring connection between people. Will definitely keep checking out their work in the future though.
dark
sad
medium-paced
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
It was such a sweet read, it made me cry happy tears at the end ;__; Truly enjoyed it!