Scan barcode
madkatrob's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
thebookdreamersalley's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
m1k4's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This book cemented Hwang Junggeun as one of my absolute favorite Korean authors. It is a book I keep coming back to after many years.
Hwang's writing style reminds me of Bae Suah's. It is experimental and innovative. There is little dialogue and when there is, it is unexpected and peculiar. Her writing is both shallow and deep at the same time. She writes with little emotion and rich descriptions about the tediousness and melancholy of daily life and in doing so, she touches on heavy societal issues in ways that are much more powerful than had she used more blatant and dramatic language. I feel very strong emotions whenever I read her work, and not because of explicitly emotional language. On the contrary, Hwang is one of few authors that can make me feel deep emotions that stay with me for days - through description alone.
I pick this book up whenever I miss Seoul. Hwang's rich and detailed descriptions of the city brings me back to Seoul immediately. I can almost taste the food, feel the textures, and smell the scents in ways that I know few authors are capable of invoking. I used to work close to a quite run-down market in Seoul. After work I would walk past the same small shops, seeing the same people, as I stopped for something to eat on my way to the bus. Now that I no longer work next to that market, it is that daily repetitive routine I remember most fondly. I think it it is this Hwang captures so well - the deeply meaningful simplicity and repetitiveness of daily life and the people it encapsules, and the sadness when it is ripped from us.
Hwang's writing style reminds me of Bae Suah's. It is experimental and innovative. There is little dialogue and when there is, it is unexpected and peculiar. Her writing is both shallow and deep at the same time. She writes with little emotion and rich descriptions about the tediousness and melancholy of daily life and in doing so, she touches on heavy societal issues in ways that are much more powerful than had she used more blatant and dramatic language. I feel very strong emotions whenever I read her work, and not because of explicitly emotional language. On the contrary, Hwang is one of few authors that can make me feel deep emotions that stay with me for days - through description alone.
I pick this book up whenever I miss Seoul. Hwang's rich and detailed descriptions of the city brings me back to Seoul immediately. I can almost taste the food, feel the textures, and smell the scents in ways that I know few authors are capable of invoking. I used to work close to a quite run-down market in Seoul. After work I would walk past the same small shops, seeing the same people, as I stopped for something to eat on my way to the bus. Now that I no longer work next to that market, it is that daily repetitive routine I remember most fondly. I think it it is this Hwang captures so well - the deeply meaningful simplicity and repetitiveness of daily life and the people it encapsules, and the sadness when it is ripped from us.
fireth's review against another edition
3.75
"Mujae asked me how my shadow was doing these days."
A short dark and odd read, however its very hard for me to start on it. Definitely a mood-read, once I'm into it, I couldn't stop reading. And when I reached the end, I was disappointed that it ended.
Will definitely be looking out for more works by Hwang Jungeun.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-arc of this ebook.
A short dark and odd read, however its very hard for me to start on it. Definitely a mood-read, once I'm into it, I couldn't stop reading. And when I reached the end, I was disappointed that it ended.
Will definitely be looking out for more works by Hwang Jungeun.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-arc of this ebook.
laurareads87's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
"I wonder if they call this kind of place a slum, because if you called it someone's home or their livelihood that would make things awkward when it comes to tearing it down."
One Hundred Shadows is a novella that is inspired by, and reflects on, the 2009 Yongsan Disaster - an incident in which tenants threatened with eviction faced a a SWAT team in defense of their building, slated for 'redevelopment;' amidst the clash, a fire broke out and killed several people.
The novella's commentary is subtle. The storyline follows Eungyo and Mujae, two young people who work in electronics shops in Building B, one of five buildings that are being threatened with gentrification and displacement. This story almost fades into the background as the meandering text explores the characters' emerging relationship, several of their days out, and the strange phenomenon of people's shadows detaching and drifting away.
The book is atmospheric, and the moving shadows are eerie and foreboding, signalling an immanent risk of losing the individual entirely -- a hopelessness. I did struggle with the dialogue not being demarcated by quotation marks, and I found that the ending was far too abrupt. The writing is lovely, and the world-building is effective; I wish this was longer and that some aspects were elaborated upon more.
One Hundred Shadows is a novella that is inspired by, and reflects on, the 2009 Yongsan Disaster - an incident in which tenants threatened with eviction faced a a SWAT team in defense of their building, slated for 'redevelopment;' amidst the clash, a fire broke out and killed several people.
The novella's commentary is subtle. The storyline follows Eungyo and Mujae, two young people who work in electronics shops in Building B, one of five buildings that are being threatened with gentrification and displacement. This story almost fades into the background as the meandering text explores the characters' emerging relationship, several of their days out, and the strange phenomenon of people's shadows detaching and drifting away.
The book is atmospheric, and the moving shadows are eerie and foreboding, signalling an immanent risk of losing the individual entirely -- a hopelessness. I did struggle with the dialogue not being demarcated by quotation marks, and I found that the ending was far too abrupt. The writing is lovely, and the world-building is effective; I wish this was longer and that some aspects were elaborated upon more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
catsy2022's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
An eArc was provided by NetGalley for this review.
One Hundred Shadows is a Kprean-authored surreal slice-of-life about two individuals: Mujae and Eungyo, who live a pretty ordinary country life until Eungyo becomes aware of moving shadows in their world.
The novel crafts a strange and dreamlike atmosphere evocative of typical Korean fiction, the story meandering and eerie as it progresses. I thought the scenes would translate so well into film, with the world built up so well and so many artistic scenes that are described with the viewpoint of a Korean author. The way that Korean fiction is written is typically translated like this.
I did enjoy the strange magical quality of the novel and I found the mystery drew me in but I felt little payoff from the conclusion - seeing the book as purely a snaphot of life might help one digest it. Additionally the choice to include zero quotations was interesting and reminded me of other literary authors (like Cormac McCarthy).
An interesting piece of Korean fiction and definitely worth exploring but possibly not something I would read again.
One Hundred Shadows is a Kprean-authored surreal slice-of-life about two individuals: Mujae and Eungyo, who live a pretty ordinary country life until Eungyo becomes aware of moving shadows in their world.
The novel crafts a strange and dreamlike atmosphere evocative of typical Korean fiction, the story meandering and eerie as it progresses. I thought the scenes would translate so well into film, with the world built up so well and so many artistic scenes that are described with the viewpoint of a Korean author. The way that Korean fiction is written is typically translated like this.
I did enjoy the strange magical quality of the novel and I found the mystery drew me in but I felt little payoff from the conclusion - seeing the book as purely a snaphot of life might help one digest it. Additionally the choice to include zero quotations was interesting and reminded me of other literary authors (like Cormac McCarthy).
An interesting piece of Korean fiction and definitely worth exploring but possibly not something I would read again.
charliereadsalot's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
CW: death (of loved ones), suicidal ideation
Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was quintessentially Korean and I really enjoyed that, but, at the same time, the serene and atmospheric writing style is not what I usually gravitate towards. Had I not had the expectation that it would be like this, I think I would have been very disappointed but, alas, I had expected a style that is not necessarily my favorite.
Generally, I thought the story was enchanting, you are dropped in when Mujae and Eungyo are walking through the woods and get pulled out at a later point in time at another location and every scene and chapter you read felt dream-like to me. In the beginning, I was constantly trying to figure out why the main characters were in the forest, how had they gotten there but a lot of questions never get answered.
One thing I have to mention is that none of the dialogue was marked with quotation marks which is usually something that drives me insane. I could work with it in this story because it fit this questionable reality / dreamscape where oftentimes I found myself asking who was even saying what and being relieved when a name was mentioned again so I definitely knew who was speaking. Maybe that was the formatting in the eBook though.
All in all, this was a very interesting book and even though I know magical realism is not really my favorite, I did enjoy the book and had many thoughts while reading. Therefore, I'd definitely recommend picking this up if the summary intrigues you in any way.
CW: death (of loved ones), suicidal ideation
Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was quintessentially Korean and I really enjoyed that, but, at the same time, the serene and atmospheric writing style is not what I usually gravitate towards. Had I not had the expectation that it would be like this, I think I would have been very disappointed but, alas, I had expected a style that is not necessarily my favorite.
Generally, I thought the story was enchanting, you are dropped in when Mujae and Eungyo are walking through the woods and get pulled out at a later point in time at another location and every scene and chapter you read felt dream-like to me. In the beginning, I was constantly trying to figure out why the main characters were in the forest, how had they gotten there but a lot of questions never get answered.
One thing I have to mention is that none of the dialogue was marked with quotation marks which is usually something that drives me insane. I could work with it in this story because it fit this questionable reality / dreamscape where oftentimes I found myself asking who was even saying what and being relieved when a name was mentioned again so I definitely knew who was speaking. Maybe that was the formatting in the eBook though.
All in all, this was a very interesting book and even though I know magical realism is not really my favorite, I did enjoy the book and had many thoughts while reading. Therefore, I'd definitely recommend picking this up if the summary intrigues you in any way.
ayeitsdaye's review
3.0
"One Hundred Shadows" presents itself as a short yet enthralling slice-of-life novel, certainly leaning more contemporary fiction with a touch of magical realism. In my experience with the book, the characters Eungyo and Mujae felt somewhat stiff and awkward, and their interactions seemed burdened by stilted dialogue. This aspect hindered my ability to form a strong connection with the characters, leaving room for improvement in terms of natural and engaging character dynamics. I think this is more of a result of translating conversation patterns to English and don't necessarily hold it against
On a positive note, the novel excels in crafting an exceptionally immersive background environment. The author skillfully paints a vivid picture of the surroundings, allowing me to feel truly present in the story's setting. The atmospheric elements contribute significantly to the overall tone, creating a palpable sense of place that enhances the reading experience.
The concept of shadows rising, while initially intriguing, left me yearning for more exploration. However, the symbolism of shadows as a metaphor for despair is executed with excellence. The shadows serve as a disorienting yet surreal vehicle for poignant commentary on the impacts of gentrification, offering valuable insights into the struggles of those marginalized and pushed out by societal changes.
In summary, "One Hundred Shadows" just lacks a solid plot, but makes up for it with the evocative surroundings. While the characters and their interactions may leave something to be desired, the almost tactile environment and the clever use of the shadow metaphor for social commentary make it a worthwhile read. The novel provides a unique perspective on the effects of gentrification and the challenges faced by those caught in its shadows. Not at all what I was expecting, but I'm glad to have taken the time.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exhange for this honest review.
On a positive note, the novel excels in crafting an exceptionally immersive background environment. The author skillfully paints a vivid picture of the surroundings, allowing me to feel truly present in the story's setting. The atmospheric elements contribute significantly to the overall tone, creating a palpable sense of place that enhances the reading experience.
The concept of shadows rising, while initially intriguing, left me yearning for more exploration. However, the symbolism of shadows as a metaphor for despair is executed with excellence. The shadows serve as a disorienting yet surreal vehicle for poignant commentary on the impacts of gentrification, offering valuable insights into the struggles of those marginalized and pushed out by societal changes.
In summary, "One Hundred Shadows" just lacks a solid plot, but makes up for it with the evocative surroundings. While the characters and their interactions may leave something to be desired, the almost tactile environment and the clever use of the shadow metaphor for social commentary make it a worthwhile read. The novel provides a unique perspective on the effects of gentrification and the challenges faced by those caught in its shadows. Not at all what I was expecting, but I'm glad to have taken the time.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exhange for this honest review.
melismatic's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5