Reviews

La espera by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim

melisahebe's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

mitskacir's review against another edition

4.0

Loved the art style in this one - really different than anything I've seen in graphic novels before. Gendry-Kim's linework is so expressive and perfect for capturing the elderly people in her story. I learned a lot from this book about the division of North and South Korea and especially how the North's extreme isolationism has torn apart families. This book is poignant and heart-rending more than a tear-jerker, but it really opened my eyes to the sadness created by the North Korean regime.

italorebelo's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.0

anaescudero's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

sarabanana's review against another edition

5.0

Qué duro y qué necesario es un libro como este. Y qué importante es recordar la memoria de las generaciones que vivieron la peor parte de las guerras. No sé cuantas veces he tenido que parar de leer un momento y dejarlo un rato. La historia está contada de tal forma que parece que realmente fueran familiares tuyos los que estuvieran viviendo las separaciones, el hambre, la pena, la guerra… y cuánto me alegro de que sea así, y de que impacte al lector tanto como lo hace. Debería ser obligatorio leer historias como esta… aunque duela mucho leerlas.

canadiancat's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.5

This is an incredibly moving graphic novel about grief and the separation of families due to war. 

marypaz13's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 I’ve grown to appreciate memoirs & biographies as graphic novels.

This is my first by this author. It wasn’t as depressing as I thought it’d be (not sure if that’s a good thing o.O).

The separations reminded me a lot of what happened in the States during the Trump administration. 

tjrober2's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective fast-paced

3.5

I thought it was fine, did not like it as much as i loved Grass. I thought it did a wonderful job exploring the displacement, disorder, and fracture during the Korean War. Felt there were some anti-DPRK sentiments that left a bad taste in my mouth. 

jess_mango's review against another edition

4.0

This heartbreaking graphic novel is about a family separated during the Korean War and the aftermath...

ellytheskelly's review against another edition

4.5

Really good, eye opening book about the struggles of the families separated during the korean war.