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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Did I like this book? Sort of. I think it was a bit long and fairly repetitive in places.
The narrator has a strange perspective which was kinda of cool.
But, this book left me feeling sad, guilty and unfulfilled.
The narrator has a strange perspective which was kinda of cool.
But, this book left me feeling sad, guilty and unfulfilled.
Kyung-Sook Shin is one of South Korea’s most widely read and acclaimed novelists and this is her first book to appear in English. The story revolves around the search for a missing older woman who was left behind in the Seoul train station when she was separated from her husband in the rush to board a departing train. As the chapters unfold we learn the woman’s “back story” as remembered by her oldest daughter, oldest son, husband, and, later in the book, herself. The stories touch on all aspects of her life in a poor rural South Korean village and span the time from her youth during the Korean War and its aftermath, her marriage, the birth and rearing of her children, and her decline into older age.
While the story provides an excellent view into a family’s life in Korea, this reader found it difficult to enjoy. The use of the omnipotent second person narrative voice (used in 3 of the 5 chapters) was off-putting. Perhaps 2nd person is used more widely in conversational Korean and I was unable to adjust to the translation or maybe the author used it deliberately to impose the guilt and regret felt by the characters onto the reader. Whatever the reason, the relentless use of “you” (even though the narrator’s “you” was referring to one of the characters in the story) felt like an accusatory pointing finger which made me uncomfortable. I also had little sympathy for the martyred “Tiger Mom” and her selfish, insensitive children and spouse. So for me, this was a B- read; it was well written and interesting, but it only rarely touched my heart.
While the story provides an excellent view into a family’s life in Korea, this reader found it difficult to enjoy. The use of the omnipotent second person narrative voice (used in 3 of the 5 chapters) was off-putting. Perhaps 2nd person is used more widely in conversational Korean and I was unable to adjust to the translation or maybe the author used it deliberately to impose the guilt and regret felt by the characters onto the reader. Whatever the reason, the relentless use of “you” (even though the narrator’s “you” was referring to one of the characters in the story) felt like an accusatory pointing finger which made me uncomfortable. I also had little sympathy for the martyred “Tiger Mom” and her selfish, insensitive children and spouse. So for me, this was a B- read; it was well written and interesting, but it only rarely touched my heart.
I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did; usually family dramas don’t interest me. But something about the sparse prose, the effective use of second person narration, and the clarity of its themes turned this simple, subdued story into a special experience. It’s reflective, quiet, tender, and thoughtful, illuminating the web of connections that form our lives and the people—mothers, spouses, siblings—who are so entrenched in our day-to-day routines that we stop thinking of them as separate from ourselves, with their own desires and dreams. The main takeaway from Please Look After Mom is that it’s imperative we draw aside the veil of mundaneness and really tell these people we love them and respect them, and try to understand them, before a sudden loss highlights their absence by the jagged edges it leaves behind.
”Before she went missing, you spent your days without thinking about your wife. When you did think about her, it was to ask her to do something, or to blame her or ignore her. Habit can be a frightening thing.”
____________________
Global Challenge: South Korea
”Before she went missing, you spent your days without thinking about your wife. When you did think about her, it was to ask her to do something, or to blame her or ignore her. Habit can be a frightening thing.”
____________________
Global Challenge: South Korea
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
Very moving and really interesting narrative choices. I just think stories about mothers (especially mothers and daughters) are so fascinating.
the first book ‘so far’ made me cry soooooo much until I got headache. I love the way author not only told abt Korean mom but almost most of the readers can relate with it