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alexofsuburbia's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A pesar de que tengo problemas con las colecciones de relatos cortos, he seguido intentando darles oportunidad y por primera vez no me arrepiento. Vi la recomendación de este libro en un vídeo de youtube donde te daban recomendaciones de lecturas con vibes de películas de A24, pausé el video e inmediatamente comencé a leerlo. La verdad es que no todas las historias me gustaron pero sí la mayoría.
Como he mencionado en diferentes reviews, mi problema con este formato es que siempre dejan las historias muy abiertas y sólo parecen ideas sueltas, pero aquí no fue el caso. El misterio forma parte de la narración y el horror que maneja es bastante decente, en varias historias me sentí incomoda y asustada, además de que la autora logra meter diferentes críticas sociales, aunque me habría gustado que se profundizara un poquito más en esto.
El único problema que tuve fue con la traducción. No sé si se deba a que mi idioma natal es el español y en mi cerebro (al estar a la vez traduciendo del inglés) podía sentir que faltaban algunas palabras o que todo estaba muy simplificado, creo que sí le hace falta otra edición para que la narración no se sienta tan cortada. Pero de ahí en fuera todo estuvo bien, es una lectura rápida que te mantiene con intriga, y si son fans de A24 sí creo que pueda gustar.
Como he mencionado en diferentes reviews, mi problema con este formato es que siempre dejan las historias muy abiertas y sólo parecen ideas sueltas, pero aquí no fue el caso. El misterio forma parte de la narración y el horror que maneja es bastante decente, en varias historias me sentí incomoda y asustada, además de que la autora logra meter diferentes críticas sociales, aunque me habría gustado que se profundizara un poquito más en esto.
El único problema que tuve fue con la traducción. No sé si se deba a que mi idioma natal es el español y en mi cerebro (al estar a la vez traduciendo del inglés) podía sentir que faltaban algunas palabras o que todo estaba muy simplificado, creo que sí le hace falta otra edición para que la narración no se sienta tan cortada. Pero de ahí en fuera todo estuvo bien, es una lectura rápida que te mantiene con intriga, y si son fans de A24 sí creo que pueda gustar.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Violence
slimepuppy's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
A mixed bag of great, okay and mediocre short stories. Sometimes the stories hit the mark and sometimes they don't, but the author at least tries to bring something new with each story... most of the time, that is. Goodbye, My Love was boring, had an overplayed plot and a narrator devoid of any life or charm.
Reunion was incredible, and definitely the best way to end this collection, despite being the most normal of the stories.
Best stories: The Embodiment, Cursed Bunny, The Frozen Finger (the only one genuinely creepy), Home Sweet Home and Reunion (so so sad!!)
Worst stories: Goodbye, My Love (it's been so overdone 😴) and The Head (the ending ruined it for me)
The rest is either okay or just not worth mentioning.
Reunion was incredible, and definitely the best way to end this collection, despite being the most normal of the stories.
Best stories: The Embodiment, Cursed Bunny, The Frozen Finger (the only one genuinely creepy), Home Sweet Home and Reunion (so so sad!!)
Worst stories: Goodbye, My Love (it's been so overdone 😴) and The Head (the ending ruined it for me)
The rest is either okay or just not worth mentioning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Incest, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Car accident, Murder, and Pregnancy
mollylikethedrug_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Incest
meganrae047's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Suicide, Violence, Excrement, and Pregnancy
Minor: Incest and Car accident
sarahsbooklife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is filled with some strange but interesting and entertaining stories. Some are horror, thriller, sci-fi, magical realism and pure fantasy — each one unique.
Definitely give this book a read if you enjoyed Kim Jiyoung Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo or Lemon by Kwon Yeo-Sun.
Definitely give this book a read if you enjoyed Kim Jiyoung Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo or Lemon by Kwon Yeo-Sun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Incest, Infidelity, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Animal death and Slavery
mmccombs's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I completely understand why this has made it to the international booker short list! Each of these stories immediately grabbed me by the throat, and just when I thought I knew what was going on/where it was going to go, I’d be jerked in a totally unexpected direction. Despite each story being fairly drastically different in content and style (we’ve got horror, we’ve got fables, we’ve got sci fi!), you can still tell that they’re in many ways linked. They’re all so clever and well written! I really loved all of these stories, but I’d probably say Cursed Bunny and The Head were my favorites. I came for the cover and have stayed for the stories, I could see myself coming back to read these again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Incest, Miscarriage, Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Excrement, and Car accident
Minor: Suicide
cramen_molby's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Blood, and Abortion
dianahincureads's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Maybe don’t trust the Easter Bunny this year…
🐰Cursed Bunny contains 10 short stories that won my heart with their creativity and defiance of genre norms. Each story is grounded in reality, no matter how surreal or fantastical it gets. They uncover the ruthless oppression of social norms and the violence humans are capable of when given the opportunity.
🐰In Bora Chung’s twisted universe, anything goes. Here, enchanted bunnies become karma representatives. Ghosts are merciless, even when they smile. A fox bleeding gold cannot satisfy the insatiable greed of a man. Growing old in a society that only treasures youth or getting pregnant are fears that manifest themselves in grotesque ways. Artificial companions take revenge on their superficial masters. Human sacrifices please the gods…
🐰The writing, the impeccable translation, the layers of each story. Cursed Bunny is a delicious treat. If you are a fan of mind-bending horror, pick it up!
🐰Cursed Bunny contains 10 short stories that won my heart with their creativity and defiance of genre norms. Each story is grounded in reality, no matter how surreal or fantastical it gets. They uncover the ruthless oppression of social norms and the violence humans are capable of when given the opportunity.
🐰In Bora Chung’s twisted universe, anything goes. Here, enchanted bunnies become karma representatives. Ghosts are merciless, even when they smile. A fox bleeding gold cannot satisfy the insatiable greed of a man. Growing old in a society that only treasures youth or getting pregnant are fears that manifest themselves in grotesque ways. Artificial companions take revenge on their superficial masters. Human sacrifices please the gods…
🐰The writing, the impeccable translation, the layers of each story. Cursed Bunny is a delicious treat. If you are a fan of mind-bending horror, pick it up!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Torture, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, and Car accident
Minor: Excrement
eena's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I want this book to be tattooed on my brain, I want this book to be in my funeral
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Sexual assault, and Suicide
charleyroxy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Can a book be diabolically good? I am not sure but I will submit that it can be. Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung and translated from Korean by Anton Hur is an upcoming release from Honford Star (15 July) and is just that kind of good. This collection of ten stories ranges from fairytales to absolute horror and the gamut inbetween. I am in awe of Chung's talent as a short story author and look forward to reading more of her writing one day. With it's subtle and not so subtle critiques of patriarchy, capitalism, and humanity itself it really has so much to offer and the translation is flawless. While I enjoyed the titular Cursed Bunny, Reunion and Goodbye, My Love a lot, my favourite was The Frozen Finger. The story immediately thrusts you into the aftermath of a car crash and from start to finish it was everything I want from a short story. I felt the intensity, the panic, the confusion, everything! I would absolutely suggest pre-ordering this one and, if in the UK, directly from Honford Star. Don't miss this one.
As an important note, I will include a list of content warnings below because it is long. If you are squeamish about bodily fluids you won't make it past the first story. There is gore, abuse, animal cruelty, suicide, and more so be prepared. I loved finding this quote of Chung's from an interview about her writing to give you an idea:
"I don’t feel scared at all when writing horrific or gory scenes. I think it’s because my intention is more to imagine what an ordinary person wouldn’t do or wouldn’t react to, of that twist in the character’s behavior. Aside from making up a fun plot, you’ve got to make the unusual reactions of your characters believable if you want to convince your reader. I think the power of writing is in this ability to make the reader believe. I wanted to see how far I could push that in my writing. That’s all I was trying to do, and it’s amusing to me when people say my characters scare them."
As an important note, I will include a list of content warnings below because it is long. If you are squeamish about bodily fluids you won't make it past the first story. There is gore, abuse, animal cruelty, suicide, and more so be prepared. I loved finding this quote of Chung's from an interview about her writing to give you an idea:
"I don’t feel scared at all when writing horrific or gory scenes. I think it’s because my intention is more to imagine what an ordinary person wouldn’t do or wouldn’t react to, of that twist in the character’s behavior. Aside from making up a fun plot, you’ve got to make the unusual reactions of your characters believable if you want to convince your reader. I think the power of writing is in this ability to make the reader believe. I wanted to see how far I could push that in my writing. That’s all I was trying to do, and it’s amusing to me when people say my characters scare them."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicide, Car accident, and Murder
Minor: Incest, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual content
While there is not a miscarriage exactly, in The Embodiment there is a scene that would be quite triggering to those who have had the experience.