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molly_rose's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Grief, Violence, Mental illness, Murder, Torture, and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment and Toxic friendship
wollhaarmammut's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Toxic friendship
sarahemhavens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Almond is a story of true identity, the core of people, friendship, family, and love. It is an incredibly unique look at human emotions, through the eyes of a boy who “can feel nothing.” Both Won-Pyung Sohn and translator Sandy Joosun Lee capture Yunjae’s emotional constrictions while letting him soar with more understanding and care than most people capable. Almond faces the human condition with grace, tackling not only the question of inherent good vs inherent evil, but also whether a story is happy or tragic.
I was not expecting this book to steam roll over me and my emotions, but I am truly enthralled by this book. The characters, the writing, the story, the translation - this book is a masterpiece. I already wish I could read it for the first time again. I wish I could teach myself a whole new language just to read this in it’s original text 😭(Please make sure you go in blind and don’t spoil this book for yourself and please please read this!!!!😭)
Graphic: Death, Torture, Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic friendship, Murder, Grief, Gore, and Blood
tinyjude's review against another edition
2.5
Furthermore, although the idea of using such polar opposites (Yunjae-Goni) to make them more complex and have some development, was interesting, Goni was such an unlikeable character, who fell flat and underdeveloped. The social critique was interesting in some points, thou, like calling out how some people who are considered compassionate and empathic, can look at someone else's pain or tragedy and not be moved, since it's not their own.
Many other plot points just were completely unrealistic and jarring in contrast with the overall narrative (which attempted to be realistic). Such is the climax of the novel, the way the teacher introduces Yunjae to the other students, and the lack of depth/research in the descriptions of the condition.
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Animal death, Violence, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
bookrecsanddnfs's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Death, Blood, and Bullying
leanne_miron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Blood, Violence, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and Ableism
Minor: Gun violence
stardustdreamer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Grief, Toxic friendship, Murder, Bullying, Blood, Violence, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Medical content, Ableism, and Torture
Moderate: Confinement
mykes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Blood, Body horror, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Torture, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, Gore, Violence, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
rudychleb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ciężkie tematy są poruszane, bardzo graficzne opisy przemocy wobec ludzi i zwierząt, momentami ciężko się czytało.
pierwsze 160 stron mi się podobało, ale ostatnie 60 stron... miałam wrażenie, że wszystko za szybko się zmienia. i końcówka w ogóle mi się nie zgrywa, na przestrzeni 5 stron 5 różnych wątków się domknęło i zakończyło happy endem, ale przez to że wydarzyło się to nagle i tak szybko, nie odczuwa się zbytnio szczęścia z tego powodu.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Medical content, Physical abuse, Animal death, and Death
abibliophobic_nerd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Contrary to what I heard from some people, I thought the author did a good job of telling a story through someone who cannot feel emotions without making it seem lifeless. Not the most memorable book but still one that will stick with me, I think.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Hate crime, Animal cruelty, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Bullying, Cursing, Animal death, Blood, and Toxic friendship