Reviews with content warning for Death - The White Book

a sparse, reflective and quiet collection, the white book, as its title suggests, mulls on various white things, some unconventional or unexpected.

the poems invite the reader to be aware of life's commonalities and small things, and the story abt the author's deceased sister is particularly memorable.

the same, however, cant be said abt many of the others, and their unrelenting quiet and contemplativeness doesnt rly evoke any other emotions fro me while reading, while also requiring the reader to be in a particular headspace to fully enjoy or appreciate this book. it should be a good read if one is though.

Content Warnings

rieviolet's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? No

5.0

Earlier this year I read Human Acts by the same author and was completely stunnend by it, so I was a bit scared to try
any of her other works, especially because they seemed quite different in style and I feared I would not love them as much. Well, I fretted for nothing really, I was absolutely mesmerized by The White Book.

I found the writing style so poetic and evocative. I loved the poetry sections, even as someone who reads very little poetry.

I was completely absorbed in this sober but at the same time deep and powerful exploration of grief. The final chapter really moved me and I got a bit teary-eyed.

It is a book that I'm surely going to return to.

There are certain memories that remain inviolate to the ravages of time. And to those of suffering. It is not true that everything is colored by time and suffering. It is not true that they bring everything to ruin.

Content Warnings

savvylit's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This is the third book by Han Kang that I've read and it has officially cemented her as one of my favorite authors. The White Book is an incredibly poetic exploration of the ripple effect of loss. Connecting brief fictional vignettes both past and present, Kang uses the color white to illustrate a touching portrait of generational grief. I won't say anymore because I don't think I can do it justice. Please just read this beautiful little book!

Content Warnings

tomoonarmy's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Content Warnings

sebby_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

The White Book, originally written in Korean by novelist Han Kang, is a story of loss and grief told in very aesthetic proses. It was shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize 2018.

The writer bares all about the loss of her sister who died only after a few hours old. She has never met her elder sister. She learnt about her sister through her parents. But the pain she carries, the occasional what-ifs she asked to herself and the loss she feels is immense. In three parts, the book showcases the doleful tragedy. First as an introductory and how her mother lost her first child in one snowy day. In second part, she writes a fictional life of her sister should she have lived. The last part is the borderless area of what is real and what is not.

In this book, Han Kang explores deep and personal philosophical views on life and death. Deborah Smith masterfully translated into English and I get to experience the narrator’s lament through very poetic proses. To portray the tormenting sorrow the writer craftily uses various white items found both in nature and in man made things as reference in accordance with her story such as snow, moon, sleet, rice cake, candle, breast milk, swaddling bands, etc.

This is very different from her other two books I had read, The Vegetarian and Human Acts. Both are unique in their own way and agonising to read. Here in the White Book, there is no prominent plot but filled with multiple parts of one to two pages of lyrical writings. Is this book a fictional story or poetry or essay? We can’t possibly categorise it into any of the genres, actually as the narrative itself is foggy but in a beautiful way. One thing for sure is that all these small chapters have the ability touch me deeply.

Content Warnings