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andrew_f's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
malalaisee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
zachnachazel's review against another edition
3.0
I think my expectations were too high going into this. It has all the components you’d expect from the genre, leading nothing to be a surprise. Am I glad I read it, yes. Will I ever re-read it, no.
xzp314's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
chywan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Hmm. Liked a lot in the beginning - enjoyed the courtroom drama with switching perspectives, learning new details constantly. Enjoyed the way it described complexities of motherhood. Absolutely did not need the Matt-Mary *Thing* , what a weird thing to include and then not really do much with. Not sure if I’m satisfied with the overall ending yet
smitty_sds's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eesizemore's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
My one critique of this novel is that it's a bit contrived, and that called for some major suspension of belief at times. However, I did appreciate the point the author was making about how lots of tiny, inconsequential things often add up and create tragedy.
The real strength of this novel, and what kept me glued to it, it its strong, nuanced portrayal of motherhood in all its grit and glory. Kim really gets motherhood in all its myriad facets, in a way I don't always see depicted in popular culture. True, nowadays I do think people are becoming more honest and open about the trials of parenthood and about the dark side of it that has often been glossed over, but Kim also points out our tendency to always paint things in the best light possible, since it's hard for all us humans to acknowledge the messy parts of our own lives. I particularly appreciated her pointed commentary about social media and glossy newsletters. I don't begrudge anyone for being proud of their lives and their kids, but I do think these things also contribute to the culture of competitive parenting, and I was glad to see the book acknowledging that even in an age when people are perhaps more honest about parenthood than they've been in the past, there's still a whole lot of mythologizing going on.
I also really liked how shaded all of these characters are, and that Kim didn't feel the need to make Elizabeth anything other than what she ultimately was. A lot of social media does tend to paint things in a pretty black and white manner, with clear villains and heroes, and I always appreciate reading books where bad people are capable of good things and innocent people aren't always blameless.
The other really strong point of this novel is its exploration of race and the experiences of Koreans and Korean-Americans. Developing a better appreciation for and empathy with people whose experiences differ from yours is always important and valuable, but particularly in this current climate in the U.S., it's essential. I'm also glad to see more and more media attacking the particular experiences of Asian Americans, since I do think that even those white people who acknowledge that America has a problem with race tend to gloss over the discrimination and micro-aggressions that Asian Americans face, thanks to the stereotype of their being the "good" or "admirable" minority.
This novel provided me with plenty of good food for thought, and I definitely plan on reading whatever Kim publishes next.
The real strength of this novel, and what kept me glued to it, it its strong, nuanced portrayal of motherhood in all its grit and glory. Kim really gets motherhood in all its myriad facets, in a way I don't always see depicted in popular culture. True, nowadays I do think people are becoming more honest and open about the trials of parenthood and about the dark side of it that has often been glossed over, but Kim also points out our tendency to always paint things in the best light possible, since it's hard for all us humans to acknowledge the messy parts of our own lives. I particularly appreciated her pointed commentary about social media and glossy newsletters. I don't begrudge anyone for being proud of their lives and their kids, but I do think these things also contribute to the culture of competitive parenting, and I was glad to see the book acknowledging that even in an age when people are perhaps more honest about parenthood than they've been in the past, there's still a whole lot of mythologizing going on.
I also really liked how shaded all of these characters are, and that Kim didn't feel the need to make Elizabeth anything other than what she ultimately was. A lot of social media does tend to paint things in a pretty black and white manner, with clear villains and heroes, and I always appreciate reading books where bad people are capable of good things and innocent people aren't always blameless.
The other really strong point of this novel is its exploration of race and the experiences of Koreans and Korean-Americans. Developing a better appreciation for and empathy with people whose experiences differ from yours is always important and valuable, but particularly in this current climate in the U.S., it's essential. I'm also glad to see more and more media attacking the particular experiences of Asian Americans, since I do think that even those white people who acknowledge that America has a problem with race tend to gloss over the discrimination and micro-aggressions that Asian Americans face, thanks to the stereotype of their being the "good" or "admirable" minority.
This novel provided me with plenty of good food for thought, and I definitely plan on reading whatever Kim publishes next.
mald626's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5