Reviews

The Cabinet by Un-su Kim

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norinori's review against another edition

challenging mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

The Cabinet acts as an anthology of "symptomers" people who experience oddities, weird occurrences or powers. These stories are filed in the cabinet and told to you through the eye of the cabinets keeper, while weaving an overarching moral tie-in. I really enjoyed the tone of this book, The narrator reminded me a lot of Ford Perfect from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
Having the narrator tell you the stories made the book feel cohesive and lent its self to the overarching plot of the book that kept you interested as the story moved foreword.
the book is quirky, existential creepy and funny. I think its a fast paced worthwhile read.

ethias's review

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1.0

I had a relatively easy time reading this and it was very different from anything I’ve read before. I stepped a bit outside my comfort zone for this one so it’s possible I just don’t know much about this kind of book. Parts of it I found incredibly interesting and thought provoking, I even cried and had to step away from it a few times. Other parts, however, felt pointless or meandering and I didn’t really understand what I was meant to take from them. The ending felt dissatisfying in a way I feel I don’t entirely understand, it felt almost like I was being punished for reading the book if I’m honest. I am not 100% sure what I was supposed to get out of this book and I honesty wish it had leaned more into surrealism and had included more about the symptomers. I feel that too much focused on the narrator and the general monotony/unhappiness of office/adult life. The beginning and the premise had a sense of whimsy that I don’t feel was in the book.

A unique read if nothing else.

xtie's review

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2.0

At best, a little pointless and weird, at worst, an uninteresting “twist” or reveal that feels so jejune for magical realism

ginbat's review

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5.0

Maybe I’m being too generous with a 5/5, but even with the ending I’m just a sucker for a strange book, and this book was strange. Villa incognito vibes

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