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fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
Gosh, this book was difficult for me. Reminded me of The Giving Tree. My mother loved that book because of the Christian symbolism, but I suspect it was also because she identified with the tree. She read this book as well and asked me to read it too. I’d forgotten about that until today. Now I wish I’d read it while she was alive, while she was reading it too, so we could’ve discussed it together. Thus, this book was hard to read because it made me pine for my mother who was similarly a long-suffering saint like the book's mother and wife. And it’s compounding my grief, the grief that is ever present. I feel like this mother character could be any Korean mother. I think that’s a key reason for the book’s success.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Dementia, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Miscarriage and War
sunshine_sideup's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Insightful in terms of Motherhood and sacrifices made by mothers and women that go unseen. Revolves around the idea of kin-keeping. It was an eye-opening read regarding familial relationships and loss. Each chapter is from the perspective of a different family member, helps you feel connected to the plot.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Alcoholism
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
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