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fantabulousjess's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness
Minor: Infidelity
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
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