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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"The Silence of Bones" is set in Joseon Dynasty-era Korea and follows a 16-year-old servant, Seol, who works in the police bureau. The book unfurls a heartbreaking story about Seol’s involvement in investigating the murder of a young noblewoman, the political situation in Joseon at the time and the complex situation regarding Seol's search for her older brother.
There is one lesson all who enter the capital will learn: evil comes from the unfulfilled need for significance.
What a whirlwind! I started reading this many moons ago, but just now returned to it. What was the problem that I left it unfinished for so long and then picked it up and finished it in a day? The first part of the book was a little slow, and my interest was elsewhere, but recently it became interesting again and I devoured it within an evening.
Honestly, I don't remember everything from the beginning, but enough to make sense. Nevertheless, the ending was excruciatingly painful and action-packed, every sentence kept me on my toes.
This is the consequence of the clash of old and new. We must prepare our hearts, all of us. No matter which side wins, we will all be heartbroken.
Where is the lie? I was bawling my eyes out by the end. It hit so deep and brought up some raw feelings that came out of nowhere; props to June Hur! It's palpable how much work has gone into the research and details of the story. I find it nice that the ending was left sort of open-ended.
Despite that, there's much left to process. I do hope that Seol finds that home and place of togetherness one day. Pity.
Everyone dies; what is difficult is a meaningful death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Violence, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Torture, Blood, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Slavery, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment
adventurous
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really appreciated the world of Joseon Korea (1800s) that was opened up by this book especially the gender roles of the times as revealed through Seol, an indentured servant at the police commission. The detective story was good but the reader kept getting flopped around towards different suspects without a firm narrative pull. Religion was a strong theme of the book too. I appreciated the historical insight that this perspective brought but the author seemed to have an allegiance to one point of view so that felt a bit roughly handled. I look forward to recommending this one to our international students as it is both an interesting mystery and compelling historical fiction.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This book took forever and it wasn’t without trying. I kind of wanted to give up around the 60% mark but decided to chug along. Unfortunately, very meh overall.
Just could not get passed the same part of the book. Will eventually try this one again because I love this author.
4.25*
the mystery in this one flew over my head but as all other june hur's books i've read, the writing and the way the mystery was set up were atmospheric and engaging, and i just love how easy it is for me to be invested in these main characters june writes. also another thing i will always do when reading june hur's writing is read the author's notes because it's such an insightful part of learning about the history.
also the word orabeoni will now traumatize me. legit cried at that ending of seol reading the letter because it was just so sad oh my god.
the mystery in this one flew over my head but as all other june hur's books i've read, the writing and the way the mystery was set up were atmospheric and engaging, and i just love how easy it is for me to be invested in these main characters june writes. also another thing i will always do when reading june hur's writing is read the author's notes because it's such an insightful part of learning about the history.
also the word orabeoni will now traumatize me. legit cried at that ending of seol reading the letter because it was just so sad oh my god.
It’s not that it’s bad, it just isn’t hitting right for me at the moment. I think it could be interesting but it just isn’t gripping me rn