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longl's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
filiparferreira's review
4.0
Este livro lembra uma mistura entre a literatura asiática, exemplar na sua contenção, e a literatura sul americana com a sua criatividade exuberante e mágica. Aqui encontramos Jae, rapaz sem abrigo, nascido numa casa de banho de um terminal de autocarros em Seoul e logo roubado, criado por uma mulher trabalhadora mas abandonado na adolescência. Jae, que tem uma sensibilidade extraordinária e é capaz de uma extrema violência, emerge como uma figura messiânica entre os gangs de adolescentes motoqueiros da noite de Seoul. Por outro lado, temos o seu amigo de infância e também sem abrigo Donggiyu, que em criança por um período emudeceu traumatizado pela violência da família, mas que Jae conseguia ler e a certo ponto até traduzir. A ligação que tiveram na infância mantém-nos em contacto na adolescência e até ao princípio da idade adulta, quando a violência ameaça ficar fora de controlo.
quietdomino's review
3.0
Homeless Korean motorcycle gang teens, with a touch of autofiction. John Darnielle blurb makes sense.
denaiir's review
2.0
I gave this book 2 stars, if not for the book club I was participating in I would definitely have DNFed it.
For a book about 2 male protagonists in a very grim place, set in Asia, with some surreal elements, I definitely recommend Coin Locker Babies by Murakami Ryû more than this one.
I don't often read books with strong social commentaries but when I do the story has to be strong, otherwise it's just depressing and I give up on the book. I don't think the story was good enough to make me want to keep reading (again, Murakami Ryû achieved that for me).
I felt like there were so many different plot lines, and none of them was explored in depth, so I did not feel at all interested in the stories or what would happen to the characters.
Overall I liked parts 1 and 2 but afterwards the new characters were 2-dimensional, the setting was not compelling (I'm sure motorcycle gangs could be more interesting than this, come on!) and I was really bored.
So in the end I'm glad this was not longer and will not read anything else by this author.
For a book about 2 male protagonists in a very grim place, set in Asia, with some surreal elements, I definitely recommend Coin Locker Babies by Murakami Ryû more than this one.
I don't often read books with strong social commentaries but when I do the story has to be strong, otherwise it's just depressing and I give up on the book. I don't think the story was good enough to make me want to keep reading (again, Murakami Ryû achieved that for me).
I felt like there were so many different plot lines, and none of them was explored in depth, so I did not feel at all interested in the stories or what would happen to the characters.
Overall I liked parts 1 and 2 but afterwards the new characters were 2-dimensional, the setting was not compelling (I'm sure motorcycle gangs could be more interesting than this, come on!) and I was really bored.
So in the end I'm glad this was not longer and will not read anything else by this author.
emeline's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-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? Yes
3.0
tungstenmouse's review against another edition
Didn’t like the direction it seemed to be going.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Child abuse, Death, and Drug abuse
nickoh25's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
linzkyyy's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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? Yes
3.0
paulataua's review
3.0
I love Asian literature. While not drifting into magical realism, it so often contains ‘ghosts’ or things that lie outside the boundaries of science, and this is the case with ‘I Hear your Voice’. The story of Jae and Dongyu might have been titled ‘Motorcycle Gangs meet the Messianic’, or ‘Bikers and the Buddha’. What starts as a story of two orphans growing up together in Seoul suddenly takes on a more spiritual cult like nature. I ‘m not saying I really loved it. It has its weaknesses, especially the last part that takes part four years later and is narrated by a writer trying to write about the events, but it was interesting enough to keep my attention throughout.