Reviews

Atti umani by Han Kang

liamilo's review against another edition

le style d'écriture me plaît pas :/ j'ai du mal a comprendre 

bexhobson's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

reydeam's review against another edition

5.0

“I never let myself forget that every single person I meet is a member of this human race.”

Human Acts is a brutal book that is not shy about presenting the devastation and aftermath of the Gwangju Uprising of 1980 where hundreds of people were brutally murdered and many more injured and still more were thrown into prison and horribly interrogated.

Han Kang used her gift of storytelling in a heart wrenching, and engaging way to bring broader awareness to this historical event in South Korea. Her writing brilliantly shows glimpses into the event along with the immediate devastation all the way through 30 years removed. Each chapter is from a different perspective (protestors and family) and told at various times to reflect the immense impact of this one week. These characters either died or their lives were forever negatively impacted; I imagine the same is true for those who experienced this horrific event in real life.

Human Acts is raw and powerful. At times, this was a difficult story to read, and made me pause numerous times to reflect. This is one book not to miss.

sharonnhong's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

lilydoyle6's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

just read this. i can’t come up with words to properly say how well written it is. sharp, brutal, necessary. i like her style 

silviamichienzi1995's review

5.0

A mani basse la lettura più bella dell'anno. L'utilizzo della seconda persona singolare nella narrazione è sempre impegnativo, e si arriva a poco a poco a capirne il motivo, anche perché noi occidentali conosciamo poco la storia dietro.
è un intreccio complesso e forse per questo motivo resta qualche buco di trama, però alcune scene sono trasposte in modo talmente incredibile che sembra di viverle. Fa male, è struggente, è indimenticabile

raeread's review against another edition

i'm not in the right head space for this book rn

rainbowfishy's review against another edition

5.0

i have a tremendous amount of respect for Han Kang. she weaves together different perspectives of the Gwangju Uprising with a fierce tenacity, writing about disturbing acts of violence and deeply emotional scenes with a true mastery of her craft. there is considerable courage to be found in these stories, but Han Kang also consistently turns her eyes to the bodies. dismembered corpses in mass graves, unattended dead left to rot without the dignity of funeral rites, family members or friends still considered missing to this day. writing from the perspectives of the dead, Han Kang asks us to consider the human soul. what happens in death, especially one so brutal and seemingly senseless? how do you grieve, when your loved ones are murdered by your nation? how do you heal from such intense traumas, both personal and collective? as a Gwangju native, these questions are deeply personal and political for Han Kang. 

sebastianolives's review against another edition

I got in a slump :')

holli_g_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

4.0