You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to like this, but the story has no true momentum and the theme is not explored deeply enough. There’s exactly the right amount of content for a short story - one chapter in the middle about a failing relationship even seems like out could have been the seed - but the rest of the narrative fails to coalesce cohesively.
This was unexpectedly good! I loaned this from my library without thinking too much of it, nor was I expecting anything. The story was bizarre, yet unbelievably tragic. I felt a lot of emotions. Probably too much to my liking.
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was really excited to read this one because of how much I loved the concept, but I think the execution fell painfully short for me. Loved the elements of magic realism and stifling, oppressive atmosphere of it all as well as how it ties in societal issues and cultural expectations surrounding family that lead the characters where they are when we meet them. However, I am partial to great, imaginative prose and a lot of it here felt flat and bland despite the (delightfully!) absurd material.
The different POVs were probably one of this book's biggest strengths and weaknesses. Some–namely Yuji and the couple's POVs–were great, while others I felt were a bit repetitive and had me wanting to skip through them despite how short a read this already is. Still, I enjoyed how they all came together to form a bigger picture.
This could have leaned a lot further and gotten more down and dirty into the body horror elements, but again the prose felt quite weak in this aspect, at least in translation. Anybody expecting gory, graphic body horror will likely be a bit disappointed. While I still enjoyed this one enough to finish it–the short length helped too–this novel overall felt like a waste of its potential :-(
The different POVs were probably one of this book's biggest strengths and weaknesses. Some–namely Yuji and the couple's POVs–were great, while others I felt were a bit repetitive and had me wanting to skip through them despite how short a read this already is. Still, I enjoyed how they all came together to form a bigger picture.
This could have leaned a lot further and gotten more down and dirty into the body horror elements, but again the prose felt quite weak in this aspect, at least in translation. Anybody expecting gory, graphic body horror will likely be a bit disappointed. While I still enjoyed this one enough to finish it–the short length helped too–this novel overall felt like a waste of its potential :-(
This was such a fun whimsical ride. The New Seoul Park represents a place that is almost surreal, with crowds bustling and cheering over thrilling rides and funny characters. But when you zoom in on each individual, a lot of them have worries from their personal lives that the theme park can't even wash away for a second: from Yuji with her fighting parents, Jua with her mom who tries her best with a budget, a lonely cat, CEO Hyeongyeongin a strange cult, and a hardworking employee, Sajun, at the park who hyper fixates on every cent he earns. And the dreamy theme park where escapism is the main appeal for everyone, turns out to be a sticky nightmare.
The book follows a couple of people's perspectives as well as a cat, making it like a short story collection. What everyone has in common is the feeling of discontentment, or the lack of fulfillment in life, whether that has to do with romantic relationships, family, and/or work. The theme park is supposed to be at least a temporary solution that unites people together — and it does, but in an unexpected way that lends itself to permanence. The jelly, seemingly a refreshing and sweet snack is a deceptive vehicle that shows that there isn't a shortcut in life that instantly solves your problems. At the same time, the decisiveness of consuming a jelly, once you know the outcome of it, might provide people with some relief that, like the cat says: "It's all right. It's all going to end one day."
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, while certain stories might feel a bit same-ish, the part with the CEO and the cat really tied things together. The bizarre and surreal aspect particularly kicks in the second half of the book, where devil worshipping and the perspective of a Jelly enters the narrative; the end indeed feels like everyone "dance[s] with the devil." It ends up being a much more heartfelt book than expected, and for people who aren't usually into body-horror, this one is quite "mild."
The book follows a couple of people's perspectives as well as a cat, making it like a short story collection. What everyone has in common is the feeling of discontentment, or the lack of fulfillment in life, whether that has to do with romantic relationships, family, and/or work. The theme park is supposed to be at least a temporary solution that unites people together — and it does, but in an unexpected way that lends itself to permanence. The jelly, seemingly a refreshing and sweet snack is a deceptive vehicle that shows that there isn't a shortcut in life that instantly solves your problems. At the same time, the decisiveness of consuming a jelly, once you know the outcome of it, might provide people with some relief that, like the cat says: "It's all right. It's all going to end one day."
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, while certain stories might feel a bit same-ish, the part with the CEO and the cat really tied things together. The bizarre and surreal aspect particularly kicks in the second half of the book, where devil worshipping and the perspective of a Jelly enters the narrative; the end indeed feels like everyone "dance[s] with the devil." It ends up being a much more heartfelt book than expected, and for people who aren't usually into body-horror, this one is quite "mild."
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes