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lauraghise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Would like to read it again? Probably
Graphic: Abortion, Alcohol, and Cancer
mistyyyy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Minor: Homophobia, Pregnancy, Abortion, Car accident, and Cancer
avocadotoastbee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A more appropriate title might have been "Heartbreak in the Big City".
But it's not just about love or heartbreak, throughout the book Sang Young Park covers some heavy topics.
I really liked the overall concept, but the execution was somehow a bit messy. I sometimes couldn't remember at what point things happened. Nevertheless, some passages captivated me and I enjoyed reading the book.
Moderate: Homophobia, Abortion, and Alcohol
Minor: Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Suicide
martasshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Loved the dry humor and the serious reflective moments.
Also appreciated the writing of different relationships, not only romantic or good ones, like friends and family - Park's relationship with his mum tells us a lot about him.
Park sounds sometimes uncaring, like someone who goes through life lightly but he cares more than he shows. And the book is darker and sadder thank it feels when you think about it. In the end, it feels somehow familiar even if your reality couldn't be farther from Park's.
Moderate: Terminal illness, Abortion, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Cancer
beanie_bob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Reading Around The World (4/199): Korea
There’s a lot of laughing in this book - a lot of mocking, youthful romps, cynicism delivered through jokes. Makes me wonder if it’s all just a way to cope with how much goes wrong in the narrator’s life. The blurbs on the back use words like ‘electric’ and ‘dazzling’ and ‘delicious’ as if this book doesn’t end with total heartbreak.
There are some things done seriously well in this novel. The narrator’s relationship with his dying mother was sad (everything in this book is sad if you think about it long enough) but filled with nuance. It’s painful for the child to become the caretaker, and even more so when the child was abused.
Loneliness and emptiness are captured with painful accuracy. Loneliness within existing relationships, even.
I had a hard time understanding where the story was going - I kept waiting for characters to renter the narrative but I think the point is that in your 20s/30s people just wander in and out with no fanfare, no chorus to tell you who’s important and who is not.
The writing wasn’t always my favorite but when it worked, it worked.
Was this how the lovers of Pompeii felt when the magma covered them? I was deluged by some thing very hot and the world seemed to stop turning.
he called me in the middle of the night when no one was around because he enjoyed fucking me and lecturing me afterward. He saw me as someone to teach and change, and I was unfortunately not receptive to that.
Lastly, I enjoyed the interview with the author and translator at the end. Their passion and how they identified with the story made elements a little richer and less soul crushimg.
Graphic: Homophobia, Alcoholism, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Child abuse, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
daria_mm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cancer, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Abortion
Minor: Classism and Fatphobia
fatfrog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, and Abortion
Moderate: Stalking and Sexual content
cheye13's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Cancer, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, and Abortion
Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, and Sexual content
minor: experience being HIV positivelidia7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Terminal illness, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Death, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Medical content, Abortion, Outing, and Infidelity
Minor: Physical abuse, Blood, Vomit, Fatphobia, Sexism, and Classism
bethantg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Homophobia, and Cursing
Moderate: Death
Minor: Abortion, Colonisation, and Fatphobia