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hazelnutperson's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
emilijapalionyte's review against another edition
3.0
this was an ok read. writing style was simple, nothing special. some plots and points were a bit confusing, which is disappointing because the topics discussed - hardships faced by women in the modern world - seem important and in need to be understood. I really loved one story where a girl was writing a goodbye letter to her extremely controlling boyfriend, that one was truly well executed
themeggiejohnson's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
marisaxx's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
gol_dmarie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mobyskine's review against another edition
5.0
A rare treat for a collection to have almost perfectly enjoyable stories in a spine. Having a theme of womanhood that grasped the perspective of 8 Korean women—aged 10 to 80 in their biography-alike narratives set in a household to workplace and society backdrops—I was brought to uncover a phase of life through these women’s eyes dealing with expectations and challenges, of relationship and motherhood, on one’s desire and dream; all in their own fate and mishap of a lifelong conflict that can go both alarming and heart-moving.
Major love to the author’s style of writing; so tender and gripping with catchy prose that piqued me to keep reading. I reread both Runaway (super love the characters and its surreal exploration of daughter-father relationship and how it grasped the conflict of a father in his old age) and Dear Hyunnam Oppa (most intense full of angst and sneaked into the unforeseen side of a relationship) for its distinctive enthralling theme. Under The Plum Tree was so sentimental for me as it depicted a view of an old lady in the verge of losing her sickly older sister. Night Of Aurora was the lengthiest of all but I love it a lot too for its generational related plot; a love-hate bond that sharply explored on one’s responsibility, ambition and happiness.
Both Dead Set and the titular story Miss Kim Knows (love the mysterious hue for this one) carried a career related arc that vouched the hardship of dealing with society and colleagues; bit triggering for how both highlighted on prejudice and mistreatment as well domestic and emotional abuse. A budding cute romance in Puppy Love, 2020 that was told in the midst of Covid-19; a charming love suspense with an intriguing abrupt ending for me. A slow anxious plot for Grown-Up Girl that echoed the evocative unsettling details of motherhood and one’s judgement.
Such a stunning collection to me overall; quite exceptional for how most reflected an ordinary day-to-day narrative yet reverberated an expansive thought-provoking and profound experience of many women; of hopelessness, fear, empathy and indifference. 5 stars to this!
Thank you Pansing Distribution for the gifted review copy!
Major love to the author’s style of writing; so tender and gripping with catchy prose that piqued me to keep reading. I reread both Runaway (super love the characters and its surreal exploration of daughter-father relationship and how it grasped the conflict of a father in his old age) and Dear Hyunnam Oppa (most intense full of angst and sneaked into the unforeseen side of a relationship) for its distinctive enthralling theme. Under The Plum Tree was so sentimental for me as it depicted a view of an old lady in the verge of losing her sickly older sister. Night Of Aurora was the lengthiest of all but I love it a lot too for its generational related plot; a love-hate bond that sharply explored on one’s responsibility, ambition and happiness.
Both Dead Set and the titular story Miss Kim Knows (love the mysterious hue for this one) carried a career related arc that vouched the hardship of dealing with society and colleagues; bit triggering for how both highlighted on prejudice and mistreatment as well domestic and emotional abuse. A budding cute romance in Puppy Love, 2020 that was told in the midst of Covid-19; a charming love suspense with an intriguing abrupt ending for me. A slow anxious plot for Grown-Up Girl that echoed the evocative unsettling details of motherhood and one’s judgement.
Such a stunning collection to me overall; quite exceptional for how most reflected an ordinary day-to-day narrative yet reverberated an expansive thought-provoking and profound experience of many women; of hopelessness, fear, empathy and indifference. 5 stars to this!
Thank you Pansing Distribution for the gifted review copy!
violetavoila's review against another edition
4.0
Kumpulan cerita pendek yg menceritakan bagaimana dinamika kehidupan perempuan. Entah dari sudut pandang anak, cucu, nenek, atau ibu. Gue suka bgt sama penggambaran ceritanya karna tiap cerita itu nyata dan banyak terjadi juga di luar sana. My top 3 stories in this book are Under The Plum Tree, Dear Hyunnam Oppa, and Night of Aurora.
julieh46's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
aliciasbookrecs's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
short story collection, feminist fiction, the complexities of women’s lives in contemporary korea, universal struggles and social injustice, fav’ stories: dear hyunnam oppa/night of aurora/grown up girl, asian literature/original language: korean