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adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
theme is good, i also like some of the stories there, it just doesnt leave great impression on me. also some of my questions left unanswered
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I wanted to like this novel more than I did, though I will say that I did enjoy the absolutely bizarre imagery that leaned into the horror. It would be more accurate to describe this novel as a collection of vignettes that focus on an event that took place at a theme park, as each chapter switched between different characters’ perspectives of what happened. (Quick side note: I’m keeping things deliberately vague to avoid spoiling the event for any readers.) I initially didn’t mind the switching, but by the fourth or fifth chapter, I found it frustrating. I didn’t feel that questions that kept building up were being answered, instead, leaving the reader to sit with vague ideas of what happened. As a result, I found myself rather unsatisfied by the end of the book.
There’s something to be said about the themes that Cho was gesturing toward, which I found interesting but underdeveloped. I was able to get the sense that she wanted to provide commentary on matters such as consumerism and relationships, but I felt more could have been said (and perhaps even more explicitly) to make clear to the reader her observations. With that said, I can’t help but wonder if there might be a translation issue, as I found the prose a bit stilted and clunky. Relatedly, I wonder how much experimenting that seemed to be happening impacted the delivery of these themes (e.g., not sticking to one particular genre).
Ultimately, I would have loved more depth in this novel and some time to sit with each character, and the pieces were definitely there. Unfortunately, it just felt as though I was floating in murky water, not ever really knowing where things were going or what the author wanted to get across. It’d be interesting to read the original and see how it compares to the translation though, as I felt something was missing.
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Death, Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Suicide, Alcohol
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This story is told from multiple perspectives of people who are all in some way connected to the New Seoul theme park. A recurring theme in these characters life is that they're unhappy with their life's circumstances and had hoped that a visit to the park would offer some solace or a momentarily feeling of joy, feeling like they belong. Unfortunately, it's not that simple.
I felt that the way in which their life's connected with each other is cunningly done. This isn't a story that I'll forget anytime soon.
I felt that the way in which their life's connected with each other is cunningly done. This isn't a story that I'll forget anytime soon.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
I am really not a big fan of having multiple povs of the same event so I enjoyed it less because of it.
Nor did I find this book gross which the staff @ the bookstore told me it was.
Just underwhelming.
Nor did I find this book gross which the staff @ the bookstore told me it was.
Just underwhelming.
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes