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tevreads's review
4.0
Long-listed for the Man Booker International 2019 prize, Hwang Sok-yong has crafted a moving story of reconciling ones past as they grow old. This story to me was quaint, yet ethereal, reminding me in parts of the delicacy of Murakami and his seamless storytelling.
Although I wouldn't rate At Dusk as highly as Murakami, mainly as a result of characterisation being underdeveloped in parts, and the general flow of writing sometimes lacking (probably a result of it being a translated work), it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read.
It's an interesting and enlightening experience being able to read great modern writers of different languages and cultures, and I look forward to reading more of this years prize.
Although I wouldn't rate At Dusk as highly as Murakami, mainly as a result of characterisation being underdeveloped in parts, and the general flow of writing sometimes lacking (probably a result of it being a translated work), it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read.
It's an interesting and enlightening experience being able to read great modern writers of different languages and cultures, and I look forward to reading more of this years prize.
soosoyi's review
4.0
'His father would disappear for days at a time, only to return home drunk and shouting his head off at his family or taking a swing at his wife.'
'What are buildings made of? In the end, money and power.'
'The wheel of life takes a hundred years to turn. Which means that none of us make it all the way around before we have to get off.'
'For him, the worse things got, the fiercer his approach to life. He was like a soldier with his rifle cleaned and loaded, his eyes fixed on some distant spot, his body poised to race forward.'
'All you have to do is love someone, she said. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor. Everyone acts like everything is fine, but on the inside, we're all lonely. It's always the same for people like us. Nothing gets any better, and nothing ever changes.'
'What are buildings made of? In the end, money and power.'
'The wheel of life takes a hundred years to turn. Which means that none of us make it all the way around before we have to get off.'
'For him, the worse things got, the fiercer his approach to life. He was like a soldier with his rifle cleaned and loaded, his eyes fixed on some distant spot, his body poised to race forward.'
'All you have to do is love someone, she said. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor. Everyone acts like everything is fine, but on the inside, we're all lonely. It's always the same for people like us. Nothing gets any better, and nothing ever changes.'
d_swagata's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
asterope's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.25
For me, this was a great starting place for reading Hwang Sok-yong. It follows two interlinked perspectives from different generations on Korea’s rapid development since the war. Absolutely my shit. It had that dreamlike quality I’ve loved in other Korean fiction. I haven’t had the same experiences as the characters, but the writing makes it easy to connect with their emotions.
secrethistory's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
They grow so fast that if you don't do anything about them, they'll destroy your lawn. See? How they're spread all over the lawn?
Really excellent book. What do we lose and who do we leave behind when we try to rebuild, to erase the past? Whose life does it improve? Can we tell ourselves it was for the best when conditions haven’t improved for the young, when people slip through the past? The novel is thoughtful but not preachy, heartbreaking without being too sentimental. It shows people and the world as they are and as they were, and asks us to consider.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Suicide
Minor: Rape
simu's review
3.0
"Like a rusted locomotive collapsed among ruins in a field covered in weeds and wildflowers, his burial was not yet over."
"They reminded me of the tiny mammals who cower among the beasts of prey deep in the jungle and must survive on their wits alone."
"All you have to do is love someone, she said. It doesn't;t matter if you're rich or poor. Everyone acts like everything is fine, but on the inside, we're all lonely. It's always the same for people like us. Nothing gets better, and nothing ever changes."
"They reminded me of the tiny mammals who cower among the beasts of prey deep in the jungle and must survive on their wits alone."
"All you have to do is love someone, she said. It doesn't;t matter if you're rich or poor. Everyone acts like everything is fine, but on the inside, we're all lonely. It's always the same for people like us. Nothing gets better, and nothing ever changes."
frogggirl2's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
It takes a long time for this novel to come together - virtually until the end. I'm not sure how this benefits the story. This is an utterly quiet, slow, low impact kind of book.
ettegoom's review against another edition
4.0
I won't lie, I found this quite confusing, mainly because I couldn't quite work out who each of the narrators were... but once it all came together, it was an incredibly powerful story.