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eeviee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Racism, and Medical content
ophelia_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
In Yolk, Mary H.K. Choi crafts a devastating narrative that follows two estranged sisters.
Please check out the Content Warnings before reading!
First off, I would personally classify this as New Adult, rather than Young Adult Fiction. Not only are some heavy and impactful topics discussed, but they are topics that those in the Young Adult age range may be struggling with especially, and Choi grapples with them deeply. (including EDs (anorexia, bulimia), terminal illness, racism, grief, miscarriage and sexual content).
This is not to say that these heavier topics are mishandled in any way. Choi is purposeful and definitive in her writing, letting you feel each high and low for every character in excruciating detail. Any shine or facade is stripped away during Jayne's inner dialogue, revealing the intimately human and visceral experience of the main character and those surrounding her. Choi's characterisation in this novel was phenomenal. There did not seem to be a single character that felt like a caricature or fictional being - each individual stood out as painfully real. Painting New York City as unlike the filter-washed image that the tourism industry displays it to be, the settings of the novel take on a life of their own - actively swaying Jayne in what seems like an echo of the toxic relationship she shares with characters likeJeremy .
I did think that Choi handled the ending very well, succeeding in bringing me to tears.
I was a little apprehensive that the ending was going to bring the narrative to a close too neatly, but I felt Choi left Yolk on a beautifully poignant and ambiguous foot. While I can somewhat understand the criticism that the ending is abruptly positive, I feel as though the ambiguity of June's procedure, consistent imbalance in family dynamics/truth, as well as the moment/line Choi decided to end the novel on allowed the devastatingly real life that Jayne and June live enough room to breathe - rather than halt the story in its tracks entirely.
In conclusion, Yolk is an impactful and beautiful novel that explores the intricacies of damaged relationships with oneself and others and examines the role one can play in helping others while denying help for themselves.
Please check out the Content Warnings before reading!
First off, I would personally classify this as New Adult, rather than Young Adult Fiction. Not only are some heavy and impactful topics discussed, but they are topics that those in the Young Adult age range may be struggling with especially, and Choi grapples with them deeply. (including EDs (anorexia, bulimia), terminal illness, racism, grief, miscarriage and sexual content).
This is not to say that these heavier topics are mishandled in any way. Choi is purposeful and definitive in her writing, letting you feel each high and low for every character in excruciating detail. Any shine or facade is stripped away during Jayne's inner dialogue, revealing the intimately human and visceral experience of the main character and those surrounding her. Choi's characterisation in this novel was phenomenal. There did not seem to be a single character that felt like a caricature or fictional being - each individual stood out as painfully real. Painting New York City as unlike the filter-washed image that the tourism industry displays it to be, the settings of the novel take on a life of their own - actively swaying Jayne in what seems like an echo of the toxic relationship she shares with characters like
I did think that Choi handled the ending very well, succeeding in bringing me to tears.
In conclusion, Yolk is an impactful and beautiful novel that explores the intricacies of damaged relationships with oneself and others and examines the role one can play in helping others while denying help for themselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Grief, and Cancer
Moderate: Sexual assault, Vomit, Blood, Body shaming, and Terminal illness
_chelseawrites's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
As always with Choi's books, not much happened, and yet SO MUCH happened. I love Choi's writing style and how her characters change - how they aren't always that likeable, but I'm still rooting for them. This book seemed especially raw and real and personal. It's one to take slowly, not binge-read, but so worth reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Vomit, Body shaming, Terminal illness, and Mental illness
Moderate: Fatphobia
sunsetcity's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have another other book by Mary H.K. Choi before and I feel much the same about that one as I do this one. Yolk is an emotional tale following Jayne, a college student in New York City trying to navigate through life the best she can. When her sisters tells her a secret she has been keeping for a while, Jayne's life turns upside down, and she struggles to tackle these new revelations along with her already turbulent mental health.
Going into this book, I don't think I realized just how heavy it was. It has been marketed as a funny book, and although there may be some funny moments, overall this book deals with some really hard topics (such as eating disorders and cancer). Choi excels at writing realistically flawed characters and I really appreciated that about this book. Being in Jayne's head the whole book really helped me as a reader understand the struggles she was going through and just what she was thinking as she faced the obstacles presented to her. I also loved the dynamics between the characters throughout and how they interacted with each other.
Like the last Choi book I read, I thought the writing was very beautiful and I appreciated the topics that she went into throughout the story. However, I finished the book just wanting more. I wanted to dive further into Jayne and June's relationship with each other and the rest of their family. I wanted the book to delve deeper into the mental health talk and the discussion around why some people in the story didn't believe it was a real problem. I wanted to see more of Jayne's arc as a character, especially towards the end, and her relationship with Patrick. And I wanted more from the ending.
Overall, while I enjoyed the prose and the characters, I think I wanted more from the storyline and a deeper exploration of the themes brought up.
Going into this book, I don't think I realized just how heavy it was. It has been marketed as a funny book, and although there may be some funny moments, overall this book deals with some really hard topics (such as eating disorders and cancer). Choi excels at writing realistically flawed characters and I really appreciated that about this book. Being in Jayne's head the whole book really helped me as a reader understand the struggles she was going through and just what she was thinking as she faced the obstacles presented to her. I also loved the dynamics between the characters throughout and how they interacted with each other.
Like the last Choi book I read, I thought the writing was very beautiful and I appreciated the topics that she went into throughout the story. However, I finished the book just wanting more. I wanted to dive further into Jayne and June's relationship with each other and the rest of their family. I wanted the book to delve deeper into the mental health talk and the discussion around why some people in the story didn't believe it was a real problem. I wanted to see more of Jayne's arc as a character, especially towards the end, and her relationship with Patrick. And I wanted more from the ending.
Overall, while I enjoyed the prose and the characters, I think I wanted more from the storyline and a deeper exploration of the themes brought up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Infertility, Medical content, Mental illness, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
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