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repobi's review
4.0
I'll Be Right There is basically a softer and subtler Norwegian Wood (Being compared to Norwegian Wood meant this book is good). The setting is similar, most of the characters are somewhat psychologically damaged, implied depression, despair, and of course, hope. As Professon Yoon said
Live. Until you are down to your final breath, love and fight and rage and grieve and live.
Live. Until you are down to your final breath, love and fight and rage and grieve and live.
girlbeneathsea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
literarycrushes's review
3.0
I’ll Be Right There by Shin Kyung-sook is a story of love and grief set in the tumultuous riots of 1980s South Korea. The book is told as a memory, and each character has a sort of ghostly quality about them that feels more like a romanticization of the idea of a person rather than a real person, but in a purposeful way.
Jung Yoon lost her mother a year ago, but her pain and loss remain at her surface, unprocessed and so indigestible that she is often rudely awakened to that fact as though it had just happened. She haunts her city and her life, spending the majority of her days walking its streets as if in a trance, until she encounters Myungsuh and Miru in Professor Yoon’s class. She becomes obsessed with them, allowing them to occupy her mind almost constantly, and we quickly learn, by switching intermittently to Myungsuh’s perspective for short bursts, that they are equally (if not more so) obsessed with her. What follows is the sort of all-encompassing relationship between the three of them (though not in a thrupple situation, lol) that feels like it can only happen in university, where they quickly become each other’s entire lives. Then, the book takes quite a dark turn as mysterious backstories and shameful secrets are revealed, and relationships grow and evolve.
I picked this book up after loving Please Look After Mom, by the same author, and while this had much of the same fantastic writing and a character who feels detached yet relatable, I found this plot difficult to follow, especially in the second half of the novel. Still, if you don’t allow the semi-melodramatic turns to distract you, the excellent characters and their heart-breaking inner lives are very much worth the read!
Jung Yoon lost her mother a year ago, but her pain and loss remain at her surface, unprocessed and so indigestible that she is often rudely awakened to that fact as though it had just happened. She haunts her city and her life, spending the majority of her days walking its streets as if in a trance, until she encounters Myungsuh and Miru in Professor Yoon’s class. She becomes obsessed with them, allowing them to occupy her mind almost constantly, and we quickly learn, by switching intermittently to Myungsuh’s perspective for short bursts, that they are equally (if not more so) obsessed with her. What follows is the sort of all-encompassing relationship between the three of them (though not in a thrupple situation, lol) that feels like it can only happen in university, where they quickly become each other’s entire lives. Then, the book takes quite a dark turn as mysterious backstories and shameful secrets are revealed, and relationships grow and evolve.
I picked this book up after loving Please Look After Mom, by the same author, and while this had much of the same fantastic writing and a character who feels detached yet relatable, I found this plot difficult to follow, especially in the second half of the novel. Still, if you don’t allow the semi-melodramatic turns to distract you, the excellent characters and their heart-breaking inner lives are very much worth the read!
starrysea98's review
4.0
The beginning was a little slow for me but other than that, I enjoyed reading this book very much. I love the profoundness in the simple words and relationship between Yoon, Myungsuh and Miru. (I didn’t really like Dahn much 🤭)
Also, this book inspires a fierce longing to wander the streets of Seoul. I’ve been to Seoul before albeit briefly and reading this makes me want to go back if only to see the sights described in the book.
For my first foray into Korean literature, this was quite a fulfilling read. I’m looking forward to reading more! Plus, credit goes to the translator as well because it can be really hard choosing the correct English words to express the same nuances as Korean!
Also, this book inspires a fierce longing to wander the streets of Seoul. I’ve been to Seoul before albeit briefly and reading this makes me want to go back if only to see the sights described in the book.
For my first foray into Korean literature, this was quite a fulfilling read. I’m looking forward to reading more! Plus, credit goes to the translator as well because it can be really hard choosing the correct English words to express the same nuances as Korean!
ayathamer12's review against another edition
3.0
ربما تلك الأشياء التي ندركها فقط بعد مرور الكثير من الوقت ونَصِفها ب"منذ وقت طويل" هي التي تُشكلنا حقا
karinlib's review
4.0
This book was reminiscent of Murakami in its' coming of age story, amidst troubled times in South Korea. A group of university friends, each with their own issues, come together to find their way in this world. I read this without knowing that the author wrote [b:Please Look After Mom|8574333|Please Look After Mom|Kyung-sook Shin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320413213s/8574333.jpg|13443181]. I liked this book so much that I had to find out what else she wrote.
behindherpages's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Suicide, Violence, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, and Death
faye_v's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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