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thewordsdevourer 's review for:
ร้านไม่สะดวกซื้อของคุณทกโก
by Kim Ho-yeon
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
ร้านไม่สะดวกซื้อของคุณทกโก exceeds my already-quite-high expectations, becoming the best book i read so far this yr for its heart, themes, great storytelling, effective structure and how all the aforementioned elements and chapters come tgt at the end and crescendo into an unforgettable, hopeful and touching - albeit never manipulative - piece of work.
one of my fav things from the novel is how kim adeptly explores both personal and systemic social issues in south korea thru the characters and their stories (tho the writer using tokko's story as basis for her play doesnt rly sit well w/ me). the titular convenience store is a safe haven for many who are struggling in private and public spheres of life, providing a home - even if a temporary one - nightly manned by a previously homeless man. like, the story elements, symbolism and themes just play on each other so nicely. the structure imo is very effective as well, actually contributing positively to the book instead of obsfuscating the reader, and showing things thru the main character tokko's POV and reiterating the theme of 'u never know what someone's going thru' in a very non-corny, nuanced way.
this book def has that korean 한 element, and its msgs of choosing to live on, family, power of kindness could go so wrong and corny handled by the wrong hands. in kim's hands, however, they make the novel a safe haven similar to the titular convenience store, one that i'll surely go back and visit again.
one of my fav things from the novel is how kim adeptly explores both personal and systemic social issues in south korea thru the characters and their stories (tho the writer using tokko's story as basis for her play doesnt rly sit well w/ me). the titular convenience store is a safe haven for many who are struggling in private and public spheres of life, providing a home - even if a temporary one - nightly manned by a previously homeless man. like, the story elements, symbolism and themes just play on each other so nicely. the structure imo is very effective as well, actually contributing positively to the book instead of obsfuscating the reader, and showing things thru the main character tokko's POV and reiterating the theme of 'u never know what someone's going thru' in a very non-corny, nuanced way.
this book def has that korean 한 element, and its msgs of choosing to live on, family, power of kindness could go so wrong and corny handled by the wrong hands. in kim's hands, however, they make the novel a safe haven similar to the titular convenience store, one that i'll surely go back and visit again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, Abandonment
Minor: Suicide attempt