A review by miajakobsen
Almond by Won-pyung Sohn

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

"Even though my brain was a mess, what kept my soul whole was the warmth of the hands holding mine on both sides."

Almond tells the story of Yunjae, a boy who can't feel things. Yunjae's alexithymia is written quite well - he learns to be silent (in part, as a tribute to his mother), but eventually finds solace in the written text and newfound friends (such as Gon, a boy who feels too much). The ending feels a bit rushed, but it was still a very compelling and heartwarming novel about life and the love we feel for one another. Once I picked the book up, I couldn't put it down. The translation is also done quite well, but I'm sure that it is even better in the original Korean.