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luisantelune 's review for:
Human Acts
by Han Kang
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A dark and gruesome history of the Gwangju Uprising (1980). Han Kang approached the story by writing about bodies. I’ve never read anything like this—it is unique and evokes strong emotions from readers. Han Kang didn’t shy away from depicting how bleak, eerie, and dreadful it was. Born in Gwangju herself, she didn’t romanticize the story even a tiny bit; it was told with utmost honesty, based on various reliable sources.
Human Acts is narrated from different characters’ perspectives, yet they are all connected somehow. Together, their stories form a complete picture of what actually happened during that period of time.
Because the story is often told through flashbacks and shifts between past and present, I sometimes felt disoriented following the plot. I have to admit that I looked up summaries of each chapter to fully comprehend it. This is my first Han Kang, so I’m still adjusting, but I would definitely read more of her works as I get used to her writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, War
Moderate: Alcoholism