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A review by eggmama
I Hear Your Voice by Young-Ha Kim
2.0
The back of the book describes this story as, "A novel about two orphans from the streets of Seoul: one becomes the head of a powerful motorcycle gang and the other follows him at all costs."
But I didn't find any of this to be true. Neither Jae or Donggyu are orphans - their parents are still alive. And while Jae does become a leader for a motorcycle gang, he's more of a spiritual leader than a violent head. And Donggyu, Donngyu is forever caught between himself and Jae, and feelings of jealousy, regret, and love prevent him from totally following the former.
The description says nothing about the quasi-religious and philosophical views Jae has, and the almost Christ-like figure he becomes. Towards the end of the novel, I expected some revelation based on Jae's views. Instead, I put the book down and thought, "So what?"
The epilogue reveals added information, but answers no questions. It even fails to be shocking. With so much suspension of disbelief needed for the first part of the book, the ending hardly seems revolutionary.
That being said, the novel did give me a darker, grittier look into Seoul, from destitute teens to police corruption, an image quite different from the one sold of the city. Seoul, a glittering, airbrushed, totally civilized dragon of a metropolis hides poisoned grit under her belly.
But I didn't find any of this to be true. Neither Jae or Donggyu are orphans - their parents are still alive. And while Jae does become a leader for a motorcycle gang, he's more of a spiritual leader than a violent head. And Donggyu, Donngyu is forever caught between himself and Jae, and feelings of jealousy, regret, and love prevent him from totally following the former.
The description says nothing about the quasi-religious and philosophical views Jae has, and the almost Christ-like figure he becomes. Towards the end of the novel, I expected some revelation based on Jae's views. Instead, I put the book down and thought, "So what?"
The epilogue reveals added information, but answers no questions. It even fails to be shocking. With so much suspension of disbelief needed for the first part of the book, the ending hardly seems revolutionary.
That being said, the novel did give me a darker, grittier look into Seoul, from destitute teens to police corruption, an image quite different from the one sold of the city. Seoul, a glittering, airbrushed, totally civilized dragon of a metropolis hides poisoned grit under her belly.