jinxlerai 's review for:

Human Acts by Han Kang

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

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This book emotionally destroyed me (in a good way). A gorgeous translation makes the events of the Gwangju Uprising feel painfully immediate, but the pain is balanced and eased by the exquisite beauty of the writing. I had never known about this horrifying part of history. I'm deeply grateful to Han Kang for honoring the victims and their families with this stunning work of art, and to Deborah Smith for making it accessible to English-language readers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt

Minor: Cancer