mcrystal1000 's review for:

The Waiting by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim

4.0

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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This was a really engaging read but idk something felt just slightly off with it. I think maybe it was the transitions between present day and the past in the story. The note from the author at the end was incredibly impactful. However I really didn’t like the ending.

It ends with the old woman falling while trying to pick up a call from her daughter and then transitions into some images that seem related to earlier in the book. The grandmother falling is devastating but the images that follow don’t tell a clear story. Plus her fall feels like an unsatisfying ending that leaves the story open, although maybe that’s intentional as the wound of the pain caused by the split is still open.