A review by krida
Please Look After Mom by Kyung-sook Shin

4.0

 

“How far back does one’s memory of someone go?”

We view some people in our lives as permanent fixtures. When that belief is disproven, we are left reeling from the disillusionment. What do you do then?

The author writes in second-person bringing the reader closer to the story. This was a brilliant choice as it added to the intimacy of the work. This is exactly the kind of sad I think a lot of people are looking to read. The sadness doesn’t come all at once instead it slowly settles within as you come to accept the events. I appreciated that the author knew when to stop. The book is well-paced making the length apt.  

There were moments throughout this book when I felt like I had to reevaluate my relationship with my family. I wonder if it is an inevitability that you will drift apart.

The epilogue really got to me. I feel like we’ve all experienced the desperation of wanting our mother to be okay, to be looked after, and to be safe.