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A review by agmunth
Europa by Han Kang
4.0
I've read this twice now, both times when I was pretty tired, and I'm glad because I gleaned so much more from this on rereading.
It's similar to The Vegetarian in the way it explores the pain of people constrained by society's views and conventions on gender, but where that novel was highly dramatic and told from a distance, Europa is much more intimate and subtle. I liked the intimacy the writing gives to the two characters while still keeping their exact pain private to them. It simultaneously shows the possibility of liberation, and the difficulties that can entail.
^This is all a bit clumsily worded, but I found Europa thought-provoking and emotionally engaging in a nice short package. Two thumbs up!
Overall, I think I prefer Han Kang when she's got a bit more space to work with, but this was a really satisfying short read. I should really get on the rest of her stuff.
It's similar to The Vegetarian in the way it explores the pain of people constrained by society's views and conventions on gender, but where that novel was highly dramatic and told from a distance, Europa is much more intimate and subtle. I liked the intimacy the writing gives to the two characters while still keeping their exact pain private to them. It simultaneously shows the possibility of liberation, and the difficulties that can entail.
^This is all a bit clumsily worded, but I found Europa thought-provoking and emotionally engaging in a nice short package. Two thumbs up!
Overall, I think I prefer Han Kang when she's got a bit more space to work with, but this was a really satisfying short read. I should really get on the rest of her stuff.