This book beautifully explores a sin that I, as an anthropologist, am acquainted with well: the sin of erasing a disenfranchised voice while attemptinThis book beautifully explores a sin that I, as an anthropologist, am acquainted with well: the sin of erasing a disenfranchised voice while attempting to give it a voice. The dangers of erasure that come from romanticising isolated figures, especially if they are voiceless and cannot correct our current narratives about them. ...more
A smart and beautiful narration of friendship and togetherness but also about strangeness and otherness, amidst complicated nuances of race, intergeneA smart and beautiful narration of friendship and togetherness but also about strangeness and otherness, amidst complicated nuances of race, intergenerational strife and identity layers. Really love the author's style and look forward to reading more from her. ...more
An enjoyable, quirky read that approaches difficult subjects like depression with a lovely balance of tact and humour. I particularly loved the continAn enjoyable, quirky read that approaches difficult subjects like depression with a lovely balance of tact and humour. I particularly loved the continued references to Tteokpokki and other local snacks, as I'm a fan of Korean cuisine and street food.
The novel also tackles the challenges of being a high-performing woman in a professional space where your efforts are not encouraged or acknowledged as much as they would be were you a man - a common theme in career-focused movies etc. from Western spaces, probably reflecting some common angst of the times we live in, but presented here with an extra layer for its local Korean dimension.
Really enjoyable and gripping story about a neurodiverse person experiencing the world and the strenous friendships they make along the way. The conteReally enjoyable and gripping story about a neurodiverse person experiencing the world and the strenous friendships they make along the way. The content of the story is pretty dark from time to time, with bullying and animal cruelty making an appearance (TW). The only thing I didn't particularly like is that the person's mental issue seems to be 'healed' towards the end through friendship, and that may be a little unrealistic. Other than that, the book is really well-written and provides some interesting insights into Korean society as well. ...more
Very disturbing, haunting, and beautiful. It's impressive how the plot points come together when least expected, considering the contemplative pace anVery disturbing, haunting, and beautiful. It's impressive how the plot points come together when least expected, considering the contemplative pace and tone of the story overall. ...more
"I have so many dreams of my own, and I remember things from my childhood, from when I was a girl and a young woman, and I haven't forgotten a thing. "I have so many dreams of my own, and I remember things from my childhood, from when I was a girl and a young woman, and I haven't forgotten a thing. So why did we think of Mom as a mom from the very beginning? She didn't have the opportunity to pursue her dreams, and all by herself, faced everything the era dealt her, poverty and sadness, and she couldn't do anything about her very bad lot in life other than suffer through it and get beyond it and live her life to the very best of her ability, giving her body and her heart to it completely. Why did I never give a thought to Mom's dreams?"
A powerful dive into the inner lives of women and the mystery that arises when we think of our mothers as separate entities existing on their own terms rather than in relation to their families. Also a great exploration of post-war Korean society. The writing style is not very complex but I still really liked it overall :)...more
A strange and lovely children's story with elements of macabre and without a clear moralistic take-away, which makes it that much more interesting. A strange and lovely children's story with elements of macabre and without a clear moralistic take-away, which makes it that much more interesting. ...more
This was a wonderful read: it's both full of genuine emotion, dealing with the tragic background of running from North Korea and the countless people This was a wonderful read: it's both full of genuine emotion, dealing with the tragic background of running from North Korea and the countless people losing their lives to the famine and political brutality from back home, and inspiringly poignant and crafted in a majestic way, that blends visions of the underworld and folk tales with the realism of contemporary hot topics (illegal immigrants in the West, brothels, dirty survival, Islamic terrorism and the discrimination against Muslims etc.).
I read it breathlessly, in a day, while also cooking and spending time on domestic tasks, and it was a fresh and startling discovery. Looking forward to reading more from Hwang Sok-yong, he is definitely an amazing author. ...more
Loading...
