Reviews

I Went to See My Father by Kyung-sook Shin

sqxcr's review

emotional inspiring reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

nicetsukki's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

fazryzafatyn's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

At first, I found it hard to read this book, maybe because this is the first time I’ve read a plot with so much narrative. The detailed narrative caused me to lose focus. After a while, I started to understand it better. In the earlier chapters, the plot starts with the father as a child and includes themes of farming and war. I couldn’t relate much to this part, so it was hard for me to stay interested. 
However, after chapter 3, it became interesting. I cried a lot and loved how each sibling treated the father. I also like in chapter 4, the narrative shifts to other characters, making it feel like they are telling their stories to the author.
There were some plot points that remained mysterious until the end, but I believe this was done on purpose. 
I think this book has high writing quality and is worth buying.

swaksha_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

entertainmentcritique's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

4.75

mikeejanine's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

tiredsloths's review

i found this really hard to get to for some reason. it felt very plain to me 

kat_r's review against another edition

reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

btodd12's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

A heartbreaking must-read: I Went To See My Father explores the meaning of family, fatherhood, grief, responsibility, and the ties that bind us. When Hon returns home to care for her aging father, she learns closely-guarded secrets about his past and her family’s history. She’s also still processing the death of her own daughter in her own way. The story will grip & wreck you emotionally. 

heatherinjapan's review against another edition

I lovedddd her book Please Look After Mom. But this feels like she was asked to make a father version to be "fair" but it was half-heartedly written. Also, as a person who doesn't even like their own father, I don't really feel inclined to read stories that focus on humanizing the characters father.