Reviews

Jään luoksesi by Kyung-sook Shin

tinael's review against another edition

4.0

Este libro me gustó muchísimo. No es del tipo que normalmente leo (la realidad es que fue un regalo, sino yo jamás lo hubiera comprado) pero me pareció una historia interesante y con un toque agridulce. El contexto en el que se sitúa, algo de lo que realmente no conozco mucho, me pareció muy interesante y los personajes, ni hablar, muy originales. El estilo de la autora también me agradó muchísimo.

anjsi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-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? Yes

3.5

elisa19's review against another edition

3.0

Sentimental and quite sad but the pacing was odd and confusing at times

emmaoswald's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional relaxing sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

spiderthread's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

marymanor's review against another edition

Picked up this book at NCTE in November - can't think of other South Korean writers I've read, but I'm trying to diversify my reading. Engaging from start to finish. Strong narrative voices tell a tragic, beautiful story. Read it. Do it!

sanmeow's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

shin kyungsook never disappoints me ... this story follows a young woman called jung yoon and the traumatic events she's lived through, and how they shaped her into the person she is now. it's also an excellent piece of historical fiction, because of how well the author showcased the political climate in south korea at the time. the story is full of emotion and it discusses love, loss, grief, human relationships, friendship, family, death, and more. as always, shin kyungsook's style is beautiful. a truly wonderful novel.

jennfgarcia's review against another edition

5.0

This book was one truly angsty story. From the first word, it grabbed me and held me until the end. So much so that I listened to the epilogue twice, because I didn't want it to finish. Four young lives filled with heartache and misery and very little good in their lives that they cherished those few times they were able to say, "Let's remember this day forever." My heart truly broke for them that I involuntarily found myself shedding tears while reading. It's a philosophical story but it does end with some hope for a better future. I wish I could read a bit about that future to help ease all the hurt and pain I experienced on the journey.

athirah_idrus's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

 

I’ll Be Right There was written by the same author who wrote the highly acclaimed Please Look After Mother. Because I had immensely enjoyed her writing in PLAM, I had bought this book on a whim despite not knowing what this book was about. According to the author, she wanted to reflect the bleak times during the student protests amid the political revolution that made up quite an integral part of South Korean history. As I had no knowledge on the subject matter, I was not so concerned with whether or not the account was accurate as much as I was trying to immerse myself in the world she built surrounding her characters. 

 

Somehow the vibe in this book was eerily similar to the one in a few of Murakami’s books. The sense of melancholy due to the helplessness of the environment the protagonists were in was captivating, not necessarily in a good or bad way, but I was taken in the moment I started reading the first few pages. It’s not a book I would readily recommend, but the writing was good enough that I did not DNF it. 

soosoyi's review against another edition

5.0

"This too, shall pass. That advice applies both to those who suffer and to those whose lives are filled with abundance. To one, it gives strength to endure; to the other, the strength to be humble".

"Especially when that memory reminds me of what it felt like to be always out of place and always a step behind. Why was it so hard for me to open my eyes every morning, why was I so afraid to form a relationship with anyone...".

"Growing old does not make us any better at loving one another or understanding the meaning of life or death. Nor does knowledge come with the passage of time".

"He looked like a house that was caving in".

"But all I see are layers of darkness. I take a single step into the dark and stand there".

"I just want something to change. Nothing ever changes no matter how hard we fight, so we become lethargic...Everything is the same. It only feels like time is passing, and only the characters change. We are torn apart and chased around. We fight back and get chased some more...We all stare at the walls and complain of loneliness. All we have to do is turn around, but instead we keep our faces to the walls".

"Her terror was probably worse than the pain of being stabbed to death".

"I bow my head in respect to all hands rough with labor".

"How do we judge truth and goodness? Where are justice and righteousness hiding? A society that is violent or corrupt prohibits mutual communication. A society that fears communication is unable to solve any problem. It looks for someone to shift responsibility to and turns even more violent".

"Until you are down to your final breath, love and fight and rage and grieve and live".