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eleniphant's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
- An aching slowburn, perfectly captures loneliness and fear of attachment. Especially aspects of queer loneliness that hit
- For all the girls who felt invisible, shy, overlooked, small- this read very personal to me.
- The translation is gorgeously done
- Heartbreaking, check the triggers for the end- narratively makes sense but this is a hard hitting little book.
ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ in this book when looking up the flower The words in the dictionary before violet was violent and violate …
Another definition for Violet:
Another definition for Violet:
Also used to describe an oversensitive person, a shy person
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual assault, Violence, and Abandonment
clara_mai's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
5.0
I was planning to write a review of Violets, but then I watched Books and Bao's on YouTube and it felt like they took everything that was floating around in my head after finishing this novel and put it into words in this excellent, to-the-point interpretation. Their channel is fantastic in general btw, especially if you're interested in translated literature. Highly recommend! Here's the link to their review of Violets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1kdnurYPE8
What I have to add is that I also really appreciated the afterword that Shin Kyung-sook wrote for this edition. She reflects on the novel, which was originally published in 2001, talks about the writing process and provides a bit of political context. Her comments on the protagonist San reinforced my feelings toward and connection with her as a character. Last but not least, the translation by Anton Hur is just beautiful. While reading I had the feeling that the translator must have really understood the themes and characters in order to convey the story in this way and the author apparently felt the same, because she remarks on Anton Hur's connection to the work in her afterword.
What I have to add is that I also really appreciated the afterword that Shin Kyung-sook wrote for this edition. She reflects on the novel, which was originally published in 2001, talks about the writing process and provides a bit of political context. Her comments on the protagonist San reinforced my feelings toward and connection with her as a character. Last but not least, the translation by Anton Hur is just beautiful. While reading I had the feeling that the translator must have really understood the themes and characters in order to convey the story in this way and the author apparently felt the same, because she remarks on Anton Hur's connection to the work in her afterword.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Misogyny, and Self harm
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Blood
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Following a rural upbringing filled with rejection and abandonment, San moves to Seoul to pursue work as a typist. She instead falls into work at a flower shop, where tending to the flowers and plants brings her unexpected comfort. But when painful memories begin to rear their ugly heads, San struggles to process the loneliness she feels, and the past and present blur into one. Clean and bursting with symbolism, Violets is a portrait of a longing young woman drowning in a bustling city. Shin Kyung-sook is a master of quiet tragedy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence
Minor: Blood and Fire/Fire injury