anae2le's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, and Gun violence
paromamehta's review against another edition
2.0
Stars: ✦✦✧ (2.5 stars)
Choi Jin-young’s 2017 novel To the Warm Horizon follows four protagonists in a post-apocalyptic world as they try to find their way to safety. The author recounts their journey, a devastating look into the human world and a tale full of fear, loss, pain, love, and friendship. The story also follows the love story of Dori and Jina, who fall in love despite the growing dystopia around them. It is, without a doubt, a character book - relying mostly on the complex, strong characters rather than its plot, which I found an interesting choice given the plot potential with such a rich story and context.
However, when you compare to this book to its counterparts in contemporary queer fiction, it is difficult to truly laud it for its character work. Prior to To the Warm Horizon, I read On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, a book that is similarly reliant on its characters. The introduction and storylines for Vuong’s characters was considerably stronger in both development and, I suppose, “stakes” than Jin-young’s. Given the short length of the book, the constant narrative shifts and much of the vague narration in general meant that I often found myself not being able to invest in the characters. In fact, at one point, I felt as though I could not distinguish one character’s actions from another because I knew so little about them. Of course, given the significant difference in the plot of Vuong and Jin-young’s novels, I suppose that it was harder to maintain that balance while still telling the audience all the information necessary to invest in the book. Again, while I understand the limitations, I do also have to admit that even after I read the whole book: I have no idea what this virus was, I don’t know why everyone was travelling to Russia and I do not know why … much of the book took place. There was no establishment of the stakes or of the character’s motives, but the audience is just expected to basically “get with the program.” In some ways, it felt like being air dropped on to the Orient Express mid-murder investigation. Actually, as I put that into words, that is exactly what the book feels like.
Having said that, I think the love story between Dori and Jina is such a gorgeous, undeniably beautiful sapphic tale. I found Jin-young’s narration of this relationship so incredibly well done - even in the death, destruction, and violence that surrounds them, there is something so amazingly delicate and genuine about their love. The development of their feelings towards each other, with the example of Dori actively looking for things that would make Jina happy just to see her happy, with no ulterior motive, is so natural and so… kind. While the use of the word kind may sound strange, I think often so much queer love in popular fiction is based on pain and trauma. It is heartwarming to see the inverse, where two women are allowed to fall in love organically. Dori and Jina love each other in a way that is not to please external views, not to fetishise them or their pain, and not to act as a stepping stone for additional plot but in a way that is warm and gorgeous and the kind of love all queer people should be allowed to experience!
Despite all of that rave material in the last paragraph, I would be wrong if I didn’t state that the story is still undeniably heartbreaking. Some parts of the story are difficult to read, even due to the implied plot that takes place off the page. The book is hard, with mentions of sexual assault and the very topical context in which the book takes place, and it is very easy to get put off with the weaknesses of the book. On that note, I do want to state that it is not a bad book. I realised about 50% of the way that it just simply was not my cup of tea. But for fans of character driven novels, like Bryan Washington’s Memorial, and for people who enjoy darker, fantastical fiction, this has the makings of a perfect read!
Lastly, I think that Choi Jin-young is a talented writer and Soje is an exceptional translator (and illustrator!) but I also think that this book fell short for me at certain times, despite having very high expectations for the same. One thing that everyone can agree on: a gorgeous cover! Beautiful. Will display forever. But probably will not read again.
Choi Jin-young’s 2017 novel To the Warm Horizon follows four protagonists in a post-apocalyptic world as they try to find their way to safety. The author recounts their journey, a devastating look into the human world and a tale full of fear, loss, pain, love, and friendship. The story also follows the love story of Dori and Jina, who fall in love despite the growing dystopia around them. It is, without a doubt, a character book - relying mostly on the complex, strong characters rather than its plot, which I found an interesting choice given the plot potential with such a rich story and context.
However, when you compare to this book to its counterparts in contemporary queer fiction, it is difficult to truly laud it for its character work. Prior to To the Warm Horizon, I read On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, a book that is similarly reliant on its characters. The introduction and storylines for Vuong’s characters was considerably stronger in both development and, I suppose, “stakes” than Jin-young’s. Given the short length of the book, the constant narrative shifts and much of the vague narration in general meant that I often found myself not being able to invest in the characters. In fact, at one point, I felt as though I could not distinguish one character’s actions from another because I knew so little about them. Of course, given the significant difference in the plot of Vuong and Jin-young’s novels, I suppose that it was harder to maintain that balance while still telling the audience all the information necessary to invest in the book. Again, while I understand the limitations, I do also have to admit that even after I read the whole book: I have no idea what this virus was, I don’t know why everyone was travelling to Russia and I do not know why … much of the book took place. There was no establishment of the stakes or of the character’s motives, but the audience is just expected to basically “get with the program.” In some ways, it felt like being air dropped on to the Orient Express mid-murder investigation. Actually, as I put that into words, that is exactly what the book feels like.
Having said that, I think the love story between Dori and Jina is such a gorgeous, undeniably beautiful sapphic tale. I found Jin-young’s narration of this relationship so incredibly well done - even in the death, destruction, and violence that surrounds them, there is something so amazingly delicate and genuine about their love. The development of their feelings towards each other, with the example of Dori actively looking for things that would make Jina happy just to see her happy, with no ulterior motive, is so natural and so… kind. While the use of the word kind may sound strange, I think often so much queer love in popular fiction is based on pain and trauma. It is heartwarming to see the inverse, where two women are allowed to fall in love organically. Dori and Jina love each other in a way that is not to please external views, not to fetishise them or their pain, and not to act as a stepping stone for additional plot but in a way that is warm and gorgeous and the kind of love all queer people should be allowed to experience!
Despite all of that rave material in the last paragraph, I would be wrong if I didn’t state that the story is still undeniably heartbreaking. Some parts of the story are difficult to read, even due to the implied plot that takes place off the page. The book is hard, with mentions of sexual assault and the very topical context in which the book takes place, and it is very easy to get put off with the weaknesses of the book. On that note, I do want to state that it is not a bad book. I realised about 50% of the way that it just simply was not my cup of tea. But for fans of character driven novels, like Bryan Washington’s Memorial, and for people who enjoy darker, fantastical fiction, this has the makings of a perfect read!
Lastly, I think that Choi Jin-young is a talented writer and Soje is an exceptional translator (and illustrator!) but I also think that this book fell short for me at certain times, despite having very high expectations for the same. One thing that everyone can agree on: a gorgeous cover! Beautiful. Will display forever. But probably will not read again.
wangjiejie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
anywiebs's review against another edition
4.0
This was so beautifully written I didn't mind anymore reading an apocalyptic book (I thought it would be a fluffy read - that's what you get for not reading synopses).
The characters were endearing always thinking about their situation, life before and what it meant to be alive. There were the cruelties you come to expect from apocalyptic writing, but it was just mentioned and not drawn out in long detailed descriptions, which I clearly appreciated.
The characters were endearing always thinking about their situation, life before and what it meant to be alive. There were the cruelties you come to expect from apocalyptic writing, but it was just mentioned and not drawn out in long detailed descriptions, which I clearly appreciated.
robtl's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Self harm, and War
yp21's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
3.0
저기, 해가 지는 곳에.『해가 지는 곳으로』 (해가 sun + 지는 going down + 곳 place + 으로 -towards): "To the Warm Horizon" by Choe Jinyeong (최진영). English translation by Soje (이소제 or just 소제).
elenavarg's review against another edition
4.0
(3,5 stars)
I had a long break from reading this, because it has so much rape and sexual assault in it. Although the descriptions weren’t too explicit, it’s still very hard for me to read about. If it didn’t have so much of it, I would’ve given the novel full four stars.
As for the rest of the story, it was beautifully written. The characters and their actions were very realistic and in all of it’s horridness, the story managed to be beautiful in the end. One of the best apocalypse stories I’ve read!
I had a long break from reading this, because it has so much rape and sexual assault in it. Although the descriptions weren’t too explicit, it’s still very hard for me to read about. If it didn’t have so much of it, I would’ve given the novel full four stars.
As for the rest of the story, it was beautifully written. The characters and their actions were very realistic and in all of it’s horridness, the story managed to be beautiful in the end. One of the best apocalypse stories I’ve read!
thegrandnarrative's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
aninthios's review against another edition
3.0
There were some good plot points and character building. The style of the book is very introspective, so I felt like I was seeing everything through a window, rather than being immersed in the action or emotions.