crothe77's review
4.0
This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.
This was my first book from Soyoung Park and it was a very strong first impression. The use of the idol industry, the Black Mirror-esque worldbuilding (particularly Fifteen Million Merits but for a YA audience) and the later twist make it all feel topical and current while also very dystopia. The worldbuilding around the Weather Person role really impressed me as it was something I probably never would have thought of, but it really makes sense in the grander world of everything is snow and ice except in Snowglobe where you can have rain and sunshine.
There is minimal romance in this which is perfect if you are looking for books with less romance and more focus around personal identity and personhood. And the strongest theme really is individual personhood and the greater scheme of personhood within in the context of a system like a ramped up idol industry and value placed on watching the lives of other people.
If Black Mirror but make it YA sounds like you're kind of thing, I would recommend this.
I would not recommend this to people who aren't at least casually familiar with the K-pop idol industry, reality TV, and maybe Korean webtoons as there are moments that I wonder might be jarring for someone who isn't familiar with them.
I would call it less Truman Show and more Orphan Black meets Black Mirror
This was my first book from Soyoung Park and it was a very strong first impression. The use of the idol industry, the Black Mirror-esque worldbuilding (particularly Fifteen Million Merits but for a YA audience) and the later twist make it all feel topical and current while also very dystopia. The worldbuilding around the Weather Person role really impressed me as it was something I probably never would have thought of, but it really makes sense in the grander world of everything is snow and ice except in Snowglobe where you can have rain and sunshine.
There is minimal romance in this which is perfect if you are looking for books with less romance and more focus around personal identity and personhood. And the strongest theme really is individual personhood and the greater scheme of personhood within in the context of a system like a ramped up idol industry and value placed on watching the lives of other people.
If Black Mirror but make it YA sounds like you're kind of thing, I would recommend this.
I would not recommend this to people who aren't at least casually familiar with the K-pop idol industry, reality TV, and maybe Korean webtoons as there are moments that I wonder might be jarring for someone who isn't familiar with them.
I would call it less Truman Show and more Orphan Black meets Black Mirror
urbancat's review
4.0
❅ ARC Review: Snowglobe ❅
Rating: ✨4/5✨
Spice: N/A
Triggers: torture, murder, forced work
❅ Overall Thoughts: Wow. What a book. This story was translated into English from Korean. Let me say, sentence cadence is different in every language, so that took a little getting used to, but it didn't detract from the story. And what a story. It's very reminiscent of old school dystopian like Divergent and Hunger Games.
‼️Spoilers below this point‼️
❅ Enclosed under a vast dome, Snowglobe is the last place on Earth that's warm. Outside Snowglobe is a frozen wasteland, and every day, citizens face the icy world to get to their jobs at the power plant, where they produce the energy Snowglobe needs. Their only solace comes in the form of twenty-four-hour television programming streamed directly from the domed city.
Chobahm lives for the time she spends watching the shows produced inside Snowglobe. Chobahm has been chosen to take move to Snowglobe. Only, life there is nothing like what you see on television.
❅ Chobahm: What an interesting character. She's so relatable. She wants to escape her small frozen wasteland of a town to become a famous director and her wish is granted. I think Chobahm is very relatable. I wish I could say that I would've turned down the offer Cha makes, but I can't think I would've done anything different.
❅ Bonwhe: I wanted to learn more about his involvement here. I don't think him and Haeri were together the way we're supposed to infer. But I do like him and Chobahm as love interests.
❅ I'm also very interested in getting more background on Snowglobe. Though the setting is there for most of the book, I feel like we never dug deep into the city or even the world. I'm hoping book two goes even deeper. Also into the mirrors. I'm so confused on those and what relevance they had other than Chobahm to be like, I saw some sh*t. Lol.
❅ I do recommend. The pace is really good. It took me a while to finish this book, but only because it's a complex plot with sentence structure that's unique. I want book two.
ꕥ Thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for an ARC. Soyoung Park, I'm ready for book two.
Rating: ✨4/5✨
Spice: N/A
Triggers: torture, murder, forced work
❅ Overall Thoughts: Wow. What a book. This story was translated into English from Korean. Let me say, sentence cadence is different in every language, so that took a little getting used to, but it didn't detract from the story. And what a story. It's very reminiscent of old school dystopian like Divergent and Hunger Games.
‼️Spoilers below this point‼️
❅ Enclosed under a vast dome, Snowglobe is the last place on Earth that's warm. Outside Snowglobe is a frozen wasteland, and every day, citizens face the icy world to get to their jobs at the power plant, where they produce the energy Snowglobe needs. Their only solace comes in the form of twenty-four-hour television programming streamed directly from the domed city.
Chobahm lives for the time she spends watching the shows produced inside Snowglobe. Chobahm has been chosen to take move to Snowglobe. Only, life there is nothing like what you see on television.
❅ Chobahm: What an interesting character. She's so relatable. She wants to escape her small frozen wasteland of a town to become a famous director and her wish is granted. I think Chobahm is very relatable. I wish I could say that I would've turned down the offer Cha makes, but I can't think I would've done anything different.
❅ Bonwhe: I wanted to learn more about his involvement here. I don't think him and Haeri were together the way we're supposed to infer. But I do like him and Chobahm as love interests.
❅ I'm also very interested in getting more background on Snowglobe. Though the setting is there for most of the book, I feel like we never dug deep into the city or even the world. I'm hoping book two goes even deeper. Also into the mirrors. I'm so confused on those and what relevance they had other than Chobahm to be like, I saw some sh*t. Lol.
❅ I do recommend. The pace is really good. It took me a while to finish this book, but only because it's a complex plot with sentence structure that's unique. I want book two.
ꕥ Thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for an ARC. Soyoung Park, I'm ready for book two.
electricdistrict's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
2.0
I’m always happy to see more Korean genre fiction being translated for English speaking audiences, and I was particularly surprised to see a YA title amongst 2024’s new releases. That being said, I was not terribly impressed with Snowglobe.
My biggest criticism with this title is it’s extremely tenuous world-building. The systems set up in place to support this entertainment-based dystopian society seem contrived only to give the characters an excuse to make the choices they do. I thought there would be far more tension with the idea that the residents of Snowglobe are under constant surveillance, but our main character seems to be able to easily avoid the cameras - whether by going to a place where they are inexplicably absent or via the convoluted system the author has set up to make sure that her actions are not immediately known to her director. I also don't really understand how this system of government allows the Yibonn family to consolidate and maintain power. Why are there no uprisings? Why are people outside of Snowglobe so content to live their terrible lives? A few outside residents have expressed their disinterest in the shows, so it’s not simple complacency. I’m rather disappointed because the story was poised to make some great criticisms about our tendency to idolize vapid media as a form of entertainment, but ironically ended up just reading like a piece of vapid media.
The writing is fine. There are a few moments where inconsistent metaphors seemed glaringly obvious (how does Chobahm know what seaweed in an ocean looks like when I assume all the oceans are frozen over?) and certain details are so deeply rooted in Korean culture that I fear it may alienate general readers (the whole chaebol corporate structure). I don’t have any particular complaints about our main character. I thought she made decisions as a teenager would, and was able to reasonably reflect on the mistakes she made. However, many of the supporting characters are rather one-dimensional, the worst of which border on comical caricature. The narrative seemed rushed from about the 75% mark where we’re quickly introduced to new characters in an “Avengers assemble” type montage. Many of the shocking reveals in this portion did not seem to hold an particular weight and it baffles me that many of the characters came out at the end of the story harboring no ill feelings or discontent towards the system they live under, and instead blamed it on one bad actor. I hope the dismantling of the system will play a larger role in the second book of the duology, but there was really no inkling of that at all.
I realize this is a YA title, but I don’t agree with the notion that a book can be poorly written just because it’s intended for a younger audience. In fact, I feel like such a mindset is an insult to it’s targeted readers, who deserve well constructed and thoughtful narratives as much as adults do. I realize this review might come off as rather scathing, but this book really had the chance to echo some of the problems that plague our current media landscape. I do plan to read the second title to see if any of the issues set up by the first book are addressed, but in my opinion, Snowglobe succeeded in concept, and then fell short in the category that really mattered - using that concept to say literally anything.
My biggest criticism with this title is it’s extremely tenuous world-building. The systems set up in place to support this entertainment-based dystopian society seem contrived only to give the characters an excuse to make the choices they do. I thought there would be far more tension with the idea that the residents of Snowglobe are under constant surveillance, but our main character seems to be able to easily avoid the cameras - whether by going to a place where they are inexplicably absent or via the convoluted system the author has set up to make sure that her actions are not immediately known to her director. I also don't really understand how this system of government allows the Yibonn family to consolidate and maintain power. Why are there no uprisings? Why are people outside of Snowglobe so content to live their terrible lives? A few outside residents have expressed their disinterest in the shows, so it’s not simple complacency. I’m rather disappointed because the story was poised to make some great criticisms about our tendency to idolize vapid media as a form of entertainment, but ironically ended up just reading like a piece of vapid media.
The writing is fine. There are a few moments where inconsistent metaphors seemed glaringly obvious (how does Chobahm know what seaweed in an ocean looks like when I assume all the oceans are frozen over?) and certain details are so deeply rooted in Korean culture that I fear it may alienate general readers (the whole chaebol corporate structure). I don’t have any particular complaints about our main character. I thought she made decisions as a teenager would, and was able to reasonably reflect on the mistakes she made. However, many of the supporting characters are rather one-dimensional, the worst of which border on comical caricature. The narrative seemed rushed from about the 75% mark where we’re quickly introduced to new characters in an “Avengers assemble” type montage. Many of the shocking reveals in this portion did not seem to hold an particular weight and it baffles me that many of the characters came out at the end of the story harboring no ill feelings or discontent towards the system they live under, and instead blamed it on one bad actor. I hope the dismantling of the system will play a larger role in the second book of the duology, but there was really no inkling of that at all.
I realize this is a YA title, but I don’t agree with the notion that a book can be poorly written just because it’s intended for a younger audience. In fact, I feel like such a mindset is an insult to it’s targeted readers, who deserve well constructed and thoughtful narratives as much as adults do. I realize this review might come off as rather scathing, but this book really had the chance to echo some of the problems that plague our current media landscape. I do plan to read the second title to see if any of the issues set up by the first book are addressed, but in my opinion, Snowglobe succeeded in concept, and then fell short in the category that really mattered - using that concept to say literally anything.
schlinkles's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
adrihean's review
4.0
Chobahm's deepest desire has always been to reside within the Snowglobe dome, the last warm place on Earth. However, there's a catch – the lives of Snowglobe citizens are broadcasted for those outside the dome to watch. Chobahm, by contrast, has spent her life in the cold wasteland where people toil at the power plant to keep the Snowglobe running and catch glimpses of the televised lives inside.
But when the famous Snowglobe star, Haeri, tragically passes away, Chobahm's life takes an unexpected turn. Her striking resemblance to Haeri leads her to be chosen as the replacement. As Chobahm assumes her new role, she quickly begins to realize that the reality inside the Snowglobe is far from what she'd imagined. Now, she must embark on a journey to uncover the truth.
“Snowglobe” by Soyoung Park was so interesting. I loved the dystopian feel in a unique way. The snow world is so cool to image. The concept of the Snowglobe, with its treadmill-like existence and public surveillance, feels reminiscent of 'Black Mirror,' while Chobahm's journey into the inner workings of her society carries echoes of 'The Hunger Games.' I like the idea so much. 4 out of 5 stars.
sol_journal's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
*Thank you NetGalley for this eARC! All thoughts, opinions, and reviews are my own.*
Posted to: NetGalley, Goodreads, and The StoryGraph
Posted on: 1 October 2023
3.8 (rounded up to 4) out of 5 stars.
‘Snowglobe’ was enrapturing with an interesting plot and a few twists towards the end that left me wanting more. While it gets a bit info-dumpy at times, I think it’s a well enough spiel to introduce readers to this world that Soyoung Park is creating. The information didn’t feel too overwhelming and fit in mainly because we are watching the story unravel through Chobahm’s pov.
Chobahm is an interesting character. I really liked this mix of naivety yet also selfishness and desire to be more and have more than what she does. She’s one of those protagonists that knows what she wants yet slowly uncovers the reality of things and has to grapple with this change in what she thought she knew and what she couldn’t believe could happen.
I believe ‘Snowglobe’ is a series, duology to be specific. The ending alone has some closure, but I can definitely see some different paths that a second book could lead into. Split into four parts, the middle part having two sections, I think my favorite was definitely ‘You’ both sections. It where things began to unravel more and we see more into Snowglobe and what’s being harbored beneath the surface of all the glitz and glamour. I can see how ‘Us’ gets confusing for some. For me, it kind of- the pacing was weird and the events felt a little chopped together? It wasn’t exactly a rushed ending so to say, but more-so rushed events that led up to that ending. I think only a few threads were left open, which may resolve in another book.
‘Snowglobe’ was a short but good read! I can see the ties to ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Squid Games’, but I feel like it’s still some newness to it too that leaves one guessing. If this is a duology, I really can’t wait to see where Soyoung Park will take this next!
Posted to: NetGalley, Goodreads, and The StoryGraph
Posted on: 1 October 2023
3.8 (rounded up to 4) out of 5 stars.
‘Snowglobe’ was enrapturing with an interesting plot and a few twists towards the end that left me wanting more. While it gets a bit info-dumpy at times, I think it’s a well enough spiel to introduce readers to this world that Soyoung Park is creating. The information didn’t feel too overwhelming and fit in mainly because we are watching the story unravel through Chobahm’s pov.
Chobahm is an interesting character. I really liked this mix of naivety yet also selfishness and desire to be more and have more than what she does. She’s one of those protagonists that knows what she wants yet slowly uncovers the reality of things and has to grapple with this change in what she thought she knew and what she couldn’t believe could happen.
I believe ‘Snowglobe’ is a series, duology to be specific. The ending alone has some closure, but I can definitely see some different paths that a second book could lead into. Split into four parts, the middle part having two sections, I think my favorite was definitely ‘You’ both sections. It where things began to unravel more and we see more into Snowglobe and what’s being harbored beneath the surface of all the glitz and glamour. I can see how ‘Us’ gets confusing for some. For me, it kind of- the pacing was weird and the events felt a little chopped together? It wasn’t exactly a rushed ending so to say, but more-so rushed events that led up to that ending. I think only a few threads were left open, which may resolve in another book.
‘Snowglobe’ was a short but good read! I can see the ties to ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Squid Games’, but I feel like it’s still some newness to it too that leaves one guessing. If this is a duology, I really can’t wait to see where Soyoung Park will take this next!
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Alcoholism, and Medical content
More...