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nixxer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
othersociologist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Ableism, Rape, and Torture
etherealsuju's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
kyleyraemccoy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Classism
m_peacock's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm usually not a magic realism fan. I often find it either overbearing or a plot crutch -- but here it worked for me. Maybe it's the novel's rural settings or the matter-of-fact tone of the omniscient narrator, but the fantastical plot elements seemed to be more integrated and less magical/out-of-the-ordinary.
I often complain that literary fiction authors don't know how to end their stories. They often skip the hard work of plotting for an easier and maybe what they think is a cleverer/more erudite trailing off into ambiguity. Cheon Myeong-Kwan doesn't do that; he sticks the landing in a melancholy way that fits the last, most difficult section of the book.
Moderate: Torture
cryskim's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
lorenag5's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
jayisreading's review against another edition
4.75
Whale will make a lot more sense if you’re familiar with modern (South) Korean history. It will be a startlingly thought-provoking read as Cheon explores this history with incredible depth through his themes and characters as allegories of the brutality and violence that South Koreans have faced throughout the twentieth century. I can see why Cheon deliberately chose women as his protagonists, though I fully recognize the discomforts that come with a male writer putting female characters in horrific situations. It’s complicated, to say the least, and I’m still trying to process how I feel about all of this.
This probably isn’t the most insightful reflection, but it’s mostly because I need to sit with this book a bit longer. I will say, though, that this is the first time that I felt Cheon did wonders in addressing han throughout Whale. (I realize han is a disputed concept, with South Koreans not really thinking much of it while the Korean diaspora have made it a large part of their identity. I think it’s something well worth considering in Whale, though, when you historically contextualize it.)
I think this is one of those books that will have polarizing opinions. You’ll either find it repulsive, but others will find it brilliant. I happen to fall in the latter category, but it definitely comes with complicated feelings about the delivery.
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Self harm
vb_marie's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Car accident, Abandonment, and Alcohol
krista_lm's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism and Transphobia