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clairefrances_8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
mksmgts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
sas_lk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
What I liked so much about that short story collection, is that one could feel what deep understanding Kim has for humanity. His short stories were so well written and depicted humanity so well.
However, with this book, it's like he did not understand humans, especially women. I only understood what bothered me when I read someone else's 1 star review:
"I guessed that the author is male [...] I’m just so tired of reading about disturbed young women who for some reason are always nyphomans. [...]"
And that pretty much sums up what I felt. These women are just really deeply traumatised and suicidal, and for some reason male authors think this concept is fascinating. It's just a book about men projecting their simple understanding of life onto women who have lived horrible pasts and lives, and then being confused when the women stand up for themselves or call them assholes.
I'm tired of these tropes now.
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
noella19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The brothers felt even more like strangers at the end than in the beginning.
I feel for K and the fact that he attempted to reach out but was ignored by C. He seems very lost and the book ends with him unraveling.
C is quite literally the worst. He appears to believe himself the center of the universe but not to a degree were he consideres himself above everything and everyone else (at least not blatantly) but he’s just so stuck in his own world. Everyone appears like a prop in his life to keep his day going and even though some made an impact in his life but somehow not enough to ground him in reality. He seems not see people as people but pieces and some with more depth than others.
Mimi and Judith felt like text book manic pixie girls but yet were intriguing. Can’t say their choices surprised me but their explanations fell flat but maybe it’s because they were talking to c and were aware of how he views them. I wanted more from and for them.
The ominous voice that assisted with the decisions to exit was intriguing to say the least. At first I thought he was simply the embodiment of death himself but clearly he wasn’t but he was something else. His reasoning is realistic but unfair to most but he seemed to hold more compassion for the people he met and helped.
The book sad and the characters are broken but each one is finding a way to cope or make the pain go away.
All in all be careful. Take breaks if necessary.
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
quills4days's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Alcohol
killerbeesbuzz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
bookcaseclosed's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Child abuse
abbie_'s review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
secrethistory's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Art features heavily in the book, which is interesting because it’s one of the things frequently cited as making life worth living, but is having that effect on none of the characters. The art discussed is always seductively violent, with one person who appears unmoved by the violence. A peaceful bathtub murder, an aroused woman with a severed head, a king watching over destruction, a fictional violent performance art. I appreciated the decision but need to think more on the role of art on the novel and it’s narrator.
All in all a thought provoking and good read, but again with the edgy man writing warning, and if you’re sensitive to sexual violence or suicide depictions turn away.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
0325film's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, and Suicide attempt