Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Lapin Maudit by Bora Chung

7 reviews

cottagecorearsonist_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicide, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

clavishorti's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

I can’t deny that my first encounter with this book came through the buzz from countless voices repeatedly mentioning its title. They insisted it was a unique read, something to experience at least once in a lifetime. Intrigued, I decided to plunge into Bora Chung’s Cursed Bunny. 

 

Cursed Bunny is an audacious exploration that defies conventional genre boundaries and highlights the brilliance of this Korean author. Bora Chung skillfully intertwines elements of magical realism, horror, and science fiction, tackling themes of patriarchy and social issues in an extraordinarily bold way. Her approach is fearless, revealing even the smallest horrors without hesitation. Consequently, readers often find themselves pausing to catch their breath or taking time to fully digest the profound narratives. 

 

This anthology features ten intricately woven stories, each layered with complexity that might leave readers pondering their deeper meanings. As such, multiple readings are essential to unravel the rich tapestry of messages embedded within. What’s particularly fascinating is that each reader can interpret these stories through their own lens, which, in my view, is one of the book’s greatest strengths, prompting critical thought and deeper reflection. 

 

Next, I’d like to offer a glimpse into a few of the stories within Cursed Bunny. If you’re wary of spoilers, feel free to skip this part. 

 

In the first short story titled “The Head”, I found myself deeply moved and empathetic toward the main character, a woman burdened with overwhelming emotional weight. The narrative begins with her discovery of a ‘head’ that continues to haunt her. When she seeks help from those close to her, they merely suggest she forget about the head as long as it doesn’t disturb her. However, this head seems to serve as a metaphor for the emotional burdens and loneliness she experiences.

 

The appearance of the head coincides with significant moments in her life: as she steps into adulthood, begins her married life, when her child is born, and during the solitude of her old age. Each manifestation of the head marks a moment when she feels most vulnerable and isolated.

 

I perceive that the moment the head ultimately takes over her life is when she can no longer bear the weight of her loneliness. She becomes trapped in a profound cycle of solitude, represented by the head. However, this is merely my personal interpretation. I would love to hear other perspectives on this story if anyone has them.

 

 

The second short story, titled “The Embodiment”, also places a special emphasis on the female experience. Through a narrative that explores various aspects such as menstruation, contraception, pregnancy, aspirations, marriage, and even miscarriage, the author seems intent on conveying a profound message. Each of these elements is not merely a detail of life but a representation of the complexities and challenges women face throughout their lives.

 

In this story, it appears that the author aims to depict the intricacies of women’s lives. Menstruation, pregnancy, the use of contraceptives, and various societal expectations become burdens they must bear. Reflecting on how women navigate these biological processes—from menstruation to pregnancy—and the necessity of using contraception to manage their lives feels incredibly harsh and unjust.

 

Notably, the author embeds this social critique in sharp satire. The notion that taking too many contraceptive pills could lead to pregnancy is a brilliant twist. It underscores the irony and absurdity of the pressures women face regarding their own bodies. Through this satire, the author effectively critiques a society that often overlooks the burdens women endure, making the story not only engaging but also deeply reflective.

 

 

Meanwhile, the short stories “Cursed Bunny” and “Scars” focus more on the theme of revenge. Both narratives delve deeply into how revenge is a never-ending cycle that only brings suffering. The author illustrates that while revenge may provide fleeting satisfaction, it ultimately hurts the perpetrator and creates an unending cycle of hatred.

 

 

On the other hand, the stories “Snare” and “Ruler of the Winds and Sands” emphasize the theme of human greed. In these stories, the author clearly shows how greed can destroy a person’s life. Characters ensnared by their own avarice ultimately meet their downfall due to unchecked ambition, imparting the lesson that greed will consume us from within.

 

 

The author also introduces a tense horror element in “The Frozen Finger”. This story is filled with a chilling atmosphere and haunting sensations, adding thematic variety to the collection. Additionally, “Home Sweet Home” presents the story of a lonely woman who experiences betrayal, depicting profound feelings of isolation and disappointment.

 

 

The stories “Goodbye, My Love” and “Reunion” intertwine themes of loneliness and solitude. The author skillfully explores how these characters grapple with the shackles of their isolation. Loneliness becomes a strong thread running through these narratives, providing a deep emotional resonance for readers.

I had the pleasure of reading Cursed Bunny in its English translation by Anton Hur. From start to finish, the narrative flowed seamlessly, and I encountered no significant difficulties in grasping the stories. Anton Hur’s translation is nothing short of masterful; he meticulously preserves the nuances and intensity of Bora Chung’s original prose. His skillful translation ensures that the unique voice and unsettling atmosphere of each story resonate deeply with readers. 

 

Overall, the short stories in this collection emphasize themes related to women and complex social issues. The author skillfully captures various aspects of life, from revenge to loneliness and the unchecked greed of humanity. Each story encourages readers to reflect on the social and emotional realities faced by the characters, making this book both thought-provoking and captivating. For anyone seeking a bold and unique narrative, Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung is an excellent choice. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Incest and Suicide

Minor: Rape, Vomit, and War

vixenreader's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The translation from Korean to English is a bit off at times. However, that does not dim the bizarre beauty of this collection. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Miscarriage, Suicide, Vomit, and Stalking

Be aware that there is characters slowly dying, hunger, starvation, c-sections, blood clots, mob violence, financial struggles, mentions of Nazism, and destruction of cities and families.

sauvageloup's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I whistled through these very disturbing little stories. 

pros:
- they're definitely gripping, and the writing style is sparse but clear and evocative, with the descriptions being vivid.
- the stories felt self contained and satisfying overall, even as many ended in tragedy.
- the last book of short stories I read, i struggled to jump from one story to another, maybe because they were so different and by different people. this one wasnt like that at all, and i had no problem reading straight through, pretty much.
- i liked the variety in length and themes of the stories, from birth horror, to supernatural, to fantasy fairy tale and modern criticisms on feminism and capitalism. i think i mainly read very on the surface and didnt look hard at metaphors and such, a reread might help me see this more.
- I liked the sheer imagination though and how Chung makes you care for characters who often arent even given a name.

cons: 
- the first two stories especially, but a lot of them overall, were pretty horrible and graphic. they did their job in making you feel things! but it reminded me too much of just horrible nightmares and intrusive thoughts and I wouldnt read those two again.
- I also felt there was generally a lack of hope in the stories, but that's personal taste I guess.

overall, well written and gripping but too horror for me and dont think I'll seek out more of her work, but I might reread this in time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

mariakureads's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

What an interesting bunch of short stories.
All are different from each other and none repeat in tone, world building or characters.

Chung packed a lot of details in each short story to create the needed atmosphere for each story without going over the top and I for one can't wait to see what her next book is about!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror and Death

Minor: Bullying and Grief

cocopeia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

laffi's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail