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abbyarm's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Torture and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and War
Minor: Rape, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
mcfay's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, and Suicide attempt
emmalouisereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The book uses different writing styles, such as some chapters being in second person (although not the same consistent ‘you’ throughout), and one chapter told from the perspective of one of the dead. Although these were interesting, I personally found it quite hard to follow the plot because of it.
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism
seulgireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Gun violence, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Self harm, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, and Vomit
madamenovelist'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
jrisants's review against another edition
5.0
Han Kang details the happenings and long-standing impacts of the Gwangju May Democratic Uprising (1980) using six different perspectives across 30 years. It is clear that some creative license is taken in one of the stories (namely to imagine what one might think or experience after death), though it seems that the core thread of Dong-Ho’s story is intact and that the author holds integrity to his memory, as well as those whose stories are also shared—which makes reading this even more painful.
What I appreciate is she did not seek to make heroes or inspirations out of the participants stories. She leans into the fear and trauma that are inextricably linked to these types of experiences. This part stood out to me most as an American reader since I am so accustomed to stories about standing up against corruption as bold, macho, and exciting with clear acts of bravery meant to inspire and often uplift the person who hears them. This is a story of suffering, as any experience with injustice and mistreatment is.
I cried through every chapter. I mourn what these people had to endure. I am grateful that they have been offered dignity through truth.
Graphic: Child death, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and War
tomoonarmy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
“have their souls also escaped their bodies, flying away like birds?”
“There will be no forgiveness.”
“our soldiers are shooting. They’re shooting at us.”
I think that this book is an important piece of literature that many people should read (check the trigger warnings before tho!!), therefore I gave it a rating bc in today’s society I think people are more likely to read books with good ratings. So pls keep in mind that this rating isn’t about the story contained inside, more so for the writing and the importance of the story itself.
If you can, please read this book.
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
eline1701's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
As for the novel's content, despite the horrors that were described, the graphic descriptions always felt justified - never sensationalised, never allowing anyone to romanticise any of it. And at the same time, there was a certain tenderness to it, especially for the different main characters, who are all so deeply human.
Speaking of the characters, I thought the connections between them all were so masterfully done. For Seon-ju, it took me embarrassingly long to realise it was her, but when I did it hit me right in the chest. And Dong-ho as the red thread tying them all together when initially his focus is only on his friend... yeah.
All of that said, I don't know if I'd recommend this book to anyone. It really is just very heavy and very graphic (see below, yes, all of those are described in detail again and again), to the point where I had some restless dreams from it. It's also a bleak book, as it doesn't only cover the events of the Uprising, but also its longlasting, ongoing aftereffects, without much of a message of hope. Still, I'm grateful to have read it though and to know a bit more about Gwangju, South Korea, and the Gwangju Uprising.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Alcohol
ka_cam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism
swapnasrita's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, and Colonisation