The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
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: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Child death, Confinement, Death, Murder, Police brutality, Blood, Grief, Sexual assault, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, Rape, Sexism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Infertility, Cursing, Suicide, and Misogyny
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Terminal illness, Vomit, Self harm, Cancer, and Excrement
somelibrarychick'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
3.75
Graphic: Death, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Police brutality, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, Child death, and Sexual assault
literaryjunarin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Deeply upsetting, and painfully brutal, Han Kang laid out different stories from victims of the Gwangju Uprising in South Korea, in 1980.
I loved the second-person narrative instantly. It made my reading experience much more immersive. At one point, I actually felt the sweat trickling down my back as was described in the book. That sounds weird, but anyway. As much as I loved the narration style, it also made the torture and oppression feel more painful.
My favorite story would be The Boy's Friend. I was so invested in reading the point of view of a soul, and not a living character. It was so dark and unsettling. However, The Boy's Mother chapter is so heart-wrenching. All the mother's reminiscings of his dead son made me cry so much I could hardly read thru my tears.
Han Kang has this special way of writing about bodies, deaths, and souls. I enjoyed The Vegetarian but this book is on a whole another level.
Graphic: Excrement, Death, Confinement, Torture, Child death, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Gun violence, Violence, and Grief
lowercase_em'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? No
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Murder, Sexual violence, Death, Death of parent, Gore, War, Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence
ksenie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Excrement, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, and Panic attacks/disorders
rieviolet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I really loved the writing style, I think it struck a very good balance between direct/matter-of-fact and poetic. A lot of scenes deeply moved me and I can still picture them so vividly in my mind because the author crafted them with such powerful and evocative words.
One of the things that I appreciated the most was the choice to include different point of views. It was so very interesting to follow the story through different eyes and I think that the author did a really good job at inhabiting the characters.
Each chapter includes and expands on a character that we have already briefly met before in the story; I think it is a very artful narrative choice and it will certainly make for a meaningful re-read, once one is already aware of all the interconnections. I also really loved the final chapter from the author's POV.
As you can see from the long list of trigger warnings, the author does not shy away from the more graphic details of those horrific events. Not once while reading, I thought that it is was overdone just for the sake of it, it is simply an honest depiction of brutal happenings, but please keep that in mind and look after yourself.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Mental illness, Vomit, Suicide, and Sexism
Minor: Infertility and Terminal illness
seasidess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Genocide, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
cowboyvelma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Excrement, Genocide, Gun violence, Infertility, Mass/school shootings, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and War
lola_lab's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicide, Violence, and War
doseogwan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Ein Buch, das mir unter die Haut ging und dessen Bilder mir in unterschiedlichen Situationen immer wieder in den Sinn kommen. Ein Roman über ein Massaker, keine einfache Kost, aber mit Bravour geschrieben. Speziell die unkonventionelle Erzählperspektive im ersten Teil des Buches lässt alles näher und unmittelbarer erscheinen.
Ein Massaker vor mittlerweile über 40 Jahren, das lange keine Aufarbeitung erfahren hat und Menschen, die mit diesen schrecklichen Erfahrungen alleine gelassen wurden; dazu gebracht wurden, darüber zu schweigen. Ein wichtiges Buch, ein hartes Buch zu lesen, trotzdem einfühlsam und zart.
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Confinement, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, and Suicide attempt