Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Трава by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim

3 reviews

rieviolet's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.0

I'm in the early stages of exploring the world of graphic novels, so I'm still familiarizing myself with the genre and its peculiarities.
I can say that I quite liked the author's drawing style and her choice of a black and white colouring. 

The graphic novel recounts the life story of a Korean woman, Lee Okseon, but it stands for the suffering that many other people went through at that time of colonisation and war. The narration doesn't shy away from the brutal details and the horror of the experiences of "comfort women".
There is still a hopeful note in the ending, with the arrival of spring once again and the possibility of renewal.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Pedophilia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Classism, and Deportation

Minor: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Infidelity, and Fire/Fire injury

jhbandcats's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Wow. What a powerful story with such strong artwork. The illustrations feel oppressive, obviously since Lee Ok-Sun was oppressed through most of her life. 

The author / illustrator, Keum Duk Gendry-Kim, met and interviewed Lee. They became friends of a sort, with Gendry-Kim working for three years to complete her biography. It begins when Lee was a child, sold by her parents to alleviate their poverty. From there things got progressively worse with her being abducted and sent to a “comfort station” at the age of 16 or 17. 

Things were almost as bad after the war. The newly liberated women were shunned as whores, unable to find food or work. Lee told Gendry-Kim that her life was miserable from the moment she was born, and that’s all too clear. 

Gendry-Kim tells Lee’s story in a straightforward fashion without sensationalizing the violence and misery. I confess I can’t conceive of this level of pain and anguish. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

goizi's review against another edition

emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Abortion