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notthatcosta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Honestly for the first half I thought I was going to love this book but it really fell off towards the end. Even though the pacing and the distribution of the narratives was uneven, there was a sense of momentum and build towards purposeful twists and turns. However, the last act sadly descended into pure mystery porn. If I wanted to read A Little Life I would simply read A Little Life.
Compared to Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (the only other Korean novel I've read to date), this was so much more vulgar, brutal and unabashed in a way that took me off guard but also kept me engaged. It had a lot to say and wasn't afraid to take big swings.
Graphic: Police brutality, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Death, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Abandonment, Bullying, Alcohol, Death of parent, Sexism, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Murder, Body horror, Car accident, Classism, Confinement, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Violence, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Incest, Toxic relationship, War, and Mental illness
rabzia_'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, Child death, Blood, Grief, Infidelity, Animal cruelty, Classism, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Murder
mxjacknelson's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Torture, Death of parent, Rape, Child death, and Animal death
christy_lorraine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Police brutality, Torture, Rape, Death, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Murder
Minor: Suicide, Child death, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Incest, Pedophilia, Self harm, Pregnancy, Animal death, Confinement, and Alcoholism
etherealsuju'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Torture, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death, and Mental illness
lorenag5's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Child abuse, Colonisation, Mental illness, Animal death, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Torture, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
vb_marie's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Rape, Torture, Suicide, Death, Confinement, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Murder, Bullying, and Child death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Abandonment, Car accident, Excrement, Animal death, Gore, Sexual content, and Violence
paulap's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book also makes a commentary about misogyny by exaggerating and almost twisting it to a point in which it almost felt non-sensical. I am not sure how successful it was at that, although I fond some of the commentary quite poignant. Other times, it was just too brutal to a point in which it was not furthering anything and I wanted to stop reading.
In terms of the writing style, it feels very whimsical and detached. We do not get to know the thoughts of the characters in detail (I think intentionally), and therefore the book does not try to make an emotional connection with the reader by sharing feelings and thoughts. There is a lot of foreshadowing throughout the book as well, which sometimes worked but sometimes didn't. There is also touches of magical realism, which increase the feeling that it almost reads like a fairy tale. And mostly, the book was violent and brutal from beginning to end, so if that is not your thing, maybe stay away from it.
Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Death, Child death, Violence, Animal death, and Rape