Scan barcode
ceri124's review against another edition
3.25
3.25*
Hmmmm this was weird but that was also to be expected. I feel like it covered some important thoughts, the one that sticks out the most being when it discussed how women have to think about their presentation more than men due to society but society also doesn’t fully explain what to do anyways (gender expression, sexuality and loneliness are the main topics imo). The ending was very abrupt to be honest and I think generally I’m a little conflicted about my feelings on the book. I wouldn’t recommend picking it up if you don’t want to read about sex drive and pleasures lol
Hmmmm this was weird but that was also to be expected. I feel like it covered some important thoughts, the one that sticks out the most being when it discussed how women have to think about their presentation more than men due to society but society also doesn’t fully explain what to do anyways (gender expression, sexuality and loneliness are the main topics imo). The ending was very abrupt to be honest and I think generally I’m a little conflicted about my feelings on the book. I wouldn’t recommend picking it up if you don’t want to read about sex drive and pleasures lol
alexxlynette's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
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
5.0
halloweenrose's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.75
akizato's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I liked the overarching exploration of gender and living with invisible disability but man the pacing really ruined this for me. We spend pages upon pages of the main character waxing lyrical on various topics (the female presentation stuff felt very early 2000s feminism) while doing the same thing over and over, and then at the last minute they get beaten to near death for some unexplained reason, spend a millisecond recovering, and then, after a sex scene that is as close to rape as it can get without being there, the main character is murdered by their assailant. The queer allegory character goes cruising and gets assaulted and then murdered. What was the point? I get that it's horror and that doesn't usually have a happy ending, but this went literally nowhere. The character didn't grow or change, and the ending didn't seem particularly earned after the drudgery of what came before. I put up with a heavier amount of gore and sex scenes that were basically also gore in how viscerally they were described, and for what??
This felt like a first draft that could do with some expansion to explore the more interesting parts.
I will praise the translation though, which is part of the reason it even gets 2 stars. Representing the exhaustion and alien-ness with the font getting all weird was really well done, it's a really good translation!
This felt like a first draft that could do with some expansion to explore the more interesting parts.
I will praise the translation though, which is part of the reason it even gets 2 stars. Representing the exhaustion and alien-ness with the font getting all weird was really well done, it's a really good translation!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, and Hate crime
Minor: Excrement and Sexual harassment
godofwar's review against another edition
4.0
i tend to shy away from stories that have trans narratives told through the perspective of something nonhuman (it's just a person preference), but there's something about the deconstruction of gender in this novella that really moved me. the style/narrative voice feels utterly unique and fascinating; and even though it's repetitive in parts, i feel that repetition actually serves the story well. all around very gory and unrestrained and unrelenting; really glad this is my first read for pride this year
greentearex's review
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
axwosa77's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
pameana's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
realpolypocket's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
taylor_broek's review against another edition
3.0
What an interesting book. I feel like a section from a note from the translator describes this book the best.
“The physicality of the text and the way it embodies and weaponizes conventional understandings of sex and gender as a way to feed the violent hunger of Mumu’s loneliness is what makes Walking Practice a profoundly queer work of literature… While the novel may be positioned under the umbrella of speculative fiction, many of Mumu’s fears and the dangers they face are mirrored in the fears and dangers faced by queer people, not only in Korea, but around the world: the fear of being out-ed, the threat of persecution, the potential to be met with violence in the pursuit of love.”
“The physicality of the text and the way it embodies and weaponizes conventional understandings of sex and gender as a way to feed the violent hunger of Mumu’s loneliness is what makes Walking Practice a profoundly queer work of literature… While the novel may be positioned under the umbrella of speculative fiction, many of Mumu’s fears and the dangers they face are mirrored in the fears and dangers faced by queer people, not only in Korea, but around the world: the fear of being out-ed, the threat of persecution, the potential to be met with violence in the pursuit of love.”