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kia_y_k's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
eline1701's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I think this one will stay with me for a long, long time. It was an incredibly heavy read. To say it was beautiful is not quite right either, it's gruesome and nauseating and upsetting. The writing, though, is beautiful. While I haven't read the Korean original, it felt like the translation was done with a whole lot of care, and I really appreciated the informative translator's note at the start, which explained the political situation in South Korea in the years leading up to the Gwangju Uprising (and I was very endeared by the way they admitted to drawing inspiration from the Yorkshire accent in "translating" the Gwangju dialect). The writing is merciless when it comes to the descriptions of violence in particular, yet also beautiful and contemplative at times, without feeling flowery or pretentious. I also loved the way in which all three single person points of view (I, you, she/he/they) were alternated throughout the novel, which made it all feel even more immersive and intense.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
A beautiful and emotionally challenging read, and informative if you like me don’t start with much knowledge about the Gwangju Uprising. The method of exploring voices of different people connected to the uprising and a death of a child, including a spirit voice and the child as well as those more loosely connected, ended up feeling very tender rather than the loose-ends feeling that Can come from that style. Very moving and upsetting content. Highly recommend checking content warnings, highly recommended read.
Content Warnings
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
patslibrary's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, and Suicide
erd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.0
This is incredibly tragic, especially since it is based on a lot of true events from the Gwanju Uprising. The mix of narration (different people, different point of view format) was really engaging and steered the story in a very unique way. A very important read, but proceed with caution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Alcohol
rieviolet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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 can only say that this book wrecked me, it was a superb and heartbreaking punch to the stomach.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexism, Suicide, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infertility and Terminal illness
thuyr98's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
What struck and stayed with me the most was the fact that these civilians were asking for their human rights, to work and live in better and more humane conditions. They came forward asking for a shred of humanity, thinking that the soldiers wouldn’t kill unarmed kids, that they wouldn’t be so cruel. But the soldiers were rewarded for their violent acts. So one side was asking for and relying on their belief of humanity, while the other was just focusing on preserving power.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, and War
petudc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
It happened in Gwangju just as it did on Jeju Island, in Kwantung and Nanjing, in Bosnia, and all across the American continent(...)
Estoy llorando. Llorando de bronca, la tristeza es secundaria. Es que, cuando me enojo, lloro.
"Human Acts" es un libro que te recuerda que por mucha distancia cultural y geográfica que haya entre países como Argentina y Corea del Sur, las atrocidades que los seres humanos pueden cometer son algo que tenemos en común. En especial cuando se trata de milicos y Dictaduras.
Este libro nos narra el levantamiento de Gwangju de una forma no lineal y enfocada en un pibe de 14/15 años.
A lo largo del libro, la narración pasa por 1era, 2da y 3era persona, lo cual es bastante peculiar, pero no confuso. El libro se entiende perfecto, es de comprensión bastante amigable, muy claro y directo. Gráfico. Y eso lo hace una lectura terrible, que no te endulza nada, te dice las cosas como fueron y como son.
Y lo recomiendo. Pero no para cualquiera en cualquier momento. Porque es duro, muy duro de leer. Como ya dije, me tuvo llorando de la bronca durante el 95% del libro. De todos modos, lo vale.
I felt the blood of a hundred thousand hearts surging together into one enormous artery, fresh and clean…the sublime enormity of a single heart, pulsing blood through that vessel and into my own. I dared to feel a part of it.
Estoy llorando. Llorando de bronca, la tristeza es secundaria. Es que, cuando me enojo, lloro.
"Human Acts" es un libro que te recuerda que por mucha distancia cultural y geográfica que haya entre países como Argentina y Corea del Sur, las atrocidades que los seres humanos pueden cometer son algo que tenemos en común. En especial cuando se trata de milicos y Dictaduras.
Este libro nos narra el levantamiento de Gwangju de una forma no lineal y enfocada en un pibe de 14/15 años.
A lo largo del libro, la narración pasa por 1era, 2da y 3era persona, lo cual es bastante peculiar, pero no confuso. El libro se entiende perfecto, es de comprensión bastante amigable, muy claro y directo. Gráfico. Y eso lo hace una lectura terrible, que no te endulza nada, te dice las cosas como fueron y como son.
Y lo recomiendo. Pero no para cualquiera en cualquier momento. Porque es duro, muy duro de leer. Como ya dije, me tuvo llorando de la bronca durante el 95% del libro. De todos modos, lo vale.
I felt the blood of a hundred thousand hearts surging together into one enormous artery, fresh and clean…the sublime enormity of a single heart, pulsing blood through that vessel and into my own. I dared to feel a part of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Sexual harassment
cindimoon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Police brutality
Moderate: Alcoholism
boomwormbrittany's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Trigger Warnings: Death, Death of a child, sexual assault, physical violence
I want to say that I will be basing this book purely off how it made me feel and how the story was told. I am not a Korean historian and thus cannot speak on the historical context of this story though I am sure that Han Kang did a fantastic job.
Human Acts takes place in Gwangju, South Korea in the 1980's during a student uprising. This story follows many people after a young boy is killed in the uprising and the impact it has upon them.
Have you ever had a book emotionally devastate you and you fall completely in love with it? That is me with this book. I have been studying Korean for about four years now and wanted to expand my knowledge of Korean history. I had heard fantastic things about this book and knew I had to pick it up. I will admit that I was a little scared going into this as it is such a heavy topic we are following.
I don't know what to say beyond throwing this book at people and screaming read it. This book was so amazing in such a short page count. Han Kang's writing was astoundingly beautiful. I love how she told this story and the way she used narrative. She would switch narrative positions with each person we followed so you would have first person, second person, third person, etc. Each chapter was structured differently according to the character which made them so distinct.
She managed to capture not only a time of people's lives but also the after effect of what happened. She was able to show that the scars the characters carried didn't end when the violence ended, it continued on for the rest of their lives which I really appreciated. I was absolutely blown away by this book and how Han Kang seemed to perfectly know her characters and the story she was telling. This had a lot of philosophical questions about death and life and how we treat our dead. It was so interesting to read.
Han Kang did a fantastic job of showing the emotions people felt during this uprising. There was fear and anger and so many different emotions piled on top of each other. There was layers to this tragedy and I think she did an amazing job showing how it affected the characters and the greater community that went through this horrific event.
Honestly, I could gush about this book forever but I don't want to spoil it. Just know that this book is a fantastic look into how tragedy and trauma lives on inside of us even when its over. This was such an interesting read and I will be educating myself more on the uprising that happened. Definitely read this book.
I want to say that I will be basing this book purely off how it made me feel and how the story was told. I am not a Korean historian and thus cannot speak on the historical context of this story though I am sure that Han Kang did a fantastic job.
Human Acts takes place in Gwangju, South Korea in the 1980's during a student uprising. This story follows many people after a young boy is killed in the uprising and the impact it has upon them.
Have you ever had a book emotionally devastate you and you fall completely in love with it? That is me with this book. I have been studying Korean for about four years now and wanted to expand my knowledge of Korean history. I had heard fantastic things about this book and knew I had to pick it up. I will admit that I was a little scared going into this as it is such a heavy topic we are following.
I don't know what to say beyond throwing this book at people and screaming read it. This book was so amazing in such a short page count. Han Kang's writing was astoundingly beautiful. I love how she told this story and the way she used narrative. She would switch narrative positions with each person we followed so you would have first person, second person, third person, etc. Each chapter was structured differently according to the character which made them so distinct.
She managed to capture not only a time of people's lives but also the after effect of what happened. She was able to show that the scars the characters carried didn't end when the violence ended, it continued on for the rest of their lives which I really appreciated. I was absolutely blown away by this book and how Han Kang seemed to perfectly know her characters and the story she was telling. This had a lot of philosophical questions about death and life and how we treat our dead. It was so interesting to read.
Han Kang did a fantastic job of showing the emotions people felt during this uprising. There was fear and anger and so many different emotions piled on top of each other. There was layers to this tragedy and I think she did an amazing job showing how it affected the characters and the greater community that went through this horrific event.
Honestly, I could gush about this book forever but I don't want to spoil it. Just know that this book is a fantastic look into how tragedy and trauma lives on inside of us even when its over. This was such an interesting read and I will be educating myself more on the uprising that happened. Definitely read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol