Whale: A masterpiece of modern Korean fiction by Cheon Myeong-kwan

Whale: A masterpiece of modern Korean fiction

Cheon Myeong-kwan with Chi-Young Kim (Translator)

368 pages • first pub 2004 (editions) user-added

fiction contemporary magical realism dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

Description

  A sweeping, multi-generational tale blending fable, farce and fantasy.“A peerless work devoted to telling a powerful story and lauded for expanding Korean literature into new dimensions.”—The Hankyoreh“Fast-paced and imaginative.”—Dennis Maloney...

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Community Reviews Summary of 286 reviews

Moods

dark 66%
sad 54%
emotional 53%
reflective 49%
adventurous 45%
mysterious 41%
challenging 39%
funny 24%
tense 22%
hopeful 10%
lighthearted 9%
inspiring 5%
informative 4%
relaxing 3%

Pace

medium 58%
slow 25%
fast 15%

Plot- or character-driven?

A mix: 55% | Character: 29% | Plot: 14%

Strong character development?

Yes: 52% | It's complicated: 35% | No: 11%

Loveable characters?

It's complicated: 59% | No: 23% | Yes: 16%

Diverse cast of characters?

Yes: 70% | No: 16% | It's complicated: 11% | N/A: 2%

Flaws of characters a main focus?

Yes: 71% | It's complicated: 19% | No: 7%

Average rating

3.86

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Content Warnings

Submitted by users as part of their reviews

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