A review by charliechorlie
Whale by Cheon Myeong-kwan

challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

Holy fuck the ableism. Most of the sexual/ rape scenes felt passive and included needlessly without contributing to the plot. I found myself comparing the magical realism aspects to Murakami, and found it integrated a lot less seamlessly; it appeared in pockets and in the closing scene, and whilst the prose was strong overall this aspect felt neglected in favour of senseless sexual assault scenes for stretches at a time. Geumbok’s transition to male also marked the author’s abrupt distancing from his inner world, emotions and experiences, which was frustrating at times and a strange way to use a poorly fleshed-out trans experience as a metaphor for Geumbok’s ‘male’ business/ capitalist side taking over his entire personality.
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