Visited my favorite indie bookstore today and could not walk out without this.
Visited my favorite indie bookstore today and could not walk out without this.
I'm really torn on this one. The writing was beautiful and created such a haunting atmosphere as the novel progressed, but the pace was so slow for such a short read. I found myself wanting to read it but dreading it at the same time.
I am still giving it a pick because Han Kang has such a way with words.
This will likely be a love it/hate it book for readers…Kang‘s writing is exquisite—painful, heartbreaking, beautiful, & unrelenting as she tells the story of a friendship (in the present) & the massacre of residents of Jeju Island (an effort to root out communists) in the not too distant past. It‘s a powerful examination of the past & the horrors people will inflict on each other (youngest & oldest included). A particularly timely read right now.
Kang‘s most recently translated work explores survival and death amidst hardship and violence, whether man made or natural. Overall I quite liked this, including the multiple potential interpretations of events in the second half. I was bothered by the description of a medical procedure that would never actually be used and would in fact be counterproductive, as things like that always take me out of a story.
Another book that is so good, that it's hard to write a review about. I had a lot of thoughts and emotions while reading this, but it's a whole other thing to put these into words. It's a beautifully written story and kudos to Ki-Hyang Lee, who translated the book to German. The author works with symbolism and magical realism to create strong images and scenes. Some of them we might won't forget again.
This author is amazing. I loved this. I am so glad she won the Nobel prize this year.
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US pub date is 1/21/25
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I was apparently having a big mood when I stuck the title on this 😂
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Oh my. I really hate to say it because I adore Han Kang, but this didn't work for me. It is the longest short novel I have ever read. It just dragged. Which I guess works a bit for the plot, in the first half our narrator is going to check on a pet bird of a friend in the hospital. The snow is high and she is dragging herself and us through while also going back and forth in time telling us about herself & her friend. Things get weird and 👇
I can‘t believe I got approved for this…It will be my first Kang! 😊
If you have not read Noble prize winner Han Kang you have many options to start with! I love The Vegetarian one for those who love magical realism and feminism. The White Book is perfect for those who love poetry. Human Acts is for those who love historical fiction. I am excited for her newest!