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Another Person
'A mesmerising debut. Dark, twisted and bracingly empathetic' Diana Reid, author of Love and Virtue
Winner of the 2017 Hankyoreh Literary Award
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Who is Jina?
The stupid woman who ruined a young man's promising career?
The weird loner whose university boyfriend thinks she has a victim complex?
The naïve country girl who ignored a friend's cry for help?
The survivor?
To answer these questions, Jina will have to return to Anjin University and the toxic culture that destroyed the lives of many female students – including one, Ha Yuri, who died tragically and mysteriously not long before she left.
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PRAISE FOR ANOTHER PERSON
'Immaculately crafted, shocking and moving' Sang Young Park, author of the International Booker-longlisted Love in the Big City
'Dark Academia the way I like it… smart and full of suspense' Hanna Bervoets, author of We Had to Remove This Post
'Sharp social commentary and amazing, complex female characters. An unusual, unpredictable thriller' Simone Campos, author of Nothing Can Hurt You Now
Winner of the 2017 Hankyoreh Literary Award
––––––––––––––––
Who is Jina?
The stupid woman who ruined a young man's promising career?
The weird loner whose university boyfriend thinks she has a victim complex?
The naïve country girl who ignored a friend's cry for help?
The survivor?
To answer these questions, Jina will have to return to Anjin University and the toxic culture that destroyed the lives of many female students – including one, Ha Yuri, who died tragically and mysteriously not long before she left.
––––––––––––––––
PRAISE FOR ANOTHER PERSON
'Immaculately crafted, shocking and moving' Sang Young Park, author of the International Booker-longlisted Love in the Big City
'Dark Academia the way I like it… smart and full of suspense' Hanna Bervoets, author of We Had to Remove This Post
'Sharp social commentary and amazing, complex female characters. An unusual, unpredictable thriller' Simone Campos, author of Nothing Can Hurt You Now
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2017
43 people are currently reading
2737 people want to read
About the author
Kang Hwagil
12 books13 followers강 화길 (Kang Hwagil) is a young Korean writer best known for her 2017 novel Dareun Saram (‘Others’) which won her the Hankyoreh Literature Award as well as a Young Authors’ Prize. She was heralded by the Hankyoreh panel as a ‘new voice’ and received much praise for her fearlessly honest portrayal of Korean society, carrying a confrontational message. A champion of feminist writing in her own right, Kang is often mentioned in one breath with Cho Namjoo, whose Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 brought gender equality and #MeToo to the forefront of South-Korea’s national debate, following its publication in 2016. Kang’s hit novel, like Cho’s, seems to have struck a chord also by way of its unembellished style. She excels in sparse, almost understated prose, leaving the reader to appreciate, in its purest form, the gravity of what is being said.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
May 26, 2023
Kang Hwagil (Hwa-gil) is considered one of a “new wave” of South Korean, feminist writers and her award-winning novel, first published in 2017, works well as a companion piece to books like Kim Yijoung, Born 1982. Kang opens in Seoul with Jina who is flailing from the aftermath of an abusive relationship with an older, more senior colleague. Jina’s decision to publicise her experiences has made her the focus of a virulent, online hate campaign and harassment from former managers and co-workers. But for Jina one comment in particular stands out, posted as an anonymous tweet it’s a potent reminder of incidents from her past as an undergraduate at a provincial university. Incidents which revolved around another student Ha Yuri, who’s now dead, a woman who reached out to Jina for help which Jina failed to provide.
Presented in a variety of styles and from a number of different perspectives, Kang’s narrative can be a little bewildering at times, interweaving Jina’s present with Jina’s attempts to work out what happened to Ha Yuri and why she died - just as Jina has to piece together fragments of the past so do Kang’s readers. At first Jina, Yuri, and the other women, who surface in the novel appear to represent individual trauma resulting from emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse but as this unfolds it’s clear it’s actually a broader exploration of a damaged and damaging society. One in which violence against women – and sometimes against men – has become systemic. Deeply hierarchical, patriarchal social structures - from education to law to corporations – social inequalities, and a fiercely competitive environment all serve to foster an underlying culture of toxic masculinity and, often, internalised misogyny.
Through her characters Kang constructs a portrait of a world pervaded by anxiety. One in which fear of social stigma or social isolation prevents frank discussions or debates about widespread forms of abuse. A place which provides the perfect breeding ground for myriad forms of coercion and violence, further fuelled by generational divides and backlash anti-feminist movements. All of which in turn contribute to Korea’s high rate of death by suicide. Although overall I thought this was flawed and frequently overly ambitious, it could also be tense, atmospheric and unexpectedly moving, a powerful plea for solidarity and collective action. Translated by Clare Richards.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Pushkin Press for an ARC
Presented in a variety of styles and from a number of different perspectives, Kang’s narrative can be a little bewildering at times, interweaving Jina’s present with Jina’s attempts to work out what happened to Ha Yuri and why she died - just as Jina has to piece together fragments of the past so do Kang’s readers. At first Jina, Yuri, and the other women, who surface in the novel appear to represent individual trauma resulting from emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse but as this unfolds it’s clear it’s actually a broader exploration of a damaged and damaging society. One in which violence against women – and sometimes against men – has become systemic. Deeply hierarchical, patriarchal social structures - from education to law to corporations – social inequalities, and a fiercely competitive environment all serve to foster an underlying culture of toxic masculinity and, often, internalised misogyny.
Through her characters Kang constructs a portrait of a world pervaded by anxiety. One in which fear of social stigma or social isolation prevents frank discussions or debates about widespread forms of abuse. A place which provides the perfect breeding ground for myriad forms of coercion and violence, further fuelled by generational divides and backlash anti-feminist movements. All of which in turn contribute to Korea’s high rate of death by suicide. Although overall I thought this was flawed and frequently overly ambitious, it could also be tense, atmospheric and unexpectedly moving, a powerful plea for solidarity and collective action. Translated by Clare Richards.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Pushkin Press for an ARC
April 10, 2024
Gender issues are at the forefront of this compelling novel, which explores abusive relationships, sexual assault, slut shaming and sexism in contemporary Korea. Needless to say, it’s a heavy read, but absolutely an important one.
What I found most interesting about this book were its explorations of how societal sexism encourages women to turn on one another, and how a serial predator can convince himself he’s just misunderstood. The multi-POV format puts us inside the heads of a number of characters (who range from sympathetic to utterly vile), in order to give us the whole story.
Though this book is short and moves at a fast pace, its message will stick with you long after you finish reading it.
What I found most interesting about this book were its explorations of how societal sexism encourages women to turn on one another, and how a serial predator can convince himself he’s just misunderstood. The multi-POV format puts us inside the heads of a number of characters (who range from sympathetic to utterly vile), in order to give us the whole story.
Though this book is short and moves at a fast pace, its message will stick with you long after you finish reading it.
August 9, 2023
A strange post caught my eye. I read it slowly. My hand began to tremble.
"김진아는 거짓말 쟁이다. 진공청소기 같은 년."
“Kim Jina is a liar. Vacuum cleaner bitch.”
Another Person (2023) is Clare Richard’s translation of 다른 사람 by 강화길 (Kang Hwagil), a leading feminist author in Korea, but who has previously only had shorter works translated, notably the wonderful Demons (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...).
The novel opens with our main narrator, Jina, at home is Seoul, scrolling through social media posts about her.
I haven’t left my flat in three months.
*
Stupid woman.
Today, too, people hated me. I was spending today, like every other day, alone at home, reading articles and comments written about me.
She had been in an abusive relationship with a coworker, who regularly hit and sexually assaulted her.
I remembered that feeling every time he gripped me like a wrinkled mound of clothes. He clearly loved me. He’d just changed a little. Surely he can change again? Surely he can go back to how he was before? Maybe he’s just tired. Maybe he’s a bit depressed, finding it difficult to cope with the stress. Could I have made him feel lonely? Then maybe it’s my fault. I didn’t read the situation; I didn’t pick up on it first—it’s my fault. I’ll try harder. If I treat him better, if I remind him of how he used to feel about me, we can go back to being happy, like we were at the beginning. ‘I’m an affectionate person. You’re just not bringing it out in me. Can’t you help me show my affectionate side?’
그가 나를 구겨진 옷더미처럼 대할 때마다 그 감정을 기억했다. 그는 나를 분명 사랑했다. 그는 단지 조금 달라졌을 뿐이다. 그렇다면 또 달라질 수 있지 않을까. 이전처럼 돌아올 수 있지 않을까. 어쩌면 그는 조금 피곤한 건지도 모른다. 감당하기 힘든 스트레스 탓에 조금 우울해진 걸지도 모른다. 내가 그를 외롭게 한 건 아닐까. 그러면 내 잘못일지도 모른다. 내가 그걸 헤아리지 못했으니, 먼저 알아채지 못했으니, 잘못한 것이다. 노력하자. 내가 그에게 잘한다면, 그가 나를 보고 느꼈던 감정을 다시 느끼게 한다면 우리는 처음처럼 행복해질 것이다. 나를 세 번째로 때린 날, 그는 내게 말했다. “나는 다정한 사람이야. 네가 내 안의 다정함을 끌어내지 못하는 거야. 내가 다정해질 수 있도록 도와줄 수는 없겠어?
She eventually decided to take action, going to the police and making her allegations public, only to find that, after a protracted period when he wasn’t even suspended from his job, he was given a just a small fine at the trial and instead her case is discussed both by her coworkers and also in public forums, with many blaming her for what happened.
But then one particular post - see the opening quote - rings some unwelcome bells and takes her back to her university days in Anjin, a provincial town in North Jeolla:
It’s that memory of Yuri—the girl they called vacuum cleaner—driving the words into my chest. How they treated her, the way people talked—I remember it all clearly. Calling me a liar. And why drag the dead into it? My whole body turned hot. Whoever wrote this definitely knows me. For sure. Me, twelve years ago. Twenty year-old Kim Jina. Someone who knew Yuri. Pulling me into memories of that time; shaming me. Because back then, Yuri had been our department’s vacuum cleaner, and I the liar.
(Yes, you guessed it, Yuri was called that because "she’d suck anything")
Most of the novel then unfolds in Anjin, as Jina travels back there, trying to find who might have sent the post, untangling Yuri's story (who died when they were at university in a hit and run accident, but had been suicidal in the run up to her death) and uncovering some present day, related, cases of sexual harassment.
The narration switches between a number of first and close third person perspectives, and this is a novel where most of the characters are flawed. For example there is female professor, Lee Kanghyun, who has a reputation as a feminist and is the first place most female students turn to if they have been harassed or assaulted, but who, while showing sympathy, is actually calculating how she can use the situation to her advantage within the university hierarchy.
In literary terms Jane Eyre is referenced as well as the rape of Marianne which is at the heart of Joyce Carol Oates’s We Were the Mulvaneys.
And this should all add up to a fascinating novel. Ultimately though I'm afraid it didn't work for me - the discussions of the character's college days take up much of the text and all get a bit "A claimed that B is secretly hooking up with C while dating D, as A would like to date D instead of E", and the more interesting (for me) angle of workplace harrassment, with which the novel begins, was never really explored. And compared to my expectations from Demons, this was a rather conventional story.
A rather reluctant 2.5 stars. Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the ARC.
"김진아는 거짓말 쟁이다. 진공청소기 같은 년."
“Kim Jina is a liar. Vacuum cleaner bitch.”
Another Person (2023) is Clare Richard’s translation of 다른 사람 by 강화길 (Kang Hwagil), a leading feminist author in Korea, but who has previously only had shorter works translated, notably the wonderful Demons (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...).
The novel opens with our main narrator, Jina, at home is Seoul, scrolling through social media posts about her.
I haven’t left my flat in three months.
*
Stupid woman.
Today, too, people hated me. I was spending today, like every other day, alone at home, reading articles and comments written about me.
She had been in an abusive relationship with a coworker, who regularly hit and sexually assaulted her.
I remembered that feeling every time he gripped me like a wrinkled mound of clothes. He clearly loved me. He’d just changed a little. Surely he can change again? Surely he can go back to how he was before? Maybe he’s just tired. Maybe he’s a bit depressed, finding it difficult to cope with the stress. Could I have made him feel lonely? Then maybe it’s my fault. I didn’t read the situation; I didn’t pick up on it first—it’s my fault. I’ll try harder. If I treat him better, if I remind him of how he used to feel about me, we can go back to being happy, like we were at the beginning. ‘I’m an affectionate person. You’re just not bringing it out in me. Can’t you help me show my affectionate side?’
그가 나를 구겨진 옷더미처럼 대할 때마다 그 감정을 기억했다. 그는 나를 분명 사랑했다. 그는 단지 조금 달라졌을 뿐이다. 그렇다면 또 달라질 수 있지 않을까. 이전처럼 돌아올 수 있지 않을까. 어쩌면 그는 조금 피곤한 건지도 모른다. 감당하기 힘든 스트레스 탓에 조금 우울해진 걸지도 모른다. 내가 그를 외롭게 한 건 아닐까. 그러면 내 잘못일지도 모른다. 내가 그걸 헤아리지 못했으니, 먼저 알아채지 못했으니, 잘못한 것이다. 노력하자. 내가 그에게 잘한다면, 그가 나를 보고 느꼈던 감정을 다시 느끼게 한다면 우리는 처음처럼 행복해질 것이다. 나를 세 번째로 때린 날, 그는 내게 말했다. “나는 다정한 사람이야. 네가 내 안의 다정함을 끌어내지 못하는 거야. 내가 다정해질 수 있도록 도와줄 수는 없겠어?
She eventually decided to take action, going to the police and making her allegations public, only to find that, after a protracted period when he wasn’t even suspended from his job, he was given a just a small fine at the trial and instead her case is discussed both by her coworkers and also in public forums, with many blaming her for what happened.
But then one particular post - see the opening quote - rings some unwelcome bells and takes her back to her university days in Anjin, a provincial town in North Jeolla:
It’s that memory of Yuri—the girl they called vacuum cleaner—driving the words into my chest. How they treated her, the way people talked—I remember it all clearly. Calling me a liar. And why drag the dead into it? My whole body turned hot. Whoever wrote this definitely knows me. For sure. Me, twelve years ago. Twenty year-old Kim Jina. Someone who knew Yuri. Pulling me into memories of that time; shaming me. Because back then, Yuri had been our department’s vacuum cleaner, and I the liar.
(Yes, you guessed it, Yuri was called that because "she’d suck anything")
Most of the novel then unfolds in Anjin, as Jina travels back there, trying to find who might have sent the post, untangling Yuri's story (who died when they were at university in a hit and run accident, but had been suicidal in the run up to her death) and uncovering some present day, related, cases of sexual harassment.
The narration switches between a number of first and close third person perspectives, and this is a novel where most of the characters are flawed. For example there is female professor, Lee Kanghyun, who has a reputation as a feminist and is the first place most female students turn to if they have been harassed or assaulted, but who, while showing sympathy, is actually calculating how she can use the situation to her advantage within the university hierarchy.
In literary terms Jane Eyre is referenced as well as the rape of Marianne which is at the heart of Joyce Carol Oates’s We Were the Mulvaneys.
And this should all add up to a fascinating novel. Ultimately though I'm afraid it didn't work for me - the discussions of the character's college days take up much of the text and all get a bit "A claimed that B is secretly hooking up with C while dating D, as A would like to date D instead of E", and the more interesting (for me) angle of workplace harrassment, with which the novel begins, was never really explored. And compared to my expectations from Demons, this was a rather conventional story.
A rather reluctant 2.5 stars. Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the ARC.
July 7, 2024
Another Person opens with Jina checking social media to see what people are saying about her after she made a very public post about being sexually assaulted at work. Jina is unable to just “turn it off” as her friend suggests so she spirals knowing that no matter how brave she was in confronting her assaulter she will always be victim blamed.
The book follows Jina as she comes to terms to what is it like being a woman in Korea, how she must conform and what happens when she does now. She tries to piece together what happened to her, how she became a victim, all while trying to find out who is writing these things about her. Jina goes back to her University town to see her friends, and tries to piece together her life and the life of a friend she lost tragically.
I really enjoyed this book, it is a short read but it moves fast and it is very impactful. The author does a great job of taking us into the world of Jine and showing us what she is going through. I loved that there were different POVs throughout the story because it make it more layered and engaging.
Read this one!
The book follows Jina as she comes to terms to what is it like being a woman in Korea, how she must conform and what happens when she does now. She tries to piece together what happened to her, how she became a victim, all while trying to find out who is writing these things about her. Jina goes back to her University town to see her friends, and tries to piece together her life and the life of a friend she lost tragically.
I really enjoyed this book, it is a short read but it moves fast and it is very impactful. The author does a great job of taking us into the world of Jine and showing us what she is going through. I loved that there were different POVs throughout the story because it make it more layered and engaging.
Read this one!
July 19, 2024
There’s no question this is a searing and timely novel, however maybe it was the translation but the writing felt disjointed and stilted and was hard to follow. It’s largely internal dialogue and a whole lot of telling the audience, not showing. I was not sure how the beginning of the novel linked to the end, as the beginning storyline sort of disappeared unresolved halfway through the book.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
April 28, 2024
Another Person is a novel about sexual assault, rape culture, and gender in South Korea.
I figured I’d give it five stars just because of the topic, but I found the book’s structure and writing very messy and disjointed. It’s an introspective book about Kim Jina who is raped and physically assaulted by her own boyfriend (who is also her sunbae at university and co-worker).
Throughout the novel, we see what work and university colleagues say about her and then she tries to reclaim her narrative, but it somehow comes up very messy and it is different to engage with the book. There are lots of rhetorical questions and meandering thoughts, which is realistic for the diary of a person, but for a fictional book, it just felt very redundant and directionless. This may have been the point, but I personally didn’t enjoy reading it and I didn’t think this book said anything new. I did like the aspect of Jina reclaiming her narrative, but the way it was done through rhetorical questions didn’t really work for me.
The book also links her story with ones of other South Korean women who went through different things: Lee Kanghyun a professor who loves academia (?) but struggles with harassment and Ha Yuri who used to be nicknamed ‘vacuum cleaner’ by everyone because she’d suck anything. Again, this is presented so Jina criticizes what they went through, but again with moralistic rhetorical questions and meandering thoughts that I think blurred the message of those segments? I don’t know, it didn’t work for me and I’m sad.
*ARC received for free, this didn’t impact my review.
I figured I’d give it five stars just because of the topic, but I found the book’s structure and writing very messy and disjointed. It’s an introspective book about Kim Jina who is raped and physically assaulted by her own boyfriend (who is also her sunbae at university and co-worker).
Throughout the novel, we see what work and university colleagues say about her and then she tries to reclaim her narrative, but it somehow comes up very messy and it is different to engage with the book. There are lots of rhetorical questions and meandering thoughts, which is realistic for the diary of a person, but for a fictional book, it just felt very redundant and directionless. This may have been the point, but I personally didn’t enjoy reading it and I didn’t think this book said anything new. I did like the aspect of Jina reclaiming her narrative, but the way it was done through rhetorical questions didn’t really work for me.
The book also links her story with ones of other South Korean women who went through different things: Lee Kanghyun a professor who loves academia (?) but struggles with harassment and Ha Yuri who used to be nicknamed ‘vacuum cleaner’ by everyone because she’d suck anything. Again, this is presented so Jina criticizes what they went through, but again with moralistic rhetorical questions and meandering thoughts that I think blurred the message of those segments? I don’t know, it didn’t work for me and I’m sad.
*ARC received for free, this didn’t impact my review.
August 22, 2023
"To see myself in that same way. To become another person. A person totally distinct from this someone I can't understand, don't want to understand. I want to heave a deep sign and call out my own name."
There's something about books with unreliable narrators that keeps you going, and this story with its messy characters and the reflection of the society in which showed the repercussions to victims when their voices had been repressed. A gray area that was used by the ones with higher advantage, by those who hold more power than they already think they have. In the oppression of women and their bodies, and mostly highlighting of the toxic culture that has been cultivated in education systems and the power play that revolves around it.
Honestly, I don't want to spoil the story that much to you guys. Its best to go into the book blind. What you'll have to know is that, for those who will be triggered by depiction of sexual assault, abuse, extreme gaslighting and rape , please proceed this book with caution. It contains a lot of scenes that are highly disturbing and the spiralling in one's mind, especially when it comes to going in the minds of a victim.
Looking back at the cover, the title and even thinking about the ending, I do feel that the author is quite the genius that she is. This book might not be for everyone, and there are parts in the book that I felt was longer than I expected, especially where the college drama had started. But, I do understand where the author is going ahead with the story, but I do wish that the issues stated at the front of the story narrated by one of the characters, had its own closure. However, in some ways, the imperfection of the book makes it more intriguing. I absolutely loved the different narrators in the story, especially in the first part of the book.
Overall, this book might not be for everyone, but its a book that spoke on the violence that has been done to women and how it had affected the victims longer than what the perpretors remembers. Its often ironic that when a crime is done, the one who is in on the receiving end was the one more affected by the ones inflicted on it. It also showed how some people will never really change, and that the perspectives of the characters in the story were told in such a way that can make you change your thoughts on them. Paired with sharp proses that will pierce your heart, this story is definitely one that I will remember for a long time.
4.25🌟 for this gem
Thank you so much to @definitelybooks for this copy!
April 23, 2023
I was having so much afterthought after finishing each chapter in this book; the central issues were all provoking much and quite depressing as it relates mostly on gender prejudice and psychological trauma (of rape, bullying and suicidal thought) that explored a deep perspective on relationship abuse, of toxic culture as well on morality and resentment. None of the characters were likeable to me but I love how the execution delved poignantly into each of the characters’ stories; of their personal lives, emotional rants, concerns and anxieties.
The plot followed Jina’s life after she decided to go public on her workplace sexual assault case that gets her trapped into a memory from the past due to one malicious comment she received. She returned to her university to find a closure but involved into another series of conflicts after meeting Sujin; a friend turned enemy as well to learn an unexpected news about her ex boyfriend, Donghee and the real truth about Yuri, the girl who has tragically and mysteriously died in an accident not long before Jina left the university.
The multi-layered prose with its alternating perspectives can be hard to grasp at times due to the back and forth timelines but I like how the author engrossingly observed the toxic workplace and campus culture— of victim blaming vs victim complex and the misogynistic issue which were quite harrowingly explored. Love the fairly executed tale as the author managed to emphasize that these problematic and distressing event can inversely encountered by men as well; an alarming ‘another person’ situation that can impacted anyone in any ways.
Both expressive and delicate storytelling which I fancied the most and I like that pinch of mystery with Yuri’s narrative. Bit expected on the revelation part yet I still enjoyed Jina’s way in confronting the truth and how she and Sujin decided for the ending. Do take note on the TWs esp of rape and abuse as few scenes might be triggering to few. A recommendation to fans of Korean literature if you’re into feminism and mental health related read. 4.3 stars to this!
Huge thanks to Pushkin Press for the gifted proof copy!
The plot followed Jina’s life after she decided to go public on her workplace sexual assault case that gets her trapped into a memory from the past due to one malicious comment she received. She returned to her university to find a closure but involved into another series of conflicts after meeting Sujin; a friend turned enemy as well to learn an unexpected news about her ex boyfriend, Donghee and the real truth about Yuri, the girl who has tragically and mysteriously died in an accident not long before Jina left the university.
The multi-layered prose with its alternating perspectives can be hard to grasp at times due to the back and forth timelines but I like how the author engrossingly observed the toxic workplace and campus culture— of victim blaming vs victim complex and the misogynistic issue which were quite harrowingly explored. Love the fairly executed tale as the author managed to emphasize that these problematic and distressing event can inversely encountered by men as well; an alarming ‘another person’ situation that can impacted anyone in any ways.
Both expressive and delicate storytelling which I fancied the most and I like that pinch of mystery with Yuri’s narrative. Bit expected on the revelation part yet I still enjoyed Jina’s way in confronting the truth and how she and Sujin decided for the ending. Do take note on the TWs esp of rape and abuse as few scenes might be triggering to few. A recommendation to fans of Korean literature if you’re into feminism and mental health related read. 4.3 stars to this!
Huge thanks to Pushkin Press for the gifted proof copy!
March 11, 2023
As a fan of translated fiction this novel caught my eye. I was also interested on a South Korean perspective on the #MeToo movement, and in trying some feminist fiction in translation.
The story focuses on a protagonist who is caught up in the past, going over arguments and seemingly finding it hard to let go of friend dramas from her university days. Much of the novel was an internal monologue with a lot of rhetorical questions being asked - whether this was a direct translation of the original text or the translators choice I can't say, but the text sometimes felt jilted and awkward. Either way, the combination of this didn't make for an engaging story and the novel failed to keep my interest.
Thank you Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the advance copy, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.
The story focuses on a protagonist who is caught up in the past, going over arguments and seemingly finding it hard to let go of friend dramas from her university days. Much of the novel was an internal monologue with a lot of rhetorical questions being asked - whether this was a direct translation of the original text or the translators choice I can't say, but the text sometimes felt jilted and awkward. Either way, the combination of this didn't make for an engaging story and the novel failed to keep my interest.
Thank you Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the advance copy, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2024
A compelling novel that explored on violence againts women, sexism, sexual assault, the degradation of women in patriarchal society and the internalised misogny bellied the society. Reading this made me sick as I saw how real and raw these abuses perpetrated against these women, how deceptive online bullying happened in the world where victims are turned into vicious people while the perpetrator get sympathized.
In a desperate attempt to reclaim back her narrative, Kim Jina exposed her sexual assault & abused experience by her senior boyfriend in her workplace. Instead of being trusted by her accounts, she was condemned by her colleagues, her boss and the hateful comments online. One particular comment caught her eyes - Kim Jina is a liar. Stupid vacuum cleaner - a comment that triggered her bad memories during college that featured a girl named Ha Yuri and a long lost friend turned enemy Sujin.
Thus, the story took many alternating perspectives & various timelines to showcased the tragic past. The narrative can feel confusing yet to me its clever and intriguing enough to get me keep reading. I was struck by how horrible the mistreatment, the unfair equality, misogynism, the shamed sexism, how sexual assaults are always get sweeped under the rug, the unfairness of it all. This story meant for these women to take back their narrative, to tell their story, to let their voices being heard.
Thank you to Pushkin Press and Edelweiss Book for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review
In a desperate attempt to reclaim back her narrative, Kim Jina exposed her sexual assault & abused experience by her senior boyfriend in her workplace. Instead of being trusted by her accounts, she was condemned by her colleagues, her boss and the hateful comments online. One particular comment caught her eyes - Kim Jina is a liar. Stupid vacuum cleaner - a comment that triggered her bad memories during college that featured a girl named Ha Yuri and a long lost friend turned enemy Sujin.
Thus, the story took many alternating perspectives & various timelines to showcased the tragic past. The narrative can feel confusing yet to me its clever and intriguing enough to get me keep reading. I was struck by how horrible the mistreatment, the unfair equality, misogynism, the shamed sexism, how sexual assaults are always get sweeped under the rug, the unfairness of it all. This story meant for these women to take back their narrative, to tell their story, to let their voices being heard.
Thank you to Pushkin Press and Edelweiss Book for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review
September 19, 2023
This novel is tough to review. The effort and integrity of tackling this relevant topic deserves 5 stars and even though I wasn't completely unaware of gender roles and the importance of (female) beauty in modern Korea, I found myself shaking my head in disbelief many times. Most contemporary Korean publications touch on the subject in one way or another but never to the extend Kang has done (if anyone has feedback here, please let me know).
I'm being deliberately vague here in my review as certain buzzwords cause biases in most of us and this book deserves a blank canvass.
Having said all that (without saying too much muahahahah) I found the story hard to follow at times. Naming conventions, jumping between past and present plus different characters perspectives was at bit much for my little brain. I don't think this would do well as an audiobook. Just sayin'. 3.5stars rounded up to 4.
I'm being deliberately vague here in my review as certain buzzwords cause biases in most of us and this book deserves a blank canvass.
Having said all that (without saying too much muahahahah) I found the story hard to follow at times. Naming conventions, jumping between past and present plus different characters perspectives was at bit much for my little brain. I don't think this would do well as an audiobook. Just sayin'. 3.5stars rounded up to 4.
April 28, 2023
i think the stories and ideas in this book are so insightful and important but in terms of the execution i think there was just a bit too much going on in this book and i often felt lost
December 30, 2023
Another Person is a very raw and hard-going campus novel about rape culture, sexual assault, and the importance of supporting victims and recognising the #MeToo movement.
There has been a wave of Korean novels examining sexual assault in the academic and work spaces, such as the novels of Cho Nam-Joo and ‘Violets’ by Kyung-sook Shin, however Another Person feels so visceral and uncomfortable compared to those. Its examination of abuse and sexual harassment is so unrepentant and blunt. The writing was fresh and sharp and keeps you reading despite the devastating plot unfolding in front of you.
It is described as a gothic campus novel but I wouldn’t say I really felt anything gothic radiating from this book. The way it is structured is definitely what leans towards it as it jumps between different characters and time periods and is lengthy in its descriptions of scenes rather than using speech to move the novel forward. But it was done really well and I never found myself burdened down with text. The campus setting doesn’t really take as much precedence as promised but I liked that the story spanned a good decade and left the campus behind as it felt that more emotional when it came to its close.
This isn’t a book for everybody and its sharpness makes it a tense and uneasy read at times but it is one I couldn’t tear myself away from for long. Such important themes are discussed in it and the relationships between the characters are tangled so cleverly. If you are a fan of Korean feminist fiction then I definitely recommend this.
There has been a wave of Korean novels examining sexual assault in the academic and work spaces, such as the novels of Cho Nam-Joo and ‘Violets’ by Kyung-sook Shin, however Another Person feels so visceral and uncomfortable compared to those. Its examination of abuse and sexual harassment is so unrepentant and blunt. The writing was fresh and sharp and keeps you reading despite the devastating plot unfolding in front of you.
It is described as a gothic campus novel but I wouldn’t say I really felt anything gothic radiating from this book. The way it is structured is definitely what leans towards it as it jumps between different characters and time periods and is lengthy in its descriptions of scenes rather than using speech to move the novel forward. But it was done really well and I never found myself burdened down with text. The campus setting doesn’t really take as much precedence as promised but I liked that the story spanned a good decade and left the campus behind as it felt that more emotional when it came to its close.
This isn’t a book for everybody and its sharpness makes it a tense and uneasy read at times but it is one I couldn’t tear myself away from for long. Such important themes are discussed in it and the relationships between the characters are tangled so cleverly. If you are a fan of Korean feminist fiction then I definitely recommend this.
July 16, 2024
2024: I wanted to re-read this book for an event with the translator, and I am still loving it! It's a very interesting perspective on Korea, and most specifically on the violence done to Korean women. I'll just warn my fellow readers that some passages can be very triggering.
2023: Another Person is the newly-translated upcoming novel by Kang Hwagil, translated by Clare Richards (@clarehannahmary). It will be released on June 1st, 2023, by @pushkin_press.
Okay, simply put: I loved this book!
(Thanks Kang Hwagil and Clare for wrecking my feelings.🥲)
I think what fascinated me the most with this book was the language of perpetual violence used by the different narrators to survive. If I even had to summarise the book in four words, that would be: 'a story of survival'. These are the stories of (mainly) three women–Jina, Sujin, and Yuri—that recognise in each other the trauma and violence they were victims of, and who can't help but hurt each other in horrible ways in order to avoid being labelled a 'victim of sexual violence'. Their fights for survival mirror the culture around gender and sexuality in South Korea, around what a woman should and should not do in order to be accepted by others—to avoid a social death.
But it's also the entangled stories of those women who survive through silence and pain, and those who don't. Twenty years of silence are enough for Jina and, when in trial against her abuser she reads an online platform where she's called a "Vacuum Cleaner B*", she is once again thrust back into the past, before Yuri's death. She remembers those moments when she abandoned a friend who needed her help the most, the horrible man she dated who made her believe she had a "victim complex," her feminist teacher who had a bad breath and used female victims' vulnerability to her advantage, etc.
Every story is linked. Every detail matters. But what especially matter is what you make with them, what you make, as readers, of all that. Being curious, before writing this review I read those of readers who read it before me.
And I was shocked to read some of them. While some reviewers state that it is a "conventional" story, which eventually felt "disengaging," others pointed out how "gossipy" the narrative voices were. It made me think of Melissa Febos's novel Bodywork, when she writes: "Don't tell me that you think there's not enough room for another story about sexual abuse, motherhood, or racism. The only way to make room is to drag all stories into that room. That's how it gets bigger. You write it, and I will read it."
It struck me how women's sexual discrimination have become so unwanted by readers, how they have become too common to read and, when they are, how "disengaging" and "relentless" they felt. But what do you expect when you live with trauma? The only way to get rid of it is to face it, to write it down, to gather all the pieces which had direct consequences on your life to eventually come to find a door to exit the cyclical schemas inscribed in your life. Kang Hwagil isn't writing a memoir/autofiction, but the story of those who have yet to find the courage to express theirs. And those who will never have the possibility to do so.
As for the "gossipy" argument, I think they're right. It does feel gossipy, but for a reason. Often during my reading, it felt like watching a documentary, like having a direct visual of a witness revealing their truth to the camera. It reminded me of what I read in Jung Hawon's Flower of Fire: women's privacy being threatened by spycams or needing to be purposefully divulgated to the police for proving they didn't lie. A liar, that's what Jina is always called, too. To avoid being dragged to court for defamation, the only thing Jina can do is search for people whose little threads of truth can progressively lead to a general truth.
So eventually, many narrative choices in this novel were brilliant, in my opinion. I think Clare did a wonderful job translating everything into English!!
I would strongly encourage people to read Another Person when it's out!
2023: Another Person is the newly-translated upcoming novel by Kang Hwagil, translated by Clare Richards (@clarehannahmary). It will be released on June 1st, 2023, by @pushkin_press.
Okay, simply put: I loved this book!
(Thanks Kang Hwagil and Clare for wrecking my feelings.🥲)
I think what fascinated me the most with this book was the language of perpetual violence used by the different narrators to survive. If I even had to summarise the book in four words, that would be: 'a story of survival'. These are the stories of (mainly) three women–Jina, Sujin, and Yuri—that recognise in each other the trauma and violence they were victims of, and who can't help but hurt each other in horrible ways in order to avoid being labelled a 'victim of sexual violence'. Their fights for survival mirror the culture around gender and sexuality in South Korea, around what a woman should and should not do in order to be accepted by others—to avoid a social death.
But it's also the entangled stories of those women who survive through silence and pain, and those who don't. Twenty years of silence are enough for Jina and, when in trial against her abuser she reads an online platform where she's called a "Vacuum Cleaner B*", she is once again thrust back into the past, before Yuri's death. She remembers those moments when she abandoned a friend who needed her help the most, the horrible man she dated who made her believe she had a "victim complex," her feminist teacher who had a bad breath and used female victims' vulnerability to her advantage, etc.
Every story is linked. Every detail matters. But what especially matter is what you make with them, what you make, as readers, of all that. Being curious, before writing this review I read those of readers who read it before me.
And I was shocked to read some of them. While some reviewers state that it is a "conventional" story, which eventually felt "disengaging," others pointed out how "gossipy" the narrative voices were. It made me think of Melissa Febos's novel Bodywork, when she writes: "Don't tell me that you think there's not enough room for another story about sexual abuse, motherhood, or racism. The only way to make room is to drag all stories into that room. That's how it gets bigger. You write it, and I will read it."
It struck me how women's sexual discrimination have become so unwanted by readers, how they have become too common to read and, when they are, how "disengaging" and "relentless" they felt. But what do you expect when you live with trauma? The only way to get rid of it is to face it, to write it down, to gather all the pieces which had direct consequences on your life to eventually come to find a door to exit the cyclical schemas inscribed in your life. Kang Hwagil isn't writing a memoir/autofiction, but the story of those who have yet to find the courage to express theirs. And those who will never have the possibility to do so.
As for the "gossipy" argument, I think they're right. It does feel gossipy, but for a reason. Often during my reading, it felt like watching a documentary, like having a direct visual of a witness revealing their truth to the camera. It reminded me of what I read in Jung Hawon's Flower of Fire: women's privacy being threatened by spycams or needing to be purposefully divulgated to the police for proving they didn't lie. A liar, that's what Jina is always called, too. To avoid being dragged to court for defamation, the only thing Jina can do is search for people whose little threads of truth can progressively lead to a general truth.
So eventually, many narrative choices in this novel were brilliant, in my opinion. I think Clare did a wonderful job translating everything into English!!
I would strongly encourage people to read Another Person when it's out!
January 27, 2024
Another Person was an interesting and thought-provoking story. I liked the way the author kept introducing new angles, so you were constantly forced to re-evaluate who was in the right and who was telling the truth, perhaps the final thought being that the truth of any given situation can vary based on the position of the different people involved. It shone a light on a number of complex issues, really making you think about them from different perspectives. It's clearly a feminist work, yet it also allowed room for other viewpoints. This book won't be for everyone, given its subject matter, but I found it a thoughtful and well-written read, so I am giving it four stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2023
what a powerful book. this broke my heart, but it is definitely a relevant read.
think, the feminist ideals of kim jiyoung + the storytelling like the perfect world of miwako sumida + the narrative structure of penance.
full review to come soon!
thank you for the gifted ARC, Pushkin Press. 🤍
think, the feminist ideals of kim jiyoung + the storytelling like the perfect world of miwako sumida + the narrative structure of penance.
full review to come soon!
thank you for the gifted ARC, Pushkin Press. 🤍
April 8, 2023
❛I wish emotions were something you could choose to feel❜
This is one of those books that are genre-defying. It paces like a thriller, draws theories like a mystery, but vibrates with current affairs: the shadow pandemic of sexual assault.
The storyline opens when Jina, a young woman, is hiding out in her apartment, and agoraphobe of sorts, due to the harassment she has undergone for speaking up, and speaking out against her perpetrator - and thus winning her case against him.
When scrolling through comments online painting her as an attention- seeking, provocative liar, Jina is struck by a comment that transports her back to her university days, and more particularly, to an incident that claimed the life of a girl in her year who was labelled far worse things that she was.
What follows is a revisiting of old memories, past lives and ever-present traumas as Jina begins to piece together a patchwork of occurrences to find out what really happened to that girl. What is clear is that what Jina experienced is not unique to herself at all, and that there is always another person.
Another Person is a multifaceted recollection.
Another person relating to another victim, Another Person relating to who you constantly evolve into, Another Person relating to the dichotomy of perspective.
Kang Hwagil’s acerbic voice and personable writing unearths the predatory culture in universities and the contradiction in the duality of feminism - to advocate for women equality, but not stand in solidarity, women with women, when faced with a choice against a man - yet they coexist today.
A strong and climatic read that asks you who you are.
This is one of those books that are genre-defying. It paces like a thriller, draws theories like a mystery, but vibrates with current affairs: the shadow pandemic of sexual assault.
The storyline opens when Jina, a young woman, is hiding out in her apartment, and agoraphobe of sorts, due to the harassment she has undergone for speaking up, and speaking out against her perpetrator - and thus winning her case against him.
When scrolling through comments online painting her as an attention- seeking, provocative liar, Jina is struck by a comment that transports her back to her university days, and more particularly, to an incident that claimed the life of a girl in her year who was labelled far worse things that she was.
What follows is a revisiting of old memories, past lives and ever-present traumas as Jina begins to piece together a patchwork of occurrences to find out what really happened to that girl. What is clear is that what Jina experienced is not unique to herself at all, and that there is always another person.
Another Person is a multifaceted recollection.
Another person relating to another victim, Another Person relating to who you constantly evolve into, Another Person relating to the dichotomy of perspective.
Kang Hwagil’s acerbic voice and personable writing unearths the predatory culture in universities and the contradiction in the duality of feminism - to advocate for women equality, but not stand in solidarity, women with women, when faced with a choice against a man - yet they coexist today.
A strong and climatic read that asks you who you are.
August 24, 2024
ANOTHER PERSON revolves around Jina, a Korean woman assaulted at work and who shared a public post. Among the hateful comments, one particular comment stirs incidents from her past about a fellow university student Ha Yuri, who died tragically and mysteriously.
This book provides a sharp social commentary and it's a good companion with 'Kim Yijoung, Born 1982' - Kang highlights the systemic violence against (Korean) women, of people suffering abuse and perpetual violation, however facing social judgment and blamed for having a 'victim complex'. Told in multiple perspectives from a group of people intrinsically connected, it was utterly infuriating to witness people who are forced to conceal their brokenness, in the face of a toxic culture including misogyny.
The story is impactful at showing the social stigma about abuse through a cast of characters whose pain offers no warmth (as it should be), pain and memories echoing in their lives.
While relevant, my complaint is that this novel fell short in the execution, which the characters' thoughts felt trite and meandering; in addition, the more telling-than-showing narrative allied with a disjointed writing detracted from a deeper empathy with the characters.
ANOTHER PERSON (tr. Clare Richards) is a tense novel that sheds light on important issues. Regardless of its flaws, I would recommend this book for its message.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Pushkin Press . All opinions are my own ]
This book provides a sharp social commentary and it's a good companion with 'Kim Yijoung, Born 1982' - Kang highlights the systemic violence against (Korean) women, of people suffering abuse and perpetual violation, however facing social judgment and blamed for having a 'victim complex'. Told in multiple perspectives from a group of people intrinsically connected, it was utterly infuriating to witness people who are forced to conceal their brokenness, in the face of a toxic culture including misogyny.
The story is impactful at showing the social stigma about abuse through a cast of characters whose pain offers no warmth (as it should be), pain and memories echoing in their lives.
While relevant, my complaint is that this novel fell short in the execution, which the characters' thoughts felt trite and meandering; in addition, the more telling-than-showing narrative allied with a disjointed writing detracted from a deeper empathy with the characters.
ANOTHER PERSON (tr. Clare Richards) is a tense novel that sheds light on important issues. Regardless of its flaws, I would recommend this book for its message.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Pushkin Press . All opinions are my own ]
March 27, 2023
Thanks ever so much to @pushkin_press for sharing this title with me on @netgalley!
Another Person by Kang Hwagil
Rather regrettably, I have very little to say about this one, which is a huge shame, given how pressing its main themes are, especially within South Korean society. Looking through other people's reviews, I am relieved to see I am not alone in my opinion. One labels this book as 'relentless' and I am struck by how accurate that is. Ultimately, the shifting narrations drag on and, like others have pointed out, it veered on pure gossip for most of the text. Lots of 'he said, she said,' lots of internal monologue and rhetorical questions, but very little plot advancement.
It's fascinating to learn more about the treatment and mishandling of sexual harassment in South Korean society, especially within an academic setting, but I did find myself actively searching for some light relief, which never came. All of the characters were deeply flawed and I would go as far as to say they were actively horrible to each other. 300+ pages of this left me feeling deflated and desperate for a better world, truly hoping victims in real life can find the support they truly need, when they need it, before it's too late.
2.5/5
Another Person by Kang Hwagil
Rather regrettably, I have very little to say about this one, which is a huge shame, given how pressing its main themes are, especially within South Korean society. Looking through other people's reviews, I am relieved to see I am not alone in my opinion. One labels this book as 'relentless' and I am struck by how accurate that is. Ultimately, the shifting narrations drag on and, like others have pointed out, it veered on pure gossip for most of the text. Lots of 'he said, she said,' lots of internal monologue and rhetorical questions, but very little plot advancement.
It's fascinating to learn more about the treatment and mishandling of sexual harassment in South Korean society, especially within an academic setting, but I did find myself actively searching for some light relief, which never came. All of the characters were deeply flawed and I would go as far as to say they were actively horrible to each other. 300+ pages of this left me feeling deflated and desperate for a better world, truly hoping victims in real life can find the support they truly need, when they need it, before it's too late.
2.5/5
May 8, 2024
(This review is based on the eARC version of this book. Thanks to Pushkin Press for providing an eARC to review.)
Jina was a frustrating perspective to read from. She spread rumors about other people to cause drama. She felt more sorry for herself than for the damage she caused to the people she spread the rumors about. She then denied everything whenever she was asked about the truth. However, she went through some traumatic experiences, which gave her compassion for other women she previously disliked.
Other than the part in the beginning that focused on Jina's recent toxic relationship and being victim blamed by her workplace, the story centered on the past when Jina was a university student. The story then connected past events to the present. It's told mainly from Jina's third-person perspective but also switches to two other female students from the same town as her. While the story focused on the women's perspectives, there was also a guy who told Jina about his own traumatic experiences when he was younger.
Some parts were confusing to read. While Jina has some character growth, I would've liked to see her focus more on how her words hurt others. In the story, she felt guilty and then pitied herself, but didn't think deeply about how she shouldn't have spread rumors about others in the first place.
The story was interesting to read; it covered dark topics and was full of conflicting emotions. The characters were flawed but had some character development. I thought the story did well capturing the main characters' confusing emotions and indignation for what they went through.
(CW: toxic relationships, physical abuse, sexual assault, rape, emotional abuse, gaslighting, thoughts of suicide, mention of suicide attempts, and bullying)
Jina was a frustrating perspective to read from. She spread rumors about other people to cause drama. She felt more sorry for herself than for the damage she caused to the people she spread the rumors about. She then denied everything whenever she was asked about the truth. However, she went through some traumatic experiences, which gave her compassion for other women she previously disliked.
Other than the part in the beginning that focused on Jina's recent toxic relationship and being victim blamed by her workplace, the story centered on the past when Jina was a university student. The story then connected past events to the present. It's told mainly from Jina's third-person perspective but also switches to two other female students from the same town as her. While the story focused on the women's perspectives, there was also a guy who told Jina about his own traumatic experiences when he was younger.
Some parts were confusing to read. While Jina has some character growth, I would've liked to see her focus more on how her words hurt others. In the story, she felt guilty and then pitied herself, but didn't think deeply about how she shouldn't have spread rumors about others in the first place.
The story was interesting to read; it covered dark topics and was full of conflicting emotions. The characters were flawed but had some character development. I thought the story did well capturing the main characters' confusing emotions and indignation for what they went through.
(CW: toxic relationships, physical abuse, sexual assault, rape, emotional abuse, gaslighting, thoughts of suicide, mention of suicide attempts, and bullying)
February 18, 2024
This is a book about guilt, misperceptions, misrepresentations, misogyny. It's a book about things that happen to many women in their lives, the daily kind of abuse (not the horrific, over-detailed, movie-like and headline-making gore feasts) and the consent they have never given but was never needed anyway to justify actions for men. It's about manipulation and lies. It's also about 3 women who wanted to become ANOTHER PERSON, wanted to move on and re-invent themselves as the people they wanted to be or should have already been a long time ago. It's about crime and the punishment that often will not be served since we faced our problems too late and tried to make up for the lost time, or some people knew exactly they would be shielded by powerful forces in society. This is a story about systems and men, who should read and learn and think.
I think it's that deep, realistic and absolutely relevant.
I think it's that deep, realistic and absolutely relevant.
May 6, 2024
unfortunately I struggled to follow along exactly with the intersecting storylines due to the different styles of narration (switching between first, third and even second person sometimes within the same chapter/character whose narrating). The inconsistent use of speech marks also added to my confusion in piecing together the entire story. Despite this, the story interweaving various characters and times led to various moments where segments of the story clicked into place and the message of gender, sex and sexual assault was explored in various, hard hitting ways. I think I would’ve enjoyed it as a story more had it been more consistent in the narration however I am very thankful to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for allowing me to read this ahead of its publication in English.
July 8, 2024
Def not a light read! It’s one of those books you have to be in the mood for (and psychologically prepared to read).
Energy: Abashed. Raw. Resigned.
Scene: 🇰🇷 Anjin and Seoul, South Korea in the 1990s/2000s.
Perspective: We follow multiple perspectives giving their experiences around feminism, sexual abuse, misogyny, domestic violence, and unhealthy relationships. Sometimes we know who is speaking and other times they are peripheral to the main story. For example, a medical worker, a professor, a high school friend etc. Told in three parts.
🐕 Howls: Hyper-focus on trauma with repeating (not repetitive) exploration and commentary made this feel so long and dense sometimes.
🐩 Tail Wags: The snapshot essay style. Different viewpoints that show, not tell. Thought-provoking commentary and discussions. Excellent translation.
🤔 Random Thoughts:
Check content heads-up! This could be validating or super triggering and a little too accurate depending on your past experiences and where you are in your life journey right now.
I wouldn't say this is trauma porn, but there is a LOT and it’s the entire focus of every single chapter. Everything from rejection by peers to violent sexual abuse. I liked that the reveals helped me feel for the characters even when I didn’t understand their actions or was getting judgey. But (and this will sound awful) …it’s so focused on all the characters traumas that I forgot who experienced what as the stories start to overlap.
If you aren’t familiar with Korean naming, just have Google nearby to help you get the hang of it, then it'll be easier to keep track of characters
🤓 Reader Role: Characters speaking to us and thinking aloud. Others reflecting and we are privy to their thoughts via third person narrator who also assists with showing us the significance of events.
🗺️ World-Building: Barren. Mentions place names but we are mostly in the characters' minds or exploring concepts and commentary.
🔥 Fuel: Emotional investment, moral dilemmas, and crossing paths where seemingly unrelated characters stories overlap in surprising and meaningful ways.
📖 Cred: Hyper-realistic.
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Fresh grass. Misty lake. Ripe persimmon. Karaoke bar. Stained glass. Choral voices. Sobbing. Jane Eyre.
-Psychological literary fiction
-Show-more-than-tell commentary on power dynamics, abuse, misogyny, and victim blaming.
-Coming of age examination of friendships with consequences
-Stream of consciousness essay style
-Jumping between thoughts and characters
-Observational (from a distance) character focused narratives
-Book club/buddy read deep dives
-Topics from a 1990s/early 2000s viewpoint (unfortunately much is still relevant today)
-Second hand cringe, morally complex characters
-Symbolism and metaphors with a touch of purple prose
-Large cast of characters
-Random snapshot POVs that ultimately interconnect
Content Heads-Up: Physical assault. Victim shaming/blaming. Sexual assault, rape (by partner; intoxicated/no memory). Peer rejection. Bullying (rumours, body shaming). Misogyny. Medical (discussion; STIs, cervical cancer, pus). Alcohol (casual, parties). Possible false accusation. Abortion. Parental/in-law pressure. Suicidal ideation, planning (on page, descriptive). Loss of grandparent. Toxic masculinity. Body shaming (weight gain, ageing). Incest, pedophilia (very brief mention). Infertility.
Rep: Dark and light skin tones. Korean. Cisgender. Heterosexual.
📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from Pushkin Press and NetGalley.
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Energy: Abashed. Raw. Resigned.
Scene: 🇰🇷 Anjin and Seoul, South Korea in the 1990s/2000s.
Perspective: We follow multiple perspectives giving their experiences around feminism, sexual abuse, misogyny, domestic violence, and unhealthy relationships. Sometimes we know who is speaking and other times they are peripheral to the main story. For example, a medical worker, a professor, a high school friend etc. Told in three parts.
🐕 Howls: Hyper-focus on trauma with repeating (not repetitive) exploration and commentary made this feel so long and dense sometimes.
🐩 Tail Wags: The snapshot essay style. Different viewpoints that show, not tell. Thought-provoking commentary and discussions. Excellent translation.
🤔 Random Thoughts:
Check content heads-up! This could be validating or super triggering and a little too accurate depending on your past experiences and where you are in your life journey right now.
I wouldn't say this is trauma porn, but there is a LOT and it’s the entire focus of every single chapter. Everything from rejection by peers to violent sexual abuse. I liked that the reveals helped me feel for the characters even when I didn’t understand their actions or was getting judgey. But (and this will sound awful) …it’s so focused on all the characters traumas that I forgot who experienced what as the stories start to overlap.
If you aren’t familiar with Korean naming, just have Google nearby to help you get the hang of it, then it'll be easier to keep track of characters
🤓 Reader Role: Characters speaking to us and thinking aloud. Others reflecting and we are privy to their thoughts via third person narrator who also assists with showing us the significance of events.
🗺️ World-Building: Barren. Mentions place names but we are mostly in the characters' minds or exploring concepts and commentary.
🔥 Fuel: Emotional investment, moral dilemmas, and crossing paths where seemingly unrelated characters stories overlap in surprising and meaningful ways.
📖 Cred: Hyper-realistic.
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Fresh grass. Misty lake. Ripe persimmon. Karaoke bar. Stained glass. Choral voices. Sobbing. Jane Eyre.
-Psychological literary fiction
-Show-more-than-tell commentary on power dynamics, abuse, misogyny, and victim blaming.
-Coming of age examination of friendships with consequences
-Stream of consciousness essay style
-Jumping between thoughts and characters
-Observational (from a distance) character focused narratives
-Book club/buddy read deep dives
-Topics from a 1990s/early 2000s viewpoint (unfortunately much is still relevant today)
-Second hand cringe, morally complex characters
-Symbolism and metaphors with a touch of purple prose
-Large cast of characters
-Random snapshot POVs that ultimately interconnect
Content Heads-Up: Physical assault. Victim shaming/blaming. Sexual assault, rape (by partner; intoxicated/no memory). Peer rejection. Bullying (rumours, body shaming). Misogyny. Medical (discussion; STIs, cervical cancer, pus). Alcohol (casual, parties). Possible false accusation. Abortion. Parental/in-law pressure. Suicidal ideation, planning (on page, descriptive). Loss of grandparent. Toxic masculinity. Body shaming (weight gain, ageing). Incest, pedophilia (very brief mention). Infertility.
Rep: Dark and light skin tones. Korean. Cisgender. Heterosexual.
📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from Pushkin Press and NetGalley.
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October 8, 2025
This is not without its flaws but overall I thought that it was thoughtful and well done - although it may have benefited from being read alongside another book about feminism and misogyny that is frustratingly simplistic. Here we are introduced to a series of complicated characters, many of whom are struggling to come to terms with some form of sexual abuse or violence in their past and who most certainly do not behave in a way that society dictates they ‘should’. As a result they can be unlikeable, spiky and sometimes difficult to believe. However as the novel progresses they begin to find their way and by the end there is even some hope. There are chapters that maybe can be a bit too tell rather than show but overall, despite its themes, this was a fairly understated, subtle read.
August 24, 2025
"Lately I'm most envious of the people who think my story is pointless. I, too, want to look at myself and think, 'I just don't get her.' To see myself in that same way. To become another person. A person totally distinct from this someone I can't understand, don't want to understand."
heavy read, difficult to rate. I think it explores the victim blaming culture still prevalent in our society rather well, but I don't know if I loved the way the stories came together, especially when it came to investigating the death of the young woman who died tragically. Still worth the read though.
heavy read, difficult to rate. I think it explores the victim blaming culture still prevalent in our society rather well, but I don't know if I loved the way the stories came together, especially when it came to investigating the death of the young woman who died tragically. Still worth the read though.
February 25, 2023
An interesting story, that gets better as we add more layers with the back story.
It had my feelings towards Jina changing a few times.
As the book progresses though this becomes other people's stories, most of which intermingle.
Enjoyable.
It had my feelings towards Jina changing a few times.
As the book progresses though this becomes other people's stories, most of which intermingle.
Enjoyable.
October 10, 2023
故事的設置很好，在結構性的壓力之下，女性既是受害者也是彼此加害者這個主題也表達得很好。但我時常不喜歡的一些韓國文學的表達我不知道是因爲這個語言本身，還是翻譯所致。
September 4, 2024
More than a book, a motion.
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