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Seoul Before Sunrise
Haunted by a lost friendship, Seong-Ji (re)discovers herself during nocturnal exploration of a dreamlike Seoul.
Longtime friends Seong-ji and Ji-won are excited to begin university in Seoul, swearing to stay close in the big city, but from the moment they arrive, they begin to drift apart.
Her focus split between her rigorous accounting program and her overnight job at a grocery store, Seong-ji tries to make peace with the loss. It’s during her overnight shifts that she encounters an enigmatic young woman who spends her nights entering the empty homes of other people to paint and photograph these places. Now, the normally rational Seong-ji finds herself swept up in a dreamlike otherworld, made up of freedom and creativity. As she explores these quiet places, she uncovers not only an intimate portrait of strangers, but perhaps even herself.
But as the nocturnal walks reveal the possibilities of the future, they also force her to relive the pain of her lost friendship with Ji-won…
Longtime friends Seong-ji and Ji-won are excited to begin university in Seoul, swearing to stay close in the big city, but from the moment they arrive, they begin to drift apart.
Her focus split between her rigorous accounting program and her overnight job at a grocery store, Seong-ji tries to make peace with the loss. It’s during her overnight shifts that she encounters an enigmatic young woman who spends her nights entering the empty homes of other people to paint and photograph these places. Now, the normally rational Seong-ji finds herself swept up in a dreamlike otherworld, made up of freedom and creativity. As she explores these quiet places, she uncovers not only an intimate portrait of strangers, but perhaps even herself.
But as the nocturnal walks reveal the possibilities of the future, they also force her to relive the pain of her lost friendship with Ji-won…
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2024
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June 30, 2024
Once the day nestles down into the horizon, the night opens like a gateway of possibilities. ‘The excess light during the day hides treasures that only the night reveals,’ advises the mysterious older woman in Samir Dahmani’s somber graphic novel, Seoul Before Sunrise, a gorgeously watercolor illustrated narrative of coming-of-age metamorphosis and awakening desires forged in the depths of nocturnal loneliness. It follows in a tradition of quiet, introspective storytelling addressed to the transformative properties of the night, where we strip out of our public personas of the day to grapple with the wilderness of thoughts and suppressed emotions that blossom under the starlight of a velvety night, taking shape in brushstrokes of philosophical insight to color the thin framework of narrative. Its a story that seems best expressed in hushed tones with plenty of atmosphere that allow it to be delicately beautiful, but while Dahmani’s graphic novel is beautiful to behold it feels crushed in too much dialogue and forward progress that never allows it to breathe at ease or really sink into its prevailing sense of loneliness. Moving through the quiet nights of Seoul and chronicling the ache of a young woman separated from her best friend after going to two different universities, Seoul Before Sunrise is adorned in lovely musings and made up of all the right ingredients but feels like the recipe was off and cooked too hot and too quickly to be truly satisfying.
‘Between the time the last train leaves and the first train arrives, the place changes: it's not the same as in daytime.’ wrote Haruki Murakami in his novel After Dark, a story that similarly unveils the philosophical undercurrents of the offbeat passengers of the night such as Seoul Before Sunrise attempts to do. But while this graphic novel aims at a rather singular effect—the quiet adventures of Seong-ji and the much older woman who takes her along breaking into houses just to look while extolling the virtues of the night as a way for Seong-ji to recognize and embrace what her yearning for her absentee friend really means about her—Murakami’s is able to dip into a variety of ideas and themes that thread together for a complete whole. Sure, they are two different stories with different aims, but comparatively the multi-dimensional approach helps reveal in contrast what makes Seoul Before Sunrise seem like the reader is left wanting. It does dip into a brief moment of magical realism and discusses at length issues of loneliness, change and metamorphosis, yet it always feels at arms length in an emotional sense. It feels too direct as well, despite dealing with more abstract ideas.
For a story of noctural wanderings, the story itself never gets to wander and soak in any atmosphere. It reads akin to a flower held too tightly in ones hand, the petals crushed. While the art is gorgeous—I LOVE the watercolor art and colors—it rarely gets a moment of quiet without text boxes or small frames pushed off quickly into more plot. Even just one or two full page cityscapes with no text would have vastly improved the atmosphere and let the feeling of loneliness really engulf you. It all moves too quickly, a story of night set at the pace of bustling day, which is odd to say as there is very little plot to begin with. The dialog is wonderful however, and I like the way the characters explore the themes.
The night is a surprise for Seong-ji when, during her nightly shifts at a convenience store, she is befriended by an older woman and ushered into her evening romps through other peoples homes and around Seoul. They explore ideas of how people drift apart—‘One or two degrees difference is enough... For us to end up truly distant from one another’—or how right before the dawn there is a moment of transformation.
This ‘violent time of transition’ occurs, and leaves the book on a sad yet hopeful note because even though Seong-ji ends in a poorly way at least she is embracing who she is.
The narrative around the mysterious older friend is a bit odd though. Seong-ji finds her ‘refreshingly weird’ and their companionship starts to steer towards Seong-ji recognizing queer desires in herself. Which…okay, I don’t know if this book handled it all that well? I mean, I suppose it was sort of realistic but there is a sense of the woman (who is 38) as a bit predatory. She’s juxtaposed with a scene of an older man called out for intentionally shopping in a student district to talk to young girls and I honestly wish the epilogue would not have been included. The book already ends on a rather harsh and heartbreaking note but still with hope, though her inclusion at the end gives a rather unsettling and grimey sense to it. It is a story about repressed queer desires coming out, but the one who guides the girl into it might be taking advantage of her and seems to react angrily about it which just…is not helpful when we see a man writing queer women as predatory? I don’t know, it just felt bleak in a way that didn’t benefit the story.
Though perhaps it is getting into that there are no legal protections for discrimination against gender identity or sexuality in South Korea with same-sex marriage still being illegal. Dahmani studied in South Korea in 2013 and 2014, and has done comics work with their partner from South Korea so this does attempt to infuse a lot of Korean culture into the plot (aspects on beauty standards that can be harmful to women and lead to South Korea being the plastic surgery capitol of the world are briefly addressed). There is an attempt to capture Seoul that was nice to see.
At the end of the day, I wanted to like this more than I did and it leaves you feeling a bit uncomfortable. Intentionally so, though the use of homophobia as foreshadowing for queer desires was kind of a lot and it just felt like trying to be harsh and edgy to contrast the soft, delicate aspects and it just didn’t blend. Still, Seoul Before Sunrise is gorgeously illustrated and does have some lovely thoughts on the possibilities of night.
3/5
‘Between the time the last train leaves and the first train arrives, the place changes: it's not the same as in daytime.’ wrote Haruki Murakami in his novel After Dark, a story that similarly unveils the philosophical undercurrents of the offbeat passengers of the night such as Seoul Before Sunrise attempts to do. But while this graphic novel aims at a rather singular effect—the quiet adventures of Seong-ji and the much older woman who takes her along breaking into houses just to look while extolling the virtues of the night as a way for Seong-ji to recognize and embrace what her yearning for her absentee friend really means about her—Murakami’s is able to dip into a variety of ideas and themes that thread together for a complete whole. Sure, they are two different stories with different aims, but comparatively the multi-dimensional approach helps reveal in contrast what makes Seoul Before Sunrise seem like the reader is left wanting. It does dip into a brief moment of magical realism and discusses at length issues of loneliness, change and metamorphosis, yet it always feels at arms length in an emotional sense. It feels too direct as well, despite dealing with more abstract ideas.
For a story of noctural wanderings, the story itself never gets to wander and soak in any atmosphere. It reads akin to a flower held too tightly in ones hand, the petals crushed. While the art is gorgeous—I LOVE the watercolor art and colors—it rarely gets a moment of quiet without text boxes or small frames pushed off quickly into more plot. Even just one or two full page cityscapes with no text would have vastly improved the atmosphere and let the feeling of loneliness really engulf you. It all moves too quickly, a story of night set at the pace of bustling day, which is odd to say as there is very little plot to begin with. The dialog is wonderful however, and I like the way the characters explore the themes.
‘‘During the day everyone is so judgemental…The night rebalances things and disturbs our senses. We see things differently. The night lets us behave in ways that can surprise us.’
The night is a surprise for Seong-ji when, during her nightly shifts at a convenience store, she is befriended by an older woman and ushered into her evening romps through other peoples homes and around Seoul. They explore ideas of how people drift apart—‘One or two degrees difference is enough... For us to end up truly distant from one another’—or how right before the dawn there is a moment of transformation.
‘It’s no longer night, but not yet day. It’s the darkest time and also the coldest. It’s also a time when unexplained phenomena occur. Because during that violent time of transition you have to be ready for change. For the day is coming’
This ‘violent time of transition’ occurs, and leaves the book on a sad yet hopeful note because even though Seong-ji ends in a poorly way at least she is embracing who she is.
The narrative around the mysterious older friend is a bit odd though. Seong-ji finds her ‘refreshingly weird’ and their companionship starts to steer towards Seong-ji recognizing queer desires in herself. Which…okay, I don’t know if this book handled it all that well? I mean, I suppose it was sort of realistic but there is a sense of the woman (who is 38) as a bit predatory. She’s juxtaposed with a scene of an older man called out for intentionally shopping in a student district to talk to young girls and I honestly wish the epilogue would not have been included. The book already ends on a rather harsh and heartbreaking note but still with hope, though her inclusion at the end gives a rather unsettling and grimey sense to it. It is a story about repressed queer desires coming out, but the one who guides the girl into it might be taking advantage of her and seems to react angrily about it which just…is not helpful when we see a man writing queer women as predatory? I don’t know, it just felt bleak in a way that didn’t benefit the story.
Though perhaps it is getting into that there are no legal protections for discrimination against gender identity or sexuality in South Korea with same-sex marriage still being illegal. Dahmani studied in South Korea in 2013 and 2014, and has done comics work with their partner from South Korea so this does attempt to infuse a lot of Korean culture into the plot (aspects on beauty standards that can be harmful to women and lead to South Korea being the plastic surgery capitol of the world are briefly addressed). There is an attempt to capture Seoul that was nice to see.
At the end of the day, I wanted to like this more than I did and it leaves you feeling a bit uncomfortable. Intentionally so, though the use of homophobia as foreshadowing for queer desires was kind of a lot and it just felt like trying to be harsh and edgy to contrast the soft, delicate aspects and it just didn’t blend. Still, Seoul Before Sunrise is gorgeously illustrated and does have some lovely thoughts on the possibilities of night.
3/5
February 9, 2024
Often during my lonelier nights, intrusive thoughts surfaced, flourished, and took hold of me...
By following them, i relived moments and memories, which i often reexamined in detail...
First of all thanks eternally to Humanoids once again, Samir Dahmani amazing writer and artist, I have received this Graphic Novel ARC via NetGalley, This will come out May 21, 2024 so stay tuned!
During the day, everybody is so judgmental... we have to be blameless in the eyes of others
This is a novel about a highschool girl entering collogue, and her friendship with her life friend who abandons her at this period of their life, for the most trivial of reasons, it happens people, it happens, and it's not you, it's not your fault, some people are just there for your attention and care, and they forget about you once they can get that from another source, it's not you so give yourself a break.
I am logging this as Magical Realism, there was some a certain scene, that really looked fictional there, there shouldn't be apartments with working door locks underneath the sea, there shouldn't man! and actually this being Magical Realism makes this so much better, it's that feeling of uncertainty was this real or was this a dream?
She viewed the woman who accompanied her at the later half of the novel as a ghost after she disappeared, but then that woman comes back for her later after she was gone!
i am holding my grounds though for that underwater scene lol.
Our MC is a homophobe who turned out to be lesbian herself, which is funny, you could see that coming after the homophobic comments at the start of the story, you know humanoids would never be pro homophobics and from that one exchange you were waiting for the inevitable to happen.
Maybe because of them you missed seeing some stops along your journey... One's that are only visible at night, ones that the daytime people choose not to see.
She is speaking about her glasses her, but forget the glasses for a second i think about that so much, The detours i could have took along the way, i am only thinking that because i am not completely happy with where i am, even though i am making the most of it, i am not really working even though i have money and can make more, you stop and think did it really have to turn out this way? But yeah the detours in life are crazy, i could have ended up in many other towns than my own, i could have ended up married to one of many women, i could have been working one of many jobs, i could have still been Muslim, Hell i could have been dead (Which is not the worst thing that could have happened) But i am here for whatever that's worth, and i am making the most of it, focusing on me.
One or two degrees difference is enough... For us to end up truly distant from one another.
May 17, 2024
Although the plot did not particularly excite me, the artwork is magnificent. This book tells the story of Seong-Ji, a young college student who strives to discover who she really is and how she fell away from a close friend. She meets a woman twice her age who spends her nights painting and taking pictures of other people's empty homes while working the night shift at the grocery store. This person begins to change Seong-Ji's perspective on the world.
There was neither novelty nor excitement for me in this story because it instantly brought to mind the well-known Korean film 3-Iron. Since the ending was sudden, I was unaffected. I consider the possibility of Volume 2 in mind while I write my criticism, as it appears like there is room for improvement in the plot.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids Inc | Life Drawn for providing the ARC of the graphic novel to reviewers.
There was neither novelty nor excitement for me in this story because it instantly brought to mind the well-known Korean film 3-Iron. Since the ending was sudden, I was unaffected. I consider the possibility of Volume 2 in mind while I write my criticism, as it appears like there is room for improvement in the plot.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids Inc | Life Drawn for providing the ARC of the graphic novel to reviewers.
February 8, 2024
This story leaves me with a strange aftertaste, as if it's a recipe that uses ingredients you like to cook a dish that doesn't agree with you.
The watercolour art is atmospheric and memorable, the themes should in theory be all close to my heart, but beyond ambiance and vibes I didn't feel like I got much out of the story, and what I got gave me a bad aftertaste. The story follows Seong-ji, who has this intense co-dependent friendship with her childhood friend -- the kind that so often conceals a poorly processed crush, and in this case is padded with some homophobia -- and struggles to deal with drifting apart after they have each left for college. She strikes up a friendship with a strange woman twice her age with questionable hobbies that ought to be a philosophical commentary on life but to my tired adult eyes are downright skeevy. The skeeviness is compounded by the authorial decision to make this woman's only narrative parallel a perverted old man hitting on young students working at the grocery store, like Seong-ji. The story isn't even that long, you cannot put this in there and expect me to think it was not done deliberately - which adds oiliness to the way the author presents the chosen themes and characters. And there is no catharsis: the antisocial adventures the woman takes out Seong-ji lead to Seong-ji catching up with her feelings, confronting her friend with disastrous consequences, and then we get a quaint little epilogue where we get to hear second hand that Seong-ji was fired for negligent attitude to work, and the closing shot is of the strange woman having an emotional wibble about it being her responsibility or not, before choosing to be once again immature because clearly that's how these socially maladjusted gay women are. Or something.
So yeah. I don't know what you wanted to say with this story, but I don't think it's been done with particular sympathy to queer women.
Thank you to publisher for providing an arc of this, all opinions are my own.
The watercolour art is atmospheric and memorable, the themes should in theory be all close to my heart, but beyond ambiance and vibes I didn't feel like I got much out of the story, and what I got gave me a bad aftertaste. The story follows Seong-ji, who has this intense co-dependent friendship with her childhood friend -- the kind that so often conceals a poorly processed crush, and in this case is padded with some homophobia -- and struggles to deal with drifting apart after they have each left for college. She strikes up a friendship with a strange woman twice her age with questionable hobbies that ought to be a philosophical commentary on life but to my tired adult eyes are downright skeevy. The skeeviness is compounded by the authorial decision to make this woman's only narrative parallel a perverted old man hitting on young students working at the grocery store, like Seong-ji. The story isn't even that long, you cannot put this in there and expect me to think it was not done deliberately - which adds oiliness to the way the author presents the chosen themes and characters. And there is no catharsis: the antisocial adventures the woman takes out Seong-ji lead to Seong-ji catching up with her feelings, confronting her friend with disastrous consequences, and then we get a quaint little epilogue where we get to hear second hand that Seong-ji was fired for negligent attitude to work, and the closing shot is of the strange woman having an emotional wibble about it being her responsibility or not, before choosing to be once again immature because clearly that's how these socially maladjusted gay women are. Or something.
So yeah. I don't know what you wanted to say with this story, but I don't think it's been done with particular sympathy to queer women.
Thank you to publisher for providing an arc of this, all opinions are my own.
January 30, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review :)
This short graphic novel about loss and queer love was truly beautiful.
With this book, you get to experience a wonderful journey about discovering who you are. The main character was quite relatable because she feels like she doesn't fit in.
But I've gotta say that it was definitely more heavy than i expected.
Though the art style was one of the prettiest in a graphic novel I've ever seen. It captured the atmosphere perfectly.
It was also very helpful that there were some small explanations for some terms I didn't know.
Overall, this novel deserves its 5 stars.
This short graphic novel about loss and queer love was truly beautiful.
With this book, you get to experience a wonderful journey about discovering who you are. The main character was quite relatable because she feels like she doesn't fit in.
But I've gotta say that it was definitely more heavy than i expected.
Though the art style was one of the prettiest in a graphic novel I've ever seen. It captured the atmosphere perfectly.
It was also very helpful that there were some small explanations for some terms I didn't know.
Overall, this novel deserves its 5 stars.
February 4, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
I feel like this is meant to be a more poetic story with deep meanings, but it honestly just didn't hit the right way for me. Seong-ji while trying to cope with becoming an adult and slowly growing apart from her childhood friends, meets a strange woman while she works the night shift. This mystery woman often breaks into people's homes to paint the apartments and achieve something. I'm not quite sure what. How Seong-ji realizes what her true feelings are for Ji-won comes somewhat out of nowhere, and the way they part is very unsatisfying. The way this graphic novel ends is just unsatisfying. It honestly made me think "Okay...and the point of that was?". The art style is very pretty, but the watercolor does make some panels feel muddy and hard to understand.
I feel like this is meant to be a more poetic story with deep meanings, but it honestly just didn't hit the right way for me. Seong-ji while trying to cope with becoming an adult and slowly growing apart from her childhood friends, meets a strange woman while she works the night shift. This mystery woman often breaks into people's homes to paint the apartments and achieve something. I'm not quite sure what. How Seong-ji realizes what her true feelings are for Ji-won comes somewhat out of nowhere, and the way they part is very unsatisfying. The way this graphic novel ends is just unsatisfying. It honestly made me think "Okay...and the point of that was?". The art style is very pretty, but the watercolor does make some panels feel muddy and hard to understand.
April 4, 2024
This story follows a girl who has recently lost touch with her best friend, and the emotional impact that has on her. Slowly she begins to explore Seoul and understand herself better.
It’s a very quiet and self contained story and you can very clearly see the hurt that the loss of this friendship has caused. I found the message about self reflection, coming to terms with hard realities, and identity very sincere. I also enjoy stories told about that transitional phase from high school to your first year of university/ college. It id such a big change and you can really feel that in this book. Living in a new city, independently, getting a job,…
The art style was absolutely beautiful, and I cannot sing its praises enough. Truly a visual treat on every page.
Narratively I wanted a little more closure and maybe just a little more depth when exploring the topics, though I think the story now is very elegantly told.
Would definitely recommend if you want a short and heartfelt story with absolutely stunning art.
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC
It’s a very quiet and self contained story and you can very clearly see the hurt that the loss of this friendship has caused. I found the message about self reflection, coming to terms with hard realities, and identity very sincere. I also enjoy stories told about that transitional phase from high school to your first year of university/ college. It id such a big change and you can really feel that in this book. Living in a new city, independently, getting a job,…
The art style was absolutely beautiful, and I cannot sing its praises enough. Truly a visual treat on every page.
Narratively I wanted a little more closure and maybe just a little more depth when exploring the topics, though I think the story now is very elegantly told.
Would definitely recommend if you want a short and heartfelt story with absolutely stunning art.
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC
March 30, 2025
Beautiful artwork but the story ended in a way that could have been more interesting.
January 31, 2024
4.25 stars
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Thanks NetGalley, Humanoids Inc publisher, and the authors for a great advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!
I grabbed this comic and didn't expect the depth it carried. It was dreamy and so deep that I had to pause for a while before writing the review to absorb everything. The artwork was stunning and it fit the vibe of the comic very well. It made me feel so nostalgic for the time I was in junior high school. This comic reminds me so much of the "Before Sunrise" trilogy. Everything was so mesmerizing but the ending caught me off guard. I didn't truly comprehend the ending but after thinking for a while it totally made sense.
This comic is a must-read!
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Thanks NetGalley, Humanoids Inc publisher, and the authors for a great advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!
I grabbed this comic and didn't expect the depth it carried. It was dreamy and so deep that I had to pause for a while before writing the review to absorb everything. The artwork was stunning and it fit the vibe of the comic very well. It made me feel so nostalgic for the time I was in junior high school. This comic reminds me so much of the "Before Sunrise" trilogy. Everything was so mesmerizing but the ending caught me off guard. I didn't truly comprehend the ending but after thinking for a while it totally made sense.
This comic is a must-read!
February 5, 2024
**** 3 STARS ****
ARC REVIEW
I love how this graphic novel is picturized/painted, It's a very watercolor picturesque style theme, and it's also dark and alluring at least it was for me. This story revolves around self-exploration and coming of age. The story is set in Korea and it was fun to see this side of culture. Our protagonist is a teenager struggling with her sexuality and the author has captured a unique way of how she comes to accept herself in a society where others may find her sexuality questioning or hateful. There was beauty in this darkness.
I did have a problem with one thing about how the girls were breaking and entering into houses, which seemed very illegal and unethical. They were barging into people's space without any consequences and to have an adult do it along with a teenager and force her to do it just because you want to teach her a lesson on life was very redundant. Makes no sense right? The story could have been molded in a much more appetizing manner so it didn't feel like "okay what umm nooo'.
The author has a lot of potential but could work more on the storyline.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC and giving my honest review in return.
ARC REVIEW
I love how this graphic novel is picturized/painted, It's a very watercolor picturesque style theme, and it's also dark and alluring at least it was for me. This story revolves around self-exploration and coming of age. The story is set in Korea and it was fun to see this side of culture. Our protagonist is a teenager struggling with her sexuality and the author has captured a unique way of how she comes to accept herself in a society where others may find her sexuality questioning or hateful. There was beauty in this darkness.
I did have a problem with one thing about how the girls were breaking and entering into houses, which seemed very illegal and unethical. They were barging into people's space without any consequences and to have an adult do it along with a teenager and force her to do it just because you want to teach her a lesson on life was very redundant. Makes no sense right? The story could have been molded in a much more appetizing manner so it didn't feel like "okay what umm nooo'.
The author has a lot of potential but could work more on the storyline.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC and giving my honest review in return.
February 8, 2024
Although this was a simple story about growing up and growing out of a very close friendship, I'm not sure if it actually hit the right mark for me.
The art isn't really my style, but I can appreciate the muted watercolors. I read an e-arc, but I think I would've appreciated the art a lot more if I had a physical copy.
So, on to the story...
I understand the older "ghost" woman's character as a metaphor for Seong-ji's growth and introspection, but I don't think the author/illustrator portrayed this well. It read oddly predatory because Seong-ji is very young (just out of high school and in college) while the woman was in her thirties. Seong-ji seemed really fascinated by this strange woman and her strange hobbies, but all I wanted to do was scream, "Stranger danger!"
Idk.
Although I think the parts where both characters broke into people's apartments to paint/draw/hang out were great metaphors for Seong-ji trying new things out of her comfort zone. When they both went to the beach and Seong-ji had a huge revelation about letting go of her friend, Ji-won, it turned out to be a really powerful scene. And Seong-ji's queer realization and love confession was pretty heartbreaking. I think some of us can relate to it.
Thank you to Life Drawn and NetGalley for this arc.
The art isn't really my style, but I can appreciate the muted watercolors. I read an e-arc, but I think I would've appreciated the art a lot more if I had a physical copy.
So, on to the story...
I understand the older "ghost" woman's character as a metaphor for Seong-ji's growth and introspection, but I don't think the author/illustrator portrayed this well. It read oddly predatory because Seong-ji is very young (just out of high school and in college) while the woman was in her thirties. Seong-ji seemed really fascinated by this strange woman and her strange hobbies, but all I wanted to do was scream, "Stranger danger!"
Idk.
Although I think the parts where both characters broke into people's apartments to paint/draw/hang out were great metaphors for Seong-ji trying new things out of her comfort zone. When they both went to the beach and Seong-ji had a huge revelation about letting go of her friend, Ji-won, it turned out to be a really powerful scene. And Seong-ji's queer realization and love confession was pretty heartbreaking. I think some of us can relate to it.
Thank you to Life Drawn and NetGalley for this arc.
April 3, 2024
Such a touching story, which at a first look seemed ordinary. The artwork was simply amazing, it was like getting lost into a water painting. The symbols of the FMC's road to maturity were so nicely described, like the "fixing" of her biggest insecurity (the nosejob) to the acceptance of her feelings towards Jiwon. The woman who guides the FMC through her initiation in life itself is a "ghost"- "It was almost as if, through her visits, my ghost had guided me to the different places inside myself, shown me the hidden areas of my innermost heart". This quote at the end of the book sums up my experience with this story: a story about finding yourself, loneliness and friendship.
I received an ARC and this my sincere opinion.
I received an ARC and this my sincere opinion.
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July 22, 2024كعادتي حينما تحبطني قصة مصورة، أجد الرسم جميلًا لا أمل من تأمّل تفاصيله، ولكن القصة تجعلني أحاول ألّا أطيل التفكير فيها كي لا أجد عيوبًا أحاول جاهدةً أن أغفل عنها. الحوارات هاهنا لم تكن في المستوى المطلوب، وأحيانًا لم تكن واقعيةً على الإطلاق، وبما أن هذه القصة ترتكز على حواراتها فقد كان ضعفها في هذا المجال أشد تأثيرًا وتثبيطًا للقصة.
كما أنني لم أفهم الغاية من الجزئية التي تتسكع فيها مراهقة في عمر الثامنة عشر في منتصف الليل مع إمرأة ثلاثينية لا تعرف شيئًا عنها. ولم أجد أيّ عبرة أو رمزية في حركة اقتحام منازل الناس، وإن كان القصد منها إضافة لمسة من الـmagical realism فأنا لم أجد فيها أي سحرٍ يثير الإعجاب.
ليست لي بالتأكيد.
February 25, 2024
4/5
- Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me a copy through NetGalley. -
The best part of this graphic novel was without any doubt its art.
I loved it and it's definitely super close to my all time personal favorite. It has a very painting type of style and the coloring was spot on.
The story was indeed a good one, even if there were some elements that I wished were different.
Starting from the breakimg into the houses passed as a good and totally normal thing... mmh not really? Not very good normalizing such thing.
Another thing that I wasn't a fan of was the general plot of the novel. I think it needed more development to fully understand it. I personally found myself a little lost after the half book mark and the finale didn't help either.
There was a great concept behind this book and an amazing art to look at, but it was missing that final touch for the story to really stand out.
- Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me a copy through NetGalley. -
The best part of this graphic novel was without any doubt its art.
I loved it and it's definitely super close to my all time personal favorite. It has a very painting type of style and the coloring was spot on.
The story was indeed a good one, even if there were some elements that I wished were different.
Starting from the breakimg into the houses passed as a good and totally normal thing... mmh not really? Not very good normalizing such thing.
Another thing that I wasn't a fan of was the general plot of the novel. I think it needed more development to fully understand it. I personally found myself a little lost after the half book mark and the finale didn't help either.
There was a great concept behind this book and an amazing art to look at, but it was missing that final touch for the story to really stand out.
July 11, 2024
This was a really deep and philosophical manga. I still don’t know if the “ghost” was a real person or not and I kinda love that it’s a mystery at the end. I like the misty and water colored feel of the manga. It matches the main character’s angst and moods. I loved how brave the message was to convey and how vulnerable it makes the characters. It takes a lot of courage to confess your unrequited love.
January 31, 2024
Seoul Before Sunrise is a coming of age story told in a kind of dreamlike, whimsical way. The illustrations are stunning and the writing is at times harsh and stark, at other times soft and almost poetic. This is truly a beautiful work, the author should be proud.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 22, 2024
I really liked it - the part where they’re about to leave for college I really related to, and the artwork was pretty and I liked the story. The ending was a little confusing but I think it was supposed to be
April 18, 2024
This story was weird.. but I still enjoyed reading it.
The book tells the story of a young student who loses sight of her best friend when they split ways. Meanwhile she meets a possible new friend, but this one has very peculiar hobbies. Seong-Ji ultimately decides to join her new friend in her strange activities and finds the beauty in little things before sunrise.
The message of the book though is very beautiful and the artwork was a real vibe in this story.
I gave the book 3 stars.
The book tells the story of a young student who loses sight of her best friend when they split ways. Meanwhile she meets a possible new friend, but this one has very peculiar hobbies. Seong-Ji ultimately decides to join her new friend in her strange activities and finds the beauty in little things before sunrise.
The message of the book though is very beautiful and the artwork was a real vibe in this story.
I gave the book 3 stars.
February 8, 2024
Thanks Netgalley and publisher for providing me this very oddball of a graphic novel I’ve ever read.
So basically we see FL here with her friend talking about some girl in their class being outed as gay and as life goes on, the two girls go their separate ways. FL while working in a convenience store meets a weird woman who she befriends with and spends time with her. Not gonna lie, it was a little creepy with the woman and FL to be together as it was a big age gap between them and it looked like they might’ve been a couple but nothing happened here ok like wtf lol?!
The ending was also ridiculous in regards to the weird woman coming back to reunite with the FL but instead was a different girl working in the convenience store and is saying FL must have abandoned her. I mean ….y’all we are getting a HUGE timeskip with no sign of FL to finish the story off which peed me off ngl. The ending could’ve ended way better, it should’ve been a bit more romantic with FL going out with the first girl she interacted with. So disappointed!
I still feel it is a decent read with some weirdness but just half baked in my personal opinion at the same time…..
So basically we see FL here with her friend talking about some girl in their class being outed as gay and as life goes on, the two girls go their separate ways. FL while working in a convenience store meets a weird woman who she befriends with and spends time with her. Not gonna lie, it was a little creepy with the woman and FL to be together as it was a big age gap between them and it looked like they might’ve been a couple but nothing happened here ok like wtf lol?!
The ending was also ridiculous in regards to the weird woman coming back to reunite with the FL but instead was a different girl working in the convenience store and is saying FL must have abandoned her. I mean ….y’all we are getting a HUGE timeskip with no sign of FL to finish the story off which peed me off ngl. The ending could’ve ended way better, it should’ve been a bit more romantic with FL going out with the first girl she interacted with. So disappointed!
I still feel it is a decent read with some weirdness but just half baked in my personal opinion at the same time…..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2025
Beautiful illustrations! - unfortunate problematic narrative!
May 21, 2024
2.0/5.0 for content + 1.0 extra for better illustrations.
It is a story of two longtime friends Seong-ji and Ji-won. Both were very close but then part their ways for their respective careers. Ji-won became detached as she was more practical but Seong-ji was emotional and stayed in thought of being with her friend again.
Latter due to lack of finances studied in day time and worked in night time in a grocery store to accommodate the expenses. She met a young women who was older than her while peeking in others' houses in night time to paint and photograph those places (it is illegal though, so other readers must not be influenced with this act). Author said it through her "you know, I do this at night because it’s the time when our eyes are freshest., during the day, everybody is so judgemental. we have to be blameless in the eyes of others." , but still this is wrong.
Both discussed things and their past lives but when Seong got inspired and asked Ji-won to meet her Ji-won was different in act. So different from what Seong knew about her from her earlier days. She than realized that her world fallen apart and she left the place.
This was more about lesbo-love than a fair friendship. But it was all one-sided, be it from Seong-ji for Ji-won or from that Mysterious women for Seong-ji, but it was mostly LGBTQ+ only, which was not mentioned in the genres listed. However, there were some life teaching she gave to Seong, like, “Silence can say a lot. In fact, it can be very talkative when you know how to listen.”
Honestly, I do not like this graphic book. Do not understand the concept of writing it when there is no proper start and end. And, even in mid-ways there is no proper content to fill it with gripping essence. If Author wanted to leave it with an open end then also there must be some proper route not just ambiguity on thoughts with no sense of any emotion. There should be more on how those two friends met and what was the reason on Ji-won's cold behavior or why suddenly some strange women took Seong-ji with her? There must be some yielding part play by that women.
It was very obvious and realistic that we loose many of our friends while switching from school to university and then for Job and that was the concept put forth but in a very lean dis-engaged manner. BLEAK.
Cover illustration was so appealing but content is exactly opposite though water color illustrations inside were also very nice.
My NetGalley review
My amazon.in review
It is a story of two longtime friends Seong-ji and Ji-won. Both were very close but then part their ways for their respective careers. Ji-won became detached as she was more practical but Seong-ji was emotional and stayed in thought of being with her friend again.
Latter due to lack of finances studied in day time and worked in night time in a grocery store to accommodate the expenses. She met a young women who was older than her while peeking in others' houses in night time to paint and photograph those places (it is illegal though, so other readers must not be influenced with this act). Author said it through her "you know, I do this at night because it’s the time when our eyes are freshest., during the day, everybody is so judgemental. we have to be blameless in the eyes of others." , but still this is wrong.
Both discussed things and their past lives but when Seong got inspired and asked Ji-won to meet her Ji-won was different in act. So different from what Seong knew about her from her earlier days. She than realized that her world fallen apart and she left the place.
This was more about lesbo-love than a fair friendship. But it was all one-sided, be it from Seong-ji for Ji-won or from that Mysterious women for Seong-ji, but it was mostly LGBTQ+ only, which was not mentioned in the genres listed. However, there were some life teaching she gave to Seong, like, “Silence can say a lot. In fact, it can be very talkative when you know how to listen.”
Honestly, I do not like this graphic book. Do not understand the concept of writing it when there is no proper start and end. And, even in mid-ways there is no proper content to fill it with gripping essence. If Author wanted to leave it with an open end then also there must be some proper route not just ambiguity on thoughts with no sense of any emotion. There should be more on how those two friends met and what was the reason on Ji-won's cold behavior or why suddenly some strange women took Seong-ji with her? There must be some yielding part play by that women.
It was very obvious and realistic that we loose many of our friends while switching from school to university and then for Job and that was the concept put forth but in a very lean dis-engaged manner. BLEAK.
Cover illustration was so appealing but content is exactly opposite though water color illustrations inside were also very nice.
My NetGalley review
My amazon.in review
February 24, 2024
"Seoul Before Sunrise" is a slice of life, new adult, graphic novel, exploring that phase when moving out of the teen years into adulthood, and falling in love. We follow a Korean young woman moving out of home to Soul, working to pay for her studies, and struggling with her best friend drifting away.
Truthfully, I don't know how to feel about that comic. The illustrations are breathtaking, the watercolour style is absolutely beautiful, I particularly enjoy the cityscape, the rain, the delicate hands and feet rendering, making the story feel truly like we are watching life from the narrator's perspective, in extreme close up. The rain gives a certain murkiness that reflects the sense of being adrift and lost.
The pseudo philosophy served by the love interest, on the other hand, is utter rubbish. And I always have ethical problems with relationships with a large age difference, like in this case where one of the women is literally twice the age of the other. The romance is all in metaphors and suggestions, but it still is very uncomfortable. Is it another metaphor where the narrator was looking more for a parent figure? I have no idea.
I like slice of life stories because I like getting to see different perspectives of life, but of course that means sometimes not hitting something you gel with - this definitely was the case. Might talk to other people... but the story doesn't offer much resolution.
Truthfully, I don't know how to feel about that comic. The illustrations are breathtaking, the watercolour style is absolutely beautiful, I particularly enjoy the cityscape, the rain, the delicate hands and feet rendering, making the story feel truly like we are watching life from the narrator's perspective, in extreme close up. The rain gives a certain murkiness that reflects the sense of being adrift and lost.
The pseudo philosophy served by the love interest, on the other hand, is utter rubbish. And I always have ethical problems with relationships with a large age difference, like in this case where one of the women is literally twice the age of the other. The romance is all in metaphors and suggestions, but it still is very uncomfortable. Is it another metaphor where the narrator was looking more for a parent figure? I have no idea.
I like slice of life stories because I like getting to see different perspectives of life, but of course that means sometimes not hitting something you gel with - this definitely was the case. Might talk to other people... but the story doesn't offer much resolution.
February 5, 2024
I gave Seoul Before Sunrise by Samir Dahmani 3 stars
Longtime friends Seong-ji and Ji-won are excited to begin university in Seoul, swearing to stay close in the big city, but from the moment they arrive, they begin to drift apart.
Her focus split between her rigorous accounting program and her overnight job at a grocery store, Seong-ji tries to make peace with the loss. It’s during her overnight shifts that she encounters an enigmatic young woman who spends her nights entering the empty homes of other people to paint and photograph these places. Now, the normally rational Seong-ji finds herself swept up in a dreamlike otherworld, made up of freedom and creativity. As she explores these quiet places, she uncovers not only an intimate portrait of strangers, but perhaps even herself.
But as the nocturnal walks reveal the possibilities of the future, they also force her to relive the pain of her lost friendship with Ji-won…
-------- REVIEW --------
A beautiful graphic novel that explores friendship, loneliness and coming to life. I really enjoyed this story at first, and at times it was really moving. However, the ending was a bit confusing and I wish it would not have left me with so many questions. Even if I only invested 30 minutes into this graphic novel, I felt tricked at the end.
Maybe it is just my taste, and I am sure others will love this more than I did. There are really beautiful illustrations and I think many can identify with the characters.
Thank you NetGalley and Humanoids Inc for the ARC en exchange for my honest review.
Longtime friends Seong-ji and Ji-won are excited to begin university in Seoul, swearing to stay close in the big city, but from the moment they arrive, they begin to drift apart.
Her focus split between her rigorous accounting program and her overnight job at a grocery store, Seong-ji tries to make peace with the loss. It’s during her overnight shifts that she encounters an enigmatic young woman who spends her nights entering the empty homes of other people to paint and photograph these places. Now, the normally rational Seong-ji finds herself swept up in a dreamlike otherworld, made up of freedom and creativity. As she explores these quiet places, she uncovers not only an intimate portrait of strangers, but perhaps even herself.
But as the nocturnal walks reveal the possibilities of the future, they also force her to relive the pain of her lost friendship with Ji-won…
-------- REVIEW --------
A beautiful graphic novel that explores friendship, loneliness and coming to life. I really enjoyed this story at first, and at times it was really moving. However, the ending was a bit confusing and I wish it would not have left me with so many questions. Even if I only invested 30 minutes into this graphic novel, I felt tricked at the end.
Maybe it is just my taste, and I am sure others will love this more than I did. There are really beautiful illustrations and I think many can identify with the characters.
Thank you NetGalley and Humanoids Inc for the ARC en exchange for my honest review.
March 6, 2024
“The night rebalances things and disturbs our senses. We see things differently. The night lets us behave in ways that can surprise us.”
Samir Dahmani’s graphic novel is a coming of age story about two friends Seong-ji and Ji-won. They are excited about this new chapter in their lives of starting university in Seoul. They swear to stay in close touch with each other however when they move they barely keep in touch. Seong-ji tries to make peace with the distance between them. Being busy with study and her over night job at a grocery store, it introduces her to an intriguing women who opens Seong-ji’s eyes to a dream like world where she explores those hidden places where she discovers more about herself.
Firstly the beautiful water colour illustrations worked very well with telling this story. Especially during those moments of dream like visions where Seong-ji comes to realise why her life has turned out the way it did.
The reality of transition from childhood to adulthood is heavily explored and through those moments of self reflection it’s easy for the reader to relate to this part of Seong-ji’s struggle.
A touching tale told through beautiful imagery.
Many thanks to @netgalley for a copy of this graphic novel.
Samir Dahmani’s graphic novel is a coming of age story about two friends Seong-ji and Ji-won. They are excited about this new chapter in their lives of starting university in Seoul. They swear to stay in close touch with each other however when they move they barely keep in touch. Seong-ji tries to make peace with the distance between them. Being busy with study and her over night job at a grocery store, it introduces her to an intriguing women who opens Seong-ji’s eyes to a dream like world where she explores those hidden places where she discovers more about herself.
Firstly the beautiful water colour illustrations worked very well with telling this story. Especially during those moments of dream like visions where Seong-ji comes to realise why her life has turned out the way it did.
The reality of transition from childhood to adulthood is heavily explored and through those moments of self reflection it’s easy for the reader to relate to this part of Seong-ji’s struggle.
A touching tale told through beautiful imagery.
Many thanks to @netgalley for a copy of this graphic novel.
May 4, 2024
Thank you Humanoids Inc and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.
I am 38 and read this at night, what a coincidence. There is something about the night that I have loved since I was a child, you feel a kind of loneliness and silence that is comforting in a way. The pressure of society falls away and there is room for quiet observation.
The stunning art and the dreamlike parts of this story were what I enjoyed the most. I also enjoyed the slower pace and the meaningful words and silences.
Seong-Ji is about to go to college and is afraid of spending less time with her best friend because they are going to different colleges.
What she was afraid of comes true and she can’t stop thinking about her former best friend and eventually realizes why.
Most of this book is about Seong-Ji working at night and thinking and observing. She meets a 38 year old woman who eventually takes her to real and dreamlike places at night.
This graphic novel left very much space to think and wonder and I hope many people who love to read these kind of stories too, will find it.
I am 38 and read this at night, what a coincidence. There is something about the night that I have loved since I was a child, you feel a kind of loneliness and silence that is comforting in a way. The pressure of society falls away and there is room for quiet observation.
The stunning art and the dreamlike parts of this story were what I enjoyed the most. I also enjoyed the slower pace and the meaningful words and silences.
Seong-Ji is about to go to college and is afraid of spending less time with her best friend because they are going to different colleges.
What she was afraid of comes true and she can’t stop thinking about her former best friend and eventually realizes why.
Most of this book is about Seong-Ji working at night and thinking and observing. She meets a 38 year old woman who eventually takes her to real and dreamlike places at night.
This graphic novel left very much space to think and wonder and I hope many people who love to read these kind of stories too, will find it.
March 19, 2024
Friendship can be uneven - one always gives more than the other. That’s the discovery a teenage girl makes as high school ends and her best friend, the one she exchanged texts all day long, vanishes from her life. Despite their shared childhood, despite all the “best friends forever” reassurances and the cosmetic surgery they did together.
Working by night to pay for college doesn’t help, as she has a lot of time to wade further down into depression. Until she befriends a mysterious woman that takes her on a voyage of discovery… After all, there are treasures that only the night reveals.
A poetic investigation of discovering one’s own sexuality, and a cold shower on teenage dreams. Well, 99% of the time, first love isn’t all that amazing, you know? :)
Loved the art, loved the story, but this never straddles into "very good" territory, and the second ending doesn't help either. So only three stars (remember, that's "good" on Goodreads).
Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This didn't influence my opinion in any way.
Working by night to pay for college doesn’t help, as she has a lot of time to wade further down into depression. Until she befriends a mysterious woman that takes her on a voyage of discovery… After all, there are treasures that only the night reveals.
A poetic investigation of discovering one’s own sexuality, and a cold shower on teenage dreams. Well, 99% of the time, first love isn’t all that amazing, you know? :)
Loved the art, loved the story, but this never straddles into "very good" territory, and the second ending doesn't help either. So only three stars (remember, that's "good" on Goodreads).
Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This didn't influence my opinion in any way.
March 13, 2024
A dream-like coming of age story, about a young woman learning to be herself.
This was quite a short story and I’m not sure I got everything from it that it was meant to be. Seong-Ji wasn’t a particularly fleshed out main character and her motivations weren’t altogether clear. The side characters felt a bit flat, more there to further her story than anything else. The art was very effective in setting the dreamy atmosphere, but I think some of the expressiveness of the characters got lost through the style.
All in all, an okay, quick read. Not too excited about the homophobia and stereotyping of women, though.
Thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids Inc. for the ARC.
This was quite a short story and I’m not sure I got everything from it that it was meant to be. Seong-Ji wasn’t a particularly fleshed out main character and her motivations weren’t altogether clear. The side characters felt a bit flat, more there to further her story than anything else. The art was very effective in setting the dreamy atmosphere, but I think some of the expressiveness of the characters got lost through the style.
All in all, an okay, quick read. Not too excited about the homophobia and stereotyping of women, though.
Thanks to NetGalley and Humanoids Inc. for the ARC.
January 30, 2024
Seoul Before Sunrise is a quick (20-30 min) read, but it still has a lot of depth. The story considers themes such as friendship, love, and growing apart, as well as discovering yourself on the cusp of adulthood. Towards the middle of the story I wondered where things were going, but by the end all before clear, even if that ending was a little bit bittersweet. The art style was engaging and pleasing throughout. I really liked the atmosphere captured in each image. Overall, I am giving this book four stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2024
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
I didn't really enjoy this one much, it was too surreal and didn't explain enough of what was going on. I had a hard time connecting with the main character, and couldn't really follow the relations between some of these characters, or the reasons behind some of their actions. The art was the best point for me, it was very atmospheric, relying on dark colors and cool tones which seemed to match the mood really well.
I didn't really enjoy this one much, it was too surreal and didn't explain enough of what was going on. I had a hard time connecting with the main character, and couldn't really follow the relations between some of these characters, or the reasons behind some of their actions. The art was the best point for me, it was very atmospheric, relying on dark colors and cool tones which seemed to match the mood really well.
February 2, 2024
Seoul before Sunrise is a story of love, loss, and life. Even though there are less than 200 pages, I became invested in Seong-Ji’s story. The story starts with Seong-Ji and her best friend preparing for the college entrance exam and then shifts into their journey moving to Seoul for college and drifting apart. During this transition, Seong-Ji learns about herself and finds new ways to look at life with some help.
I received a digital review copy from NetGalley.
I received a digital review copy from NetGalley.
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