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Bonobo
You-jeong Jeong braids three lives—a primatologist, a deadbeat, and a trafficked bonobo—in this speculative meditation on communication, control, and what humans owe the animal world.
Primatologist Jini has tried to forget her betrayal: when she found a baby bonobo headed for the abuses of the black market, she failed to set it free. But a late-night car accident reunites them years later, embedding Jini's consciousness in the terrified animal and leaving her human body hovering between life and death.
As she and deadbeat protector-for-hire Minjoo search for her body, Jini drifts through the bonobo’s memories of joy, degradation, and panic. For the first time, she’ll have to rethink her power over other creatures—and her powerlessness against the forces of nature.
Primatologist Jini has tried to forget her betrayal: when she found a baby bonobo headed for the abuses of the black market, she failed to set it free. But a late-night car accident reunites them years later, embedding Jini's consciousness in the terrified animal and leaving her human body hovering between life and death.
As she and deadbeat protector-for-hire Minjoo search for her body, Jini drifts through the bonobo’s memories of joy, degradation, and panic. For the first time, she’ll have to rethink her power over other creatures—and her powerlessness against the forces of nature.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 27, 2019
About the author
You-Jeong Jeong
13 books552 followersSee also 정유정 .
You-jeong Jeong was born in Hampyeong, South Korea. She initially trained and worked as a nurse. She is now South Korea's leading writer of psychological crime and thriller fiction and is often compared to Stephen King and Raymond Chandler.
You-jeong is the author of four novels including Seven Years of Darkness, which was named one of the top ten crime novels of 2015 by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
Her work has been translated into Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Thai and Vietnamese. The Good Son is the first of her books to be translated into English.
You-jeong Jeong was born in Hampyeong, South Korea. She initially trained and worked as a nurse. She is now South Korea's leading writer of psychological crime and thriller fiction and is often compared to Stephen King and Raymond Chandler.
You-jeong is the author of four novels including Seven Years of Darkness, which was named one of the top ten crime novels of 2015 by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
Her work has been translated into Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Thai and Vietnamese. The Good Son is the first of her books to be translated into English.
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Bonobo (2026) is the translation by An Seonjae (also known as Brother Anthony of Taize) of the novel 진이, 지니 (2019) by 정유정 (You-Jeong Jeong).
This is the fourth of the author's novels to be translated into English, from 6 in Korean:
7년의 밤 (2011), translated as Seven Years of Darkness (2020) by Chi-Young Kim
28 (2013), as yet untranslated
종의 기원 (2016), translated as The Good Son (2018) by Sean Lim-Herbert
진이, 지니 (2019), translated as Bonobo by An Seonjae
완전한 행복 (2021), translated as Perfect Happiness by Chi-Young Kim
영원한 천국 (2024), as yet untranslated
The Good Son. Seven Years of Darkness and Perfect Happiness were psychological thrillers, the first two part of a 'trilogy of evil' alongside 28, and the English publisher compared the author to Stephen King - and as such weren't particularly to my taste.
Bonobo is in a different vein, a less dark, and more compassionate novel, and for me more successful as a result.
It is published in the UK by one of my favourite presses, Honford Star (see below) and this is a review of a paid-for subscriber copy, sent to subscribers in advance of Amazon, and not an ARC.
The Korean title in English would be 'Jini, Genie', a title which, while less 'salesy' is more appropriate for what is a novel of dual identity:
Inevitable questions followed. Where was Jini's body? Where was Jini's mind? If Jini's mind, installed in Genie's body, was asking these questions, was I Jini or Genie? In the end, I came back to square one: Could such a thing really happen? Was it a dream or an illusion.
Jini is coming up to her 35th birthday. She obtained a master's degree with a thesis on "How Chimpanzees Approach One Another in Social Grooming" and now works as a keeper at the Primate Research Center in the mountains in Gangwon.
As the novel opens she recounts her return from a one-month training trip to the Wamba bonobo research site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, , supervised by a Japanese expert, where she made the decision, having fallen in love with the bonobos, that she would leave her job in Korea and return to Wamba for research into a doctorate:
It was an emotional decision, the kind unique to those who live without considering efficiency or desirability. To embellish a bit, I had fallen into a fateful love. They had a deep sensitivity, high intellectual ability, lively gestures, and rich expressions, but above all the bonobos' timid personality was the most impressive thing about them. As they approached and stared searchingly at me, their dark eyes, which had penetrated into me at some point, made me forget that I was a human being and made me act like them.
Transiting back to Korea via Kinshasa, she encounters a 22 hour delay when her connecting flight to Paris is cancelled, and spends the night in the city. Getting lost looking for a souvenir shop that was recommended on Google, she stumbles across a young female bonobo trapped in a cage, presumably for illegal export, and while briefly connecting with the animal, including telling her her name, flees when she hears someone, likely the poacher coming.
When she returns to Korea, and on her last day before she is due to return, she is called out to assist the emergency services. Some exotic animals such as pythons had been rescued from a burning house, but a 'chimpanzee' had escaped, and was at the top of a tree refusing to come down. She goes with the research centre Professor to retrieve the animal, who she soon identifies as a young female bonobo, and is able to talk down from the tree, in part as it is surprisingly responsive when she tells it her name:
The Japanese specialist in Wamba had said that bonobos were the animals closest to humans in terms of feelings, empathy, and memory. He'd said that they read humans' inner feelings much better than chimpanzees. Although they could not understand human speech, they could read the emotions contained in speech, react to them, and remember them. They also had the ability to remember specific events: the who, when, where, what, how, and why.
Therefore, I speculated that it was a woman who had taken care of the animals here. She would have said her name every time she fed the little bonobo. Maybe her name sounded like mine: Lee Jin-hui or Lee Jinna.
On the trip back to the centre, with the bonobo, who she names Genie, and on a stormy night, the van carrying her and the professor crashes off the road, with Jini and Genie thrown through the windscreen.
When she awakes she finds she has fallen into the valley, her descent broken by some trees ... but gradually realises that she now has the body of the bonobo.
No spoilers needed on the above as it's all described on the novel's inside flap, but it does take 100 pages to get there. And 270 pages before the reader's obvious guess as to why Genie responded to Jini is confirmed.
But, by contrast, when Jini/Genie encounters a young man, in his early 30s, Minjoo, in the forest, where he had come to take his life having been thrown out of the family home by his father, it takes a couple of pages for them to resolve how to communicate with each other and for her to explain to Minjoo her story, and for him to accept it.
Which makes this an oddly paced thriller. But that isn't where the novel's strength lies.
Minjoo and Jini/Genie discover that Jini suffered a severe brain injury in the accident, and is in a coma hovering between life and death.
And Jini discovers that at times Genie, the bonobo, takes control over her body, particularly at times of stress (when her 'chimp brain' is literally activated). And when she does so, Jini enters into Genie's memories of her past and her journey to Korea, at first more as a third-person observer, but as time goes on (the novel set over a few days) more and more experiencing Genie's feeling and perspective - which gives the novel an imaginative depth on how a bonobo might perceive the world.
And the plot comes from Jini's dilemma - stay in Genie's body and likely their two identities merge (arguably to the loss of both of them; Jini never returning to her human form and Genie's surrendering full control of her body); or attempt to return to her own, likely fatally damaged, body. Amd Minjoo finds himself torn between wanting to help, and wondering why he got involved, particularly as the police become involved in the search for the missing bonobo and become suspicious of how he keeps popping up whenever the animal is sighted.
A fascinating and empathetic novel, if less successful as a thriller. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Honford Star
Honford Star is a literary publisher of translated fiction from East Asia. Our books are boundary-pushing, unexpected, and entertaining. We are proud to work with some of the world's most talented and esteemed authors, translators, and graphic designers.
This is the fourth of the author's novels to be translated into English, from 6 in Korean:
7년의 밤 (2011), translated as Seven Years of Darkness (2020) by Chi-Young Kim
28 (2013), as yet untranslated
종의 기원 (2016), translated as The Good Son (2018) by Sean Lim-Herbert
진이, 지니 (2019), translated as Bonobo by An Seonjae
완전한 행복 (2021), translated as Perfect Happiness by Chi-Young Kim
영원한 천국 (2024), as yet untranslated
The Good Son. Seven Years of Darkness and Perfect Happiness were psychological thrillers, the first two part of a 'trilogy of evil' alongside 28, and the English publisher compared the author to Stephen King - and as such weren't particularly to my taste.
Bonobo is in a different vein, a less dark, and more compassionate novel, and for me more successful as a result.
It is published in the UK by one of my favourite presses, Honford Star (see below) and this is a review of a paid-for subscriber copy, sent to subscribers in advance of Amazon, and not an ARC.
The Korean title in English would be 'Jini, Genie', a title which, while less 'salesy' is more appropriate for what is a novel of dual identity:
Inevitable questions followed. Where was Jini's body? Where was Jini's mind? If Jini's mind, installed in Genie's body, was asking these questions, was I Jini or Genie? In the end, I came back to square one: Could such a thing really happen? Was it a dream or an illusion.
Jini is coming up to her 35th birthday. She obtained a master's degree with a thesis on "How Chimpanzees Approach One Another in Social Grooming" and now works as a keeper at the Primate Research Center in the mountains in Gangwon.
As the novel opens she recounts her return from a one-month training trip to the Wamba bonobo research site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, , supervised by a Japanese expert, where she made the decision, having fallen in love with the bonobos, that she would leave her job in Korea and return to Wamba for research into a doctorate:
It was an emotional decision, the kind unique to those who live without considering efficiency or desirability. To embellish a bit, I had fallen into a fateful love. They had a deep sensitivity, high intellectual ability, lively gestures, and rich expressions, but above all the bonobos' timid personality was the most impressive thing about them. As they approached and stared searchingly at me, their dark eyes, which had penetrated into me at some point, made me forget that I was a human being and made me act like them.
Transiting back to Korea via Kinshasa, she encounters a 22 hour delay when her connecting flight to Paris is cancelled, and spends the night in the city. Getting lost looking for a souvenir shop that was recommended on Google, she stumbles across a young female bonobo trapped in a cage, presumably for illegal export, and while briefly connecting with the animal, including telling her her name, flees when she hears someone, likely the poacher coming.
When she returns to Korea, and on her last day before she is due to return, she is called out to assist the emergency services. Some exotic animals such as pythons had been rescued from a burning house, but a 'chimpanzee' had escaped, and was at the top of a tree refusing to come down. She goes with the research centre Professor to retrieve the animal, who she soon identifies as a young female bonobo, and is able to talk down from the tree, in part as it is surprisingly responsive when she tells it her name:
The Japanese specialist in Wamba had said that bonobos were the animals closest to humans in terms of feelings, empathy, and memory. He'd said that they read humans' inner feelings much better than chimpanzees. Although they could not understand human speech, they could read the emotions contained in speech, react to them, and remember them. They also had the ability to remember specific events: the who, when, where, what, how, and why.
Therefore, I speculated that it was a woman who had taken care of the animals here. She would have said her name every time she fed the little bonobo. Maybe her name sounded like mine: Lee Jin-hui or Lee Jinna.
On the trip back to the centre, with the bonobo, who she names Genie, and on a stormy night, the van carrying her and the professor crashes off the road, with Jini and Genie thrown through the windscreen.
When she awakes she finds she has fallen into the valley, her descent broken by some trees ... but gradually realises that she now has the body of the bonobo.
No spoilers needed on the above as it's all described on the novel's inside flap, but it does take 100 pages to get there. And 270 pages before the reader's obvious guess as to why Genie responded to Jini is confirmed.
But, by contrast, when Jini/Genie encounters a young man, in his early 30s, Minjoo, in the forest, where he had come to take his life having been thrown out of the family home by his father, it takes a couple of pages for them to resolve how to communicate with each other and for her to explain to Minjoo her story, and for him to accept it.
Which makes this an oddly paced thriller. But that isn't where the novel's strength lies.
Minjoo and Jini/Genie discover that Jini suffered a severe brain injury in the accident, and is in a coma hovering between life and death.
And Jini discovers that at times Genie, the bonobo, takes control over her body, particularly at times of stress (when her 'chimp brain' is literally activated). And when she does so, Jini enters into Genie's memories of her past and her journey to Korea, at first more as a third-person observer, but as time goes on (the novel set over a few days) more and more experiencing Genie's feeling and perspective - which gives the novel an imaginative depth on how a bonobo might perceive the world.
And the plot comes from Jini's dilemma - stay in Genie's body and likely their two identities merge (arguably to the loss of both of them; Jini never returning to her human form and Genie's surrendering full control of her body); or attempt to return to her own, likely fatally damaged, body. Amd Minjoo finds himself torn between wanting to help, and wondering why he got involved, particularly as the police become involved in the search for the missing bonobo and become suspicious of how he keeps popping up whenever the animal is sighted.
A fascinating and empathetic novel, if less successful as a thriller. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Honford Star
Honford Star is a literary publisher of translated fiction from East Asia. Our books are boundary-pushing, unexpected, and entertaining. We are proud to work with some of the world's most talented and esteemed authors, translators, and graphic designers.
October 11, 2021
Jin-yi est une femme qui a dédié une dizaine d'années à l'étude des primates. Suite à un évènement particulièrement bouleversant, elle décide de tout quitter et dire adieu aux primates, repartir de zéro ailleurs. Lors de sa dernière soirée de travail, elle se retrouve à aller sauver un bonobo qui s'est enfui d'une villa qui a pris feu. Sur le chemin du retour, il se produit un très grave accident de voiture et une étrange fusion s'opère : tandis que son corps est emmené à l'hopital, dans un état particulièrement grave, son esprit se retrouve coincé dans le corps de la petite bonobo qu'elle venait de sauver.
Dès le premier chapitre, le lecteur est averti qu'on va humaniser les animaux dans ce récit: "Mon mentor me disait souvent qu'il fallait se garder d'humaniser les animaux. Ce n'était pas une attitude adéquate en tant que scientifique. Je lui répondais "Entendus", mais en fait je n'avais jamais suivi son conseil" (p.14). Donc on sait dès le début qu'on va se rapprocher de l'animal, et non prendre de la distance. En somme, le genre d'histoire qui a tout pour me plaire.
Tandis qu'on suit ce périple, on suit également le personnage de Minju qui tient un rôle important dans l'avancement de cette histoire. Minju, c'est typiquement le personnage marginal, qui n'arrive pas à trouver sa place au sein de la société, qui a des parents qui lui mettent de la pression à trouver un job "respectable" plutôt que le laisser s'épanouir. Il m'a un peu fait penser au personnage principal de Squid Game, que je viens à peine de finir. C'est un homme qui n'a clairement plus envie de vivre, mais sa rencontre avec le bonobo va changer sa vie d'une certaine façon.
Les différentes thématiques dans ce livre : la relation homme-animal, avec l'homme qui est toujours le dominant; la difficulté de trouver sa place dans la société; la question de la mort (peur de mourir, et peur de ne plus avoir la force de vivre); l'amitié (amour ?) entre deux êtres, ce qui amène aussi à la question de respect.
Ce n'est peut-être pas un livre parfait, mais c'est un livre qui m'a fait du bien et qui m'a donné du baume au coeur. Ce récit contenait honnêtement beaucoup de choses que j'aime dans un roman de façon générale. C'est donc une très bonne lecture pour la lectrice que je suis !
Nota bene: accepter la mort, c'est aussi accepter la vie ;-)
Dès le premier chapitre, le lecteur est averti qu'on va humaniser les animaux dans ce récit: "Mon mentor me disait souvent qu'il fallait se garder d'humaniser les animaux. Ce n'était pas une attitude adéquate en tant que scientifique. Je lui répondais "Entendus", mais en fait je n'avais jamais suivi son conseil" (p.14). Donc on sait dès le début qu'on va se rapprocher de l'animal, et non prendre de la distance. En somme, le genre d'histoire qui a tout pour me plaire.
Tandis qu'on suit ce périple, on suit également le personnage de Minju qui tient un rôle important dans l'avancement de cette histoire. Minju, c'est typiquement le personnage marginal, qui n'arrive pas à trouver sa place au sein de la société, qui a des parents qui lui mettent de la pression à trouver un job "respectable" plutôt que le laisser s'épanouir. Il m'a un peu fait penser au personnage principal de Squid Game, que je viens à peine de finir. C'est un homme qui n'a clairement plus envie de vivre, mais sa rencontre avec le bonobo va changer sa vie d'une certaine façon.
Les différentes thématiques dans ce livre : la relation homme-animal, avec l'homme qui est toujours le dominant; la difficulté de trouver sa place dans la société; la question de la mort (peur de mourir, et peur de ne plus avoir la force de vivre); l'amitié (amour ?) entre deux êtres, ce qui amène aussi à la question de respect.
Ce n'est peut-être pas un livre parfait, mais c'est un livre qui m'a fait du bien et qui m'a donné du baume au coeur. Ce récit contenait honnêtement beaucoup de choses que j'aime dans un roman de façon générale. C'est donc une très bonne lecture pour la lectrice que je suis !
Nota bene: accepter la mort, c'est aussi accepter la vie ;-)
October 30, 2026
“𝘈𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘦.”
A 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘺 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺 climate thriller that pounces from excitement to action with a great buoyancy of the existential and the will to live. Takes elements from the marriage between monster and man a la Mrs. Caliban but concerns us with the destruction of our environment today.
This is what I would consider to be a straight translation. Where everything feels translated word for word through a western lens, old and out of touch, to create something that should feel in tune to the original text, but does not offer the gestes and flairs native to the original voice.
A 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘺 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺 climate thriller that pounces from excitement to action with a great buoyancy of the existential and the will to live. Takes elements from the marriage between monster and man a la Mrs. Caliban but concerns us with the destruction of our environment today.
This is what I would consider to be a straight translation. Where everything feels translated word for word through a western lens, old and out of touch, to create something that should feel in tune to the original text, but does not offer the gestes and flairs native to the original voice.
August 21, 2026
This was a strange blend of a speculative fiction, environmental thriller following a primate caretaker who has her consciousness transferred into a bonobo that she is attempting to rescue. She desperately tries to find a way to return her mind to her body with the aid of a local aimless tramp. Together they journey through Korea trying to evade detection while growing along the way.
This book was great, not because it was told absolutely beautifully (even after being translated) but because it was a tender exploration into the unanswerable questions of life and consciousness itself. You-Jeong is a supremely talented writer, her unique turns of phrase were impressive and poetic and to see them carry themselves so effortlessly from Korean was an absolute pleasure (credit to the translator Seon Jae An to the care paid in that regard)
After being thoroughly pleased with my previous read by You-Jeong Jeong (the thriller, Perfect Happiness) its so impressive to see her still thrive and show her range with this very different type of book. I'm so happy that Creature Publishing has introduced me to You-Jeong Jeong's writing and has brought her to my attention because she's criminally underrepresented on here. Bonobo is definitely one to check out.
This book was great, not because it was told absolutely beautifully (even after being translated) but because it was a tender exploration into the unanswerable questions of life and consciousness itself. You-Jeong is a supremely talented writer, her unique turns of phrase were impressive and poetic and to see them carry themselves so effortlessly from Korean was an absolute pleasure (credit to the translator Seon Jae An to the care paid in that regard)
After being thoroughly pleased with my previous read by You-Jeong Jeong (the thriller, Perfect Happiness) its so impressive to see her still thrive and show her range with this very different type of book. I'm so happy that Creature Publishing has introduced me to You-Jeong Jeong's writing and has brought her to my attention because she's criminally underrepresented on here. Bonobo is definitely one to check out.
November 10, 2026
Cerita roh (atau jiwa? mbuh lah..) manusia yang masuk ke dalam tubuh bonobo. Bikin penasaran, kenapa bisa sampe masuk ke tubuh bonobo? Mereka tertukar jiwanya? Atau malah si manusia merasuki bonobo? Yang jelas si manusia tau, dia harus bertemu dengan tubuh aslinya. Tapi bagaimana caranya?
Ah.. aku kira ini akan menjadi buku yang fun buat dibaca. Walaupun dikarang oleh Jeong You-Jeong, tapi siapa tau kan kali ini bukunya lucu & heartwarming gitu. Ternyata itu hanya harapan.... HA HA HA
Menurutku plotnya lambat banget. Pov bergantian antara Lee Ji Ni dengan Kim Min Ju. Diceritain dulu latar kisah mereka masing2 + sejarahnya Jinny (si bonobo) juga.
Nanti bakalan banyak dibawa ke kenangan-kenangannya si Jinny.
Ada beberapa bagian yang rasanya kurang smooth. Peralihan Jini menjadi Jinny misalnya.. atau waktu Min Ju manggil Jini atau Jinny, aku ngebayangin bagaimana Jini tau siapa yang dimaksud Min Ju?
Dan walaupun kata penulis, ini ceritanya ga boleh berat dan suram........ buatku...... ini BERAT dan SURAM 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Menceritakan tentang hubungan kehidupan dengan kematian, novel ini akan membuat kita meresapi arti kehidupan yang sedang kita jalani.
Ah.. aku kira ini akan menjadi buku yang fun buat dibaca. Walaupun dikarang oleh Jeong You-Jeong, tapi siapa tau kan kali ini bukunya lucu & heartwarming gitu. Ternyata itu hanya harapan.... HA HA HA
Menurutku plotnya lambat banget. Pov bergantian antara Lee Ji Ni dengan Kim Min Ju. Diceritain dulu latar kisah mereka masing2 + sejarahnya Jinny (si bonobo) juga.
Nanti bakalan banyak dibawa ke kenangan-kenangannya si Jinny.
Ada beberapa bagian yang rasanya kurang smooth. Peralihan Jini menjadi Jinny misalnya.. atau waktu Min Ju manggil Jini atau Jinny, aku ngebayangin bagaimana Jini tau siapa yang dimaksud Min Ju?
Dan walaupun kata penulis, ini ceritanya ga boleh berat dan suram........ buatku...... ini BERAT dan SURAM 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Menceritakan tentang hubungan kehidupan dengan kematian, novel ini akan membuat kita meresapi arti kehidupan yang sedang kita jalani.
October 29, 2026
Not to be dramatic but I didn’t even read Bonobo I literally disappeared into it. I was a MISPER in my own life for 24 hours straight. The only proof of my existence was an abandoned Kindle, and a bunch of increasingly unhinged voice memos in the notes app. The final archive of a woman going through it.
It’s not one sad moment. The single cinematic tear tracking perfectly down the face. It’s total, end of days, emotional devastation. Warning, not safe for liquid eyeliner. REAL. And I wasn’t just crying at a book. I got flash-banged back to ‘89. 11 years old losing my sh*t over Digit. Gorillas in the Mist, real ones know. Look, primates are my emotional kryptonite.
I’m conflicted, I think many of us are looking at the world right now with a feeling of soul-crushing despair at humanity. You-Jeong Jeong taps into this and it feels heavy for sure but also acknowledged, and there’s a sort of comfort in someone saying I see it too. A collective sigh. We’ve doomscrolled our way into the doom chat. But then she flips the script and gives us Jini and Minjoo who are part of the collective. These are not marvel characters. They are ordinary. They could be you or me. This is where I started to feel conflicted because she made me start to believe that maybe we aren’t completely beyond redemption? That temptation to believe humanity is redeemable is almost manipulative. I mean, emotionally annihilating me and then asking me to have faith. The absolute AUDACITY 😭😭
Bonobo ended me. It also reminded me that even when the world is giving zero reasons for you to give a sh*t, there’s still something worth believing in. Like Gerardo Sámano Córdova’s Monstrilio, I will carry Bonobo in my heart forever. I went missing inside this book and somewhere in all the emotional wreckage I found something I didn’t even realise I really needed right now.
This. This is the book. If I could physically force everyone to read one book it would be this one. Hands down.
Thank you @Honford Star @Netgalley for the ARC gifted in exchange for my honest opinions.
It’s not one sad moment. The single cinematic tear tracking perfectly down the face. It’s total, end of days, emotional devastation. Warning, not safe for liquid eyeliner. REAL. And I wasn’t just crying at a book. I got flash-banged back to ‘89. 11 years old losing my sh*t over Digit. Gorillas in the Mist, real ones know. Look, primates are my emotional kryptonite.
I’m conflicted, I think many of us are looking at the world right now with a feeling of soul-crushing despair at humanity. You-Jeong Jeong taps into this and it feels heavy for sure but also acknowledged, and there’s a sort of comfort in someone saying I see it too. A collective sigh. We’ve doomscrolled our way into the doom chat. But then she flips the script and gives us Jini and Minjoo who are part of the collective. These are not marvel characters. They are ordinary. They could be you or me. This is where I started to feel conflicted because she made me start to believe that maybe we aren’t completely beyond redemption? That temptation to believe humanity is redeemable is almost manipulative. I mean, emotionally annihilating me and then asking me to have faith. The absolute AUDACITY 😭😭
Bonobo ended me. It also reminded me that even when the world is giving zero reasons for you to give a sh*t, there’s still something worth believing in. Like Gerardo Sámano Córdova’s Monstrilio, I will carry Bonobo in my heart forever. I went missing inside this book and somewhere in all the emotional wreckage I found something I didn’t even realise I really needed right now.
This. This is the book. If I could physically force everyone to read one book it would be this one. Hands down.
Thank you @Honford Star @Netgalley for the ARC gifted in exchange for my honest opinions.
October 16, 2026
I went into this one curious about the premise, but I wasn't expecting it to get me thinking so much about what actually makes us us. 😭
A woman ending up in the body of a bonobo sounds like the setup for absolute chaos, and honestly, the concept alone had my attention. But what makes this story interesting is the way it explores consciousness, our relationship with animals, and how much of our identity depends on the body we inhabit.
I love when speculative fiction takes something completely bizarre and uses it to ask questions that are actually pretty relevant to real life. It makes you look at the world a little differently, and I appreciate a book that can do that without needing to be conventional.
This isn't just a quirky animal story. There's a thoughtful side to it that gives the premise more weight than you might expect.
Definitely one for readers who enjoy their fiction a little strange, a little philosophical, and willing to make them question things they usually take for granted. 🐒
A woman ending up in the body of a bonobo sounds like the setup for absolute chaos, and honestly, the concept alone had my attention. But what makes this story interesting is the way it explores consciousness, our relationship with animals, and how much of our identity depends on the body we inhabit.
I love when speculative fiction takes something completely bizarre and uses it to ask questions that are actually pretty relevant to real life. It makes you look at the world a little differently, and I appreciate a book that can do that without needing to be conventional.
This isn't just a quirky animal story. There's a thoughtful side to it that gives the premise more weight than you might expect.
Definitely one for readers who enjoy their fiction a little strange, a little philosophical, and willing to make them question things they usually take for granted. 🐒
September 12, 2026
Bonobo is a speculative fiction/sci-fi novel with a Freaky Fridayish moment where Jini's, a primate caretaker, consciousness merges with a bonobo monkey's. Minjoo is a "failure to launch" thirty year old man who reluctantly agrees to help Jini. Told through the perspectives of Minjoo, Jini, and the monkey's memories as seen by Jini, this novel is by no means a comedy. The moments with the monkey's memories and learning of it's life thus far is quite eye-opening and while the ending fits in well enough it is the epilogue that was the showstopper.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
November 2, 2026
Would love this as a movie
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTfKfdehy/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTfKfdehy/
December 8, 2024
Apa yg terjadi jika Anda mengalami kecelakaan dan terbangun di sosok tubuh beda spesies? Inilah yg saya rasakan saat membaca novel ini.
Walaupun saya sudah pernah membaca buku author (yg ini buku ke-3 author yg saya baca), saya baru pertama kali membaca buku trope "out of body" ini apalagi di tubuh seekor bonobo (sejenis simpanse) betina. Lee Jini adalah petugas dan pengasuh primata yang sedang memangku seekor bonobo ini yg diberi nama Jinny, dan setelah kecelakaan terjadi, Jini panik krn terbangun bukan si tubuhnya sendiri tapi di tubuh bonobo ini.
Satu-satunya orang yg bisa membantu Jini adalah seorang tunawisma bernama Min Ju. Mengikuti petualangan duo beda spesies ini lumayan seru dan mencengangkan, mirip nonton film thriller suspense action dgn percikan science fiction. Alurnya emang lancar jaya, namun ada kalanya di tengah cerita apa ada flashback Jini atau Min Ju yg lumayan annoying bagi saya walaupun ini khas gaya cerita author di dua buku sebelumnya yg sudah saya baca.
Dari POV Jini, kita lihat pergulatan batinnya, melihat dari kacamata Jinny bagaimana hidupnya dirampas oleh manusia serakah.
Sudahlah, sekian dulu reviewnya. Besok masih banyak kerjaan dan mau baca buku lainnya.
Walaupun saya sudah pernah membaca buku author (yg ini buku ke-3 author yg saya baca), saya baru pertama kali membaca buku trope "out of body" ini apalagi di tubuh seekor bonobo (sejenis simpanse) betina. Lee Jini adalah petugas dan pengasuh primata yang sedang memangku seekor bonobo ini yg diberi nama Jinny, dan setelah kecelakaan terjadi, Jini panik krn terbangun bukan si tubuhnya sendiri tapi di tubuh bonobo ini.
Satu-satunya orang yg bisa membantu Jini adalah seorang tunawisma bernama Min Ju. Mengikuti petualangan duo beda spesies ini lumayan seru dan mencengangkan, mirip nonton film thriller suspense action dgn percikan science fiction. Alurnya emang lancar jaya, namun ada kalanya di tengah cerita apa ada flashback Jini atau Min Ju yg lumayan annoying bagi saya walaupun ini khas gaya cerita author di dua buku sebelumnya yg sudah saya baca.
Dari POV Jini, kita lihat pergulatan batinnya, melihat dari kacamata Jinny bagaimana hidupnya dirampas oleh manusia serakah.
Sudahlah, sekian dulu reviewnya. Besok masih banyak kerjaan dan mau baca buku lainnya.
September 8, 2026
What an emotional rollercoaster this was. Bonobo, by You-jeong Jeong, is deeply moving and endlessly entertaining — I found myself completely invested in what would happen to the characters. The writing is beautiful, weaving together adventure and hardship with genuine insight into life and death. Powerful and tender without ever tipping into melodrama, I'd recommend this novel wholeheartedly, especially to fellow animal lovers. It will certainly stay with me for a long time.
October 22, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! I read it as part of a Korean Literature Book Club in Seoul and we got to meet with the English translator and publisher, which was nice!
I thought this was a very profound story about regret and redemption, I really enjoyed it and I look forward to reading more from the author.
I thought this was a very profound story about regret and redemption, I really enjoyed it and I look forward to reading more from the author.
August 13, 2022
Touchant! Mérite le temps d'y consacrer!
October 19, 2026
I received an ARC for this book from NetGalley for free.
The plot of this book sounded very intriguing and quirky, but somehow this ended up feeling very mundane. Everything happened so slowly that I found myself struggling keeping my interest up. I did enjoy how the chapters alternated between the two main characters' POVs and I enjoyed the characters' backstories. The ending was also a banger.
I feel like this is one of those books that would benefit from being shorter. Overall okay-ish book and I’m glad I read it.
The plot of this book sounded very intriguing and quirky, but somehow this ended up feeling very mundane. Everything happened so slowly that I found myself struggling keeping my interest up. I did enjoy how the chapters alternated between the two main characters' POVs and I enjoyed the characters' backstories. The ending was also a banger.
I feel like this is one of those books that would benefit from being shorter. Overall okay-ish book and I’m glad I read it.
October 13, 2026
I was really excited by the premise of this book. Lee Jini is a 34 year old primatology researcher who helps rescue a young female bonobo named Genie. However, during the rescue, a strange turn of events leads to Jini's consciousness merging and transferring into the body of the bonobo. Jini has to try and reunite her mind with her physical body while navigating Genie's memories, trauma, and the moral boundaries between humans and animals.
I think that is a such a unique and original story, and I did find the topics of animal trafficking perfectly touched upon and very well written. However, I didn't love the writing style personally, and therefore I struggled to get through large parts. I don't know if this was the translation but I think it was a personal issue, because I've seen nothing but glowing reviews! It just didn't work for me, and this kept me from really connecting emotionally with the characters. With the ending being so profound, I could understand why it was emotional but I didn't feel anything - which made the whole book a bit lacklustre for me!
Thank you to netgalley and Honford Star for the opportunity to read this ARC!
I think that is a such a unique and original story, and I did find the topics of animal trafficking perfectly touched upon and very well written. However, I didn't love the writing style personally, and therefore I struggled to get through large parts. I don't know if this was the translation but I think it was a personal issue, because I've seen nothing but glowing reviews! It just didn't work for me, and this kept me from really connecting emotionally with the characters. With the ending being so profound, I could understand why it was emotional but I didn't feel anything - which made the whole book a bit lacklustre for me!
Thank you to netgalley and Honford Star for the opportunity to read this ARC!
April 17, 2024
Si vous cherchez un peu d’espoir dans des moments difficiles je vous recommande cette lecture, car elle n’est remplie que de belles leçons.
En tant qu’humains, nous avons tendance à oublier que la vie n’est pas censée être facile, qu’il y a des changements et des défis constants ainsi que des déceptions à surmonter et c’est exactement pourquoi la vie est si belle. Si tout nous était donné sur un plateau d’argent, nous n’apprendrions pas à apprécier chaque petit moment de joie que nous avons au cours de nos journées et nous n’apprendrions pas à être humbles et reconnaissants. Les personnages dans cette histoire nous rappellent que malgré la solitude et les moments difficiles il faut toujours espérer, car il y aura toujours quelqu’un pour nous aider, et si ce quelqu’un n’est pas une autre personne c’est parce que c’est nous-même.
Vous êtes beaucoup plus fort et courageux de ce que vous pensez, mais parfois pour s’en rendre compte il faut oser.
~
En tant qu’humains, nous avons tendance à oublier que la vie n’est pas censée être facile, qu’il y a des changements et des défis constants ainsi que des déceptions à surmonter et c’est exactement pourquoi la vie est si belle. Si tout nous était donné sur un plateau d’argent, nous n’apprendrions pas à apprécier chaque petit moment de joie que nous avons au cours de nos journées et nous n’apprendrions pas à être humbles et reconnaissants. Les personnages dans cette histoire nous rappellent que malgré la solitude et les moments difficiles il faut toujours espérer, car il y aura toujours quelqu’un pour nous aider, et si ce quelqu’un n’est pas une autre personne c’est parce que c’est nous-même.
Vous êtes beaucoup plus fort et courageux de ce que vous pensez, mais parfois pour s’en rendre compte il faut oser.
~
December 28, 2025
“Aku tidak bisa berkata bahwa hidupku bahagia. Namun, aku ingin percaya bahwa aku bukan orang yang tidak beruntung.”
#lintangbookreview
Jini, Jinny | Jeong You-jeong
Bagaimana jika suatu hari kau terbangun dan mendapati dirimu bukan lagi manusia, melainkan seekor bonobo?
Itulah yang dialami Jini setelah sebuah kecelakaan yang membuat jiwanya terjebak dalam tubuh bonobo kecil bernama Jinny. Tubuh manusianya terbaring koma, dan satu-satunya saksi mata adalah Min-ju, pria pengangguran yang kehilangan arah hidup tapi tiba-tiba menjadi satu-satunya harapan.
Kisah ini dituturkan dari dua sudut pandang: Jini dalam tubuh Jinny, dan Min-ju. Meski narasi bergantian, alurnya tetap padu dan saling menguatkan. Ceritanya berjalan lambat, tapi setiap detail terasa hidup. Emosi, suasana, dan keraguan dalam diri tiap tokoh digambarkan dengan dalam, memberi ruang bagi pembaca untuk ikut larut dan terhubung secara emosional.
Yang membuat novel ini menonjol adalah saat Jini menyadari dirinya kini menjadi bonobo. Ada benturan antara naluri manusia dan naluri liar yang tak bisa dikendalikan. Lewat ingatan Jinny, kita juga diajak menyelami luka masa lalunya sebagai korban eksploitasi dan perdagangan ilegal—bagian yang membuat pembaca merenungi bagaimana manusia memperlakukan makhluk lain di bumi ini.
Sementara dari sisi Min-ju, kita ikut menyaksikan perjuangan seorang pria dewasa yang terbuang dari keluarganya karena dianggap gagal, dan bagaimana ia akhirnya menemukan makna hidup lewat permintaan Jini yang tak masuk akal. Dan dalam ketidaksempurnaannya, Min-ju justru jadi tokoh yang paling manusiawi.
Petualangan mereka selama tiga hari mungkin tak diwarnai banyak plot twist, tapi ketegangan emosionalnya begitu terasa. Ketegangan yang muncul bukan dari kejutan besar, melainkan dari ketakutan akan kehilangan waktu, kehilangan kesempatan, kehilangan diri sendiri. Dan saat akhir mendekat, suasana cerita makin hening, getir, dan menyayat.
Novel ini mengajak kita memahami: hidup memang berat, tapi selama napas masih ada, kita punya satu tugas: bertahan. Dan memperjuangkan hidup itu sepenuh hati.
#lintangbookreview
Jini, Jinny | Jeong You-jeong
Bagaimana jika suatu hari kau terbangun dan mendapati dirimu bukan lagi manusia, melainkan seekor bonobo?
Itulah yang dialami Jini setelah sebuah kecelakaan yang membuat jiwanya terjebak dalam tubuh bonobo kecil bernama Jinny. Tubuh manusianya terbaring koma, dan satu-satunya saksi mata adalah Min-ju, pria pengangguran yang kehilangan arah hidup tapi tiba-tiba menjadi satu-satunya harapan.
Kisah ini dituturkan dari dua sudut pandang: Jini dalam tubuh Jinny, dan Min-ju. Meski narasi bergantian, alurnya tetap padu dan saling menguatkan. Ceritanya berjalan lambat, tapi setiap detail terasa hidup. Emosi, suasana, dan keraguan dalam diri tiap tokoh digambarkan dengan dalam, memberi ruang bagi pembaca untuk ikut larut dan terhubung secara emosional.
Yang membuat novel ini menonjol adalah saat Jini menyadari dirinya kini menjadi bonobo. Ada benturan antara naluri manusia dan naluri liar yang tak bisa dikendalikan. Lewat ingatan Jinny, kita juga diajak menyelami luka masa lalunya sebagai korban eksploitasi dan perdagangan ilegal—bagian yang membuat pembaca merenungi bagaimana manusia memperlakukan makhluk lain di bumi ini.
Sementara dari sisi Min-ju, kita ikut menyaksikan perjuangan seorang pria dewasa yang terbuang dari keluarganya karena dianggap gagal, dan bagaimana ia akhirnya menemukan makna hidup lewat permintaan Jini yang tak masuk akal. Dan dalam ketidaksempurnaannya, Min-ju justru jadi tokoh yang paling manusiawi.
Petualangan mereka selama tiga hari mungkin tak diwarnai banyak plot twist, tapi ketegangan emosionalnya begitu terasa. Ketegangan yang muncul bukan dari kejutan besar, melainkan dari ketakutan akan kehilangan waktu, kehilangan kesempatan, kehilangan diri sendiri. Dan saat akhir mendekat, suasana cerita makin hening, getir, dan menyayat.
Novel ini mengajak kita memahami: hidup memang berat, tapi selama napas masih ada, kita punya satu tugas: bertahan. Dan memperjuangkan hidup itu sepenuh hati.
October 15, 2026
What a phenomenal book! It felt like I was reading a magical or superstitious book.
Lee Jini, a 34 year old female who works in a primate centre in South Korea. At one point she was in Africa on a research programme, before leaving she was looking for souvenirs but ended up in a weird shop with no shopkeeper. At this point, she met a caged bonobo but didn't think to save this bonobo at the time.
The thought of not saving this bonobo troubled Lee Jini for some time. Then one day, back in South Korea, she was called out to capture a primate which was held in captivity but had escaped due to a house fire. It so happens that the primate was a bonobo and Lee Jini wasn't sure if it was the same one that she met in Africa...
After rescuing the bonobo, Lee Jini, the bonobo - now called Genie, and Professor Jang, her mentor, fell into a car accident whilst transporting Genie back to the primate centre.
Genie is suddenly possessed by Jini's mind/soul through a phenomenal, mysterious happening following the accident.
Kim Minjoo, a 30 year old loner and vagrant who was kicked out by his parents, happened to be sleeping near the accident, he suddenly became the person to help. He was also the person to have found Genie/Jini the bonobo.
Kim Minjoo is dragged into helping Jini/Genie to get close to the body of Lee Jini at the hospital. They somehow communicate with each other using hand and eye movements, a manual written keyboard, a piece of string and a phone throughout the book.
The book talks about the life as a bonobo, their natural instincts and how they are becoming more endangered in The Congo with poachers and predators. It discusses about survival as a human being and the mysteries of having a human mind colliding in a bonobo's body. I actually enjoyed the book even though the chapters were quite long, but happy that each chapter was a different perspective from Minjoo and Jini. There were some comical parts and there were moments where I thought - could a bonobo actually do all these things described, like tapping on a phone or open a caged door?
Thanks to Netgalley and Honford Star for this Arc! Nice translation too!
Lee Jini, a 34 year old female who works in a primate centre in South Korea. At one point she was in Africa on a research programme, before leaving she was looking for souvenirs but ended up in a weird shop with no shopkeeper. At this point, she met a caged bonobo but didn't think to save this bonobo at the time.
The thought of not saving this bonobo troubled Lee Jini for some time. Then one day, back in South Korea, she was called out to capture a primate which was held in captivity but had escaped due to a house fire. It so happens that the primate was a bonobo and Lee Jini wasn't sure if it was the same one that she met in Africa...
After rescuing the bonobo, Lee Jini, the bonobo - now called Genie, and Professor Jang, her mentor, fell into a car accident whilst transporting Genie back to the primate centre.
Genie is suddenly possessed by Jini's mind/soul through a phenomenal, mysterious happening following the accident.
Kim Minjoo, a 30 year old loner and vagrant who was kicked out by his parents, happened to be sleeping near the accident, he suddenly became the person to help. He was also the person to have found Genie/Jini the bonobo.
Kim Minjoo is dragged into helping Jini/Genie to get close to the body of Lee Jini at the hospital. They somehow communicate with each other using hand and eye movements, a manual written keyboard, a piece of string and a phone throughout the book.
The book talks about the life as a bonobo, their natural instincts and how they are becoming more endangered in The Congo with poachers and predators. It discusses about survival as a human being and the mysteries of having a human mind colliding in a bonobo's body. I actually enjoyed the book even though the chapters were quite long, but happy that each chapter was a different perspective from Minjoo and Jini. There were some comical parts and there were moments where I thought - could a bonobo actually do all these things described, like tapping on a phone or open a caged door?
Thanks to Netgalley and Honford Star for this Arc! Nice translation too!
July 8, 2025
"Hal terburuk dalam hidup bukanlah kematian, melainkan tidak adanya alasan untuk hidup." Hal 59
-
Jini, Jinny
Jeong you-jeong
Penerbit Gramedia, 2024
Alih Bahasa: Lingliana
Tebal 414 Halaman
Pinjam di Perpustakaan Depok
-
Baca Karya ketiga penulis satu ini. Setelah tujuh tahun kegelapan dan The Good Son. Jini, Jinny, merupakan tokoh utama yang tidak biasa dan aku suka ide serta topik cerita yang diangkat mengenai kehidupan manusia dan Bonobo.
-
Yang menarik adalah ketika Lee Jini seorang Penanggung Jawab Kera Besar di Pusat Riset Primata Seoul tanpa sengaja bertemu dengan Bonobo di sebuah toko di luar negeri ketika bertugas. Tanpa dia sadari, semua pertemuan dengan Bonobo itu adalah awal semua peristiwa akan perpindahan jiwa. Saat peristiwa kecelakaan terjadi, ada saksi mata, sosoknya berpengaruh dalam pencarian Jini, pada tubuh Jinny.
-
Bagian yang kurang hanya pada beberapa part yang lambat, tapi tidak mengurangi keseruan cerita. Karena terjemahannya pun ringan dan nyaman jadi mudah dipahami.
"Mereka berdua tidak sepenuhnya hidup atau mati. Mereka berdua berkeliaran di perbatasan antara hidup dan mati." Hal 298
Kutipan di atas membuat pembaca dapat memahami risiko serta chemistry antara Lee Jini dan Bonobo Jinny.
-
Penulis begitu apik menggambarkan semua emosi, baik rasa putus asa, ketakutan, gelisah, kematian dan harapan yang abu-abu. Bahkan setelah membaca bagian di mana penulis melakukan riset untuk spesies langka satu ini, aku dibuat takjub. Karena kemiripan DNA kera Bonobo dan DNA manusia 98.7% mirip menurut riset beberapa ilmuan.
-
Apakah buku ini sesuai ekspektasi aku sebagai pembaca? Betul sesuai ekspektasi dan aku suka, suka banget. Jadi aku rekomendasikan buat kalian yang suka trope out of body, primata dan perpindahan jiwa serta mengenal spesies langka ini.
-
Jini, Jinny
Jeong you-jeong
Penerbit Gramedia, 2024
Alih Bahasa: Lingliana
Tebal 414 Halaman
Pinjam di Perpustakaan Depok
-
Baca Karya ketiga penulis satu ini. Setelah tujuh tahun kegelapan dan The Good Son. Jini, Jinny, merupakan tokoh utama yang tidak biasa dan aku suka ide serta topik cerita yang diangkat mengenai kehidupan manusia dan Bonobo.
-
Yang menarik adalah ketika Lee Jini seorang Penanggung Jawab Kera Besar di Pusat Riset Primata Seoul tanpa sengaja bertemu dengan Bonobo di sebuah toko di luar negeri ketika bertugas. Tanpa dia sadari, semua pertemuan dengan Bonobo itu adalah awal semua peristiwa akan perpindahan jiwa. Saat peristiwa kecelakaan terjadi, ada saksi mata, sosoknya berpengaruh dalam pencarian Jini, pada tubuh Jinny.
-
Bagian yang kurang hanya pada beberapa part yang lambat, tapi tidak mengurangi keseruan cerita. Karena terjemahannya pun ringan dan nyaman jadi mudah dipahami.
"Mereka berdua tidak sepenuhnya hidup atau mati. Mereka berdua berkeliaran di perbatasan antara hidup dan mati." Hal 298
Kutipan di atas membuat pembaca dapat memahami risiko serta chemistry antara Lee Jini dan Bonobo Jinny.
-
Penulis begitu apik menggambarkan semua emosi, baik rasa putus asa, ketakutan, gelisah, kematian dan harapan yang abu-abu. Bahkan setelah membaca bagian di mana penulis melakukan riset untuk spesies langka satu ini, aku dibuat takjub. Karena kemiripan DNA kera Bonobo dan DNA manusia 98.7% mirip menurut riset beberapa ilmuan.
-
Apakah buku ini sesuai ekspektasi aku sebagai pembaca? Betul sesuai ekspektasi dan aku suka, suka banget. Jadi aku rekomendasikan buat kalian yang suka trope out of body, primata dan perpindahan jiwa serta mengenal spesies langka ini.
October 31, 2026
You-Jeong Jeong's BONOBO tells an intriguing story of shifted consciousness with a sci-fi twist in the story of a primate expert swapping souls with a captive bonobo. The transfer occurs during a traumatic car accident that leaves the expert's body in intensive care and her mind trapped in the body of a bonobo now roaming the local woods. The only hope of salvation comes from a shiftless young man who finds himself involved in the story in an extraordinary capacity.
This is certainly a fresh-feeling book and the relationship between the two characters is smartly portrayed with a good degree of realism. The Korean setting adds to the story and the author's knowledge of bonobo behaviour feels well researched. Where I felt slightly distanced from the story lies in the writing style, which I felt was rather detached throughout. The characters' thoughts and feelings are described clinically which prevented me from getting too involved in the story. Having experienced this with other East Asian novels in translation, I do wonder if something has been lost somewhere along the way.
However, style isn't everything and the story is fresh enough to make this a worthwhile read. It grips as the stakes increase as the tale progresses and it has an ending that even the most heartless reader is sure to find moving. If you're looking for something different to the rest, then BONOBO is the book for you.
(Advance review copy supplied by Netgalley)
This is certainly a fresh-feeling book and the relationship between the two characters is smartly portrayed with a good degree of realism. The Korean setting adds to the story and the author's knowledge of bonobo behaviour feels well researched. Where I felt slightly distanced from the story lies in the writing style, which I felt was rather detached throughout. The characters' thoughts and feelings are described clinically which prevented me from getting too involved in the story. Having experienced this with other East Asian novels in translation, I do wonder if something has been lost somewhere along the way.
However, style isn't everything and the story is fresh enough to make this a worthwhile read. It grips as the stakes increase as the tale progresses and it has an ending that even the most heartless reader is sure to find moving. If you're looking for something different to the rest, then BONOBO is the book for you.
(Advance review copy supplied by Netgalley)
October 25, 2026
"The worst that can happen in life is not death, but not finding a reason to live." That quote captures the mood of this dark and somewhat unusual story.
This is speculative fiction featuring two spirits inhabiting a single body, human and ape becoming one. It's not a genre I usually read, but the premise intrigued me enough to dive into their world.
I found it a tough read at times because of how heavy it is. Between Minjoo's depression, Jini's struggles, and Genie's circumstances, I found it quite hopeless at times. As the novel progresses, Jini (the human) begins to see life through Genie's (the bonobo) eyes and even experience the world through her body. Jini has had a hard life, but at least she had choices. Genie never really did.
I learned a fair bit about apes, bonobos, and chimpanzees. The book made me think about animal rights and the lack of respect humans sometimes show towards animals. That is probably what stayed with me most after I finished it.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, even though I never fully connected with the characters. I felt more like an observer watching their story unfold than someone experiencing it alongside them. I also found parts of the narrative a little repetitive. Despite these issues, I am glad I read it.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
This is speculative fiction featuring two spirits inhabiting a single body, human and ape becoming one. It's not a genre I usually read, but the premise intrigued me enough to dive into their world.
I found it a tough read at times because of how heavy it is. Between Minjoo's depression, Jini's struggles, and Genie's circumstances, I found it quite hopeless at times. As the novel progresses, Jini (the human) begins to see life through Genie's (the bonobo) eyes and even experience the world through her body. Jini has had a hard life, but at least she had choices. Genie never really did.
I learned a fair bit about apes, bonobos, and chimpanzees. The book made me think about animal rights and the lack of respect humans sometimes show towards animals. That is probably what stayed with me most after I finished it.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, even though I never fully connected with the characters. I felt more like an observer watching their story unfold than someone experiencing it alongside them. I also found parts of the narrative a little repetitive. Despite these issues, I am glad I read it.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
February 26, 2025
Covernya tidak sesejuk isinya. Memang alurnya nggak berat-namun cukup intens- tapi karakter-karakternya suram. Sedih, cemas, gloomy. Salah banget mengira bakal ada unsur komedi melihat sinopsis yang menyepoiler unsur fantasi. Kukira bakal lucu-lucu cia cie ciyuuu. Ternyata bikin tersedu, help! Musti diingat siapa Penulisnya! Aaaaaa!!!
80% nangis karena bonobo :') Warning ada animal abuse yang cukup membuat hati remuk! Hati-hati!
Karena riset yang dilakukan Penulis sangat dalam, jadi ilmu-ilmu seputar bonobo yang diberikan senyata apa adanya. Gerak-gerik, kebiasaan bonobo, apa yang mereka suka, bagaimana mereka hidup dalam berkelompok yang ternyata berbeda dengan cara hidup simpanse. Bahkan dna bonobo memiliki kemiripan yang paling dekat dengan dna manusia loh daripada simpanse. Yaitu sekitar 98,7% kemiripannya.
Jadi apa buku ini hanya membahas tentang bonobo? Medianya bonobo. Yes. Atau kita bisa panggil dia Jinny. Buku ini bercerita soal pilihan-pilihan yang dimiliki seseorang jika dimusuhi oleh kematian. Kalau kau memang mau menganggap kematian itu musuhmu. Atau kalau kau mau menganggap dia temanmu dan menyambutnya dengan tangan terbuka?
Kita semua akan mati. Sampai saat itu tiba, hiduplah dengan sekuat tenaga.
80% nangis karena bonobo :') Warning ada animal abuse yang cukup membuat hati remuk! Hati-hati!
Karena riset yang dilakukan Penulis sangat dalam, jadi ilmu-ilmu seputar bonobo yang diberikan senyata apa adanya. Gerak-gerik, kebiasaan bonobo, apa yang mereka suka, bagaimana mereka hidup dalam berkelompok yang ternyata berbeda dengan cara hidup simpanse. Bahkan dna bonobo memiliki kemiripan yang paling dekat dengan dna manusia loh daripada simpanse. Yaitu sekitar 98,7% kemiripannya.
Jadi apa buku ini hanya membahas tentang bonobo? Medianya bonobo. Yes. Atau kita bisa panggil dia Jinny. Buku ini bercerita soal pilihan-pilihan yang dimiliki seseorang jika dimusuhi oleh kematian. Kalau kau memang mau menganggap kematian itu musuhmu. Atau kalau kau mau menganggap dia temanmu dan menyambutnya dengan tangan terbuka?
Kita semua akan mati. Sampai saat itu tiba, hiduplah dengan sekuat tenaga.
November 12, 2026
Novel ini bercerita soal Lee Jini, penjaga simpanse di Pusat Riset Primata mengalami kecelakaan mobil saat membawa Jinny, bonobo kecil. Saat terbangun, Jini mendapati dirinya terjebak dalam tubuh Jinny, sedangkan tubuh asli manusianya sedang tidak sadarkan diri di ICU rumah sakit. Kecelakaan itu disaksikan oleh laki-laki tuna wisma, Kim Min Ju. Jini (yang terjebak dalam tubuh Jinny) bersama dengan Min Ju pun mencari cara agar ia bisa kembali ke tubuhnya sendiri. Apakah mereka akan berhasil? Atau malah tidak berhasil menyelamatkan Jini?
Blurb yang menarik! Sebenernya idenya agak cukup umum. Tapi riset tentang bonobo cukup detail dan sangat diperhatikan. Alur novel ini cukup lambat, yang tadinya bikin degdegan karena adegan kejar2an, dirasa jadi ilang feel karena terlalu lambat pace nya. Ada beberapa bagian yang aku kurang ngerti (bagian Jini ngetik surat semaleman itu fungsinya untuk apa ya? Atau mungkin aku yang kurang fokus bacanya jd ga ngerti hehe). Tapi bagian akhir2 cukup heartwarming, tapi ga sampe bikin nangis sih. Terjemahannya juga ngalir jadi enak dibaca.
Buat aku ini so so aja 3.75/5 🙈
Blurb yang menarik! Sebenernya idenya agak cukup umum. Tapi riset tentang bonobo cukup detail dan sangat diperhatikan. Alur novel ini cukup lambat, yang tadinya bikin degdegan karena adegan kejar2an, dirasa jadi ilang feel karena terlalu lambat pace nya. Ada beberapa bagian yang aku kurang ngerti (bagian Jini ngetik surat semaleman itu fungsinya untuk apa ya? Atau mungkin aku yang kurang fokus bacanya jd ga ngerti hehe). Tapi bagian akhir2 cukup heartwarming, tapi ga sampe bikin nangis sih. Terjemahannya juga ngalir jadi enak dibaca.
Buat aku ini so so aja 3.75/5 🙈
September 5, 2026
Wow! What an achingly beautiful story. I absolutely adored every second of this and I’m not afraid to say that the tears were flowing by the end.
Of the East Asian literature I’ve read (strap in for some sweeping generalisations), I’ve often found them to exist in an almost dreamlike state, focusing on the transience of life, and Bonobo perfectly sums this up.
Blending moral duty with a harmony and respect for nature, You-Jeong Jeong has managed to craft a story about someone’s consciousness leaping into the boy of a bonobo into a bittersweet tale of belonging, redemption, and honour.
Thank you so much to Honford Star and NetGalley for the early access, with the paperback release in the UK set for October 13th.
I also want to mention the incredible cover artwork for this edition by Takashi Nakamura, it is absolutely incredible.
Of the East Asian literature I’ve read (strap in for some sweeping generalisations), I’ve often found them to exist in an almost dreamlike state, focusing on the transience of life, and Bonobo perfectly sums this up.
Blending moral duty with a harmony and respect for nature, You-Jeong Jeong has managed to craft a story about someone’s consciousness leaping into the boy of a bonobo into a bittersweet tale of belonging, redemption, and honour.
Thank you so much to Honford Star and NetGalley for the early access, with the paperback release in the UK set for October 13th.
I also want to mention the incredible cover artwork for this edition by Takashi Nakamura, it is absolutely incredible.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've been making a conscious effort to explore more translated fiction lately, and the blurb for Bonobo had me immediately intrigued.
After a car accident, primate caretaker Jini wakes to find herself trapped in the body of a bonobo, Genie, and the quest to reunite her soul with her body begins.
The story unfolds from the perspectives of Jini/Genie, as well as Minjoo, a man Jini recruits to help her reconnect with her body. At times, Jini also experiences a kind of cross over with Genie's memories, and these sections are particularly powerful.
The way Jini and Minjoo's friendship develops is beautifully done, and I was glad for Minjoo's character development as he REALLY needed to grow up!
I felt so much empathy for Genie in reading this book. I can't say I know much about animal trafficking, but the glimpse into what happens to these animals was nothing short of horrifying.
I really enjoyed this book and the way it questions whether a human life is really more valuable than that of an animal.
Thanks to NetGalley, Honford Star, and You-Jeong Jeong for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After a car accident, primate caretaker Jini wakes to find herself trapped in the body of a bonobo, Genie, and the quest to reunite her soul with her body begins.
The story unfolds from the perspectives of Jini/Genie, as well as Minjoo, a man Jini recruits to help her reconnect with her body. At times, Jini also experiences a kind of cross over with Genie's memories, and these sections are particularly powerful.
The way Jini and Minjoo's friendship develops is beautifully done, and I was glad for Minjoo's character development as he REALLY needed to grow up!
I felt so much empathy for Genie in reading this book. I can't say I know much about animal trafficking, but the glimpse into what happens to these animals was nothing short of horrifying.
I really enjoyed this book and the way it questions whether a human life is really more valuable than that of an animal.
Thanks to NetGalley, Honford Star, and You-Jeong Jeong for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2026
* My review relates to the 2026 edition which I believe is a new translation and has a gorgeous cover showing a Bonobo's face. It was an advance edition provided by the publisher. *
This is a fascinating novel, set in South Korea, about a primatologist who inadvertently finds herself sharing the body of a Bonobo following an accident. On the one hand, it is quite a meditative book about relationships (both human to human and human to animals). Equally, it is a tense thriller with a supernatural angle, which you won't want to put down.
I really enjoyed the novel and was quick to finish it. The characters, descriptions and settings were great. Some of the more surreal passages were a little harder for me, but that's something I always struggle with in books and not a criticism, it's just me. I imagine other readers will get a lot more out of those pages. Thoroughly recommended.
This is a fascinating novel, set in South Korea, about a primatologist who inadvertently finds herself sharing the body of a Bonobo following an accident. On the one hand, it is quite a meditative book about relationships (both human to human and human to animals). Equally, it is a tense thriller with a supernatural angle, which you won't want to put down.
I really enjoyed the novel and was quick to finish it. The characters, descriptions and settings were great. Some of the more surreal passages were a little harder for me, but that's something I always struggle with in books and not a criticism, it's just me. I imagine other readers will get a lot more out of those pages. Thoroughly recommended.
May 13, 2025
Ceritanya terbilang sederhana dan meski alurnya lamban, namun temanya unik. Di awal hingga pertengahan, kisah dua jiwa, yakni Jini dengan Jinny yang terpelanting keluar masuk dalam satu tubuh bonobo ini seolah terlalu lama diputuskan. Hendak ke manakah jiwa mereka berdua ditempatkan?
Kepusingan melanda Jini yang harus segera kembali ke raga fisiknya, namun selalu tertunda oleh jiwa Jinny yang selalu membelokkan tindakan Jini dan menggantinya dengan aksi si bonobo sendiri.
Kendati cukup detail, eksekusinya terlampau naif, namun menyentuh dan tak terduga dengan hikmah yang tertinggal yakni hidup harus diperjuangkan sebelum takdir kematian itu datang. Sebagaimana Min-ju yang lontang-lantung, namun akhirnya sadar bahwa ia pun harus mengisi hidupnya dengan sesuatu yang bermakna.
Kepusingan melanda Jini yang harus segera kembali ke raga fisiknya, namun selalu tertunda oleh jiwa Jinny yang selalu membelokkan tindakan Jini dan menggantinya dengan aksi si bonobo sendiri.
Kendati cukup detail, eksekusinya terlampau naif, namun menyentuh dan tak terduga dengan hikmah yang tertinggal yakni hidup harus diperjuangkan sebelum takdir kematian itu datang. Sebagaimana Min-ju yang lontang-lantung, namun akhirnya sadar bahwa ia pun harus mengisi hidupnya dengan sesuatu yang bermakna.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bonobo was a fun story but one with some interesting themes and messages within the fantasy-touched tale. I thought Jini's journey was captivating, and her experiences really changed her as the book progressed. Minjoo, too, ends up broadening his horizons through his connection to Jini. Of course there are some environmental themes at play here, but more interesting for me was the consideration of consciousness and what it means in terms of being alive and being a distinctive person/entity. I am giving this one 4 stars. Worth a read if you like speculative fiction with a bit of philosophy through in.
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.
July 3, 2025
Berkisah tentang jiwa terpisah dari raga dan meminjam raga seekor bonobo. Dibantu oleh seorang pengangguran yang tidak memiliki tujuan hidup, jiwa yang terpisah itu berupaya untuk kembali ke dalam raganya. Dalam perjalanannya, jiwa itu justru merasuk ke dalam kisah si bonobo yang menjadi tubuh induk sementaranya.
Buku ini cukup menarik, hanya saja membahas 3 tokoh yang saling berkelindan satu sama lain membuatnya jadi panjang dan lebar. Di tengah sempat mengalami kebosanan. Meski begitu, saya menyukai akhir ceritanya.
Buku ini cukup menarik, hanya saja membahas 3 tokoh yang saling berkelindan satu sama lain membuatnya jadi panjang dan lebar. Di tengah sempat mengalami kebosanan. Meski begitu, saya menyukai akhir ceritanya.
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