#won pyung sohn
Text
short books recs (under 200 pages)
1. Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
This book follows Sentaro, who runs a dorayaki stall, and his friendship with Tokue, who makes killer sweet bean paste. It is a heart-warming and endearing story that brings you comfort. I love the friendship between Sentaro and Tokue, especially seeing how it develops. The ending feels a little rushed. I kind of wished it was longer. Kind of sad. I cried. 10/10 would read again.
2. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
The Funiculi Funicula cafe provides a time-traveling service, and the book, divided into four parts, retells different characters' experiences traveling in time. I always associate time-traveling with angst and regret, and this book has just that. I love how each part explores different relationship dynamics, so the time-traveling experience varies for each character. Very heart-warming, but very emotional as well. Cried a lot. It's a series but you don't have to read other books. But if you want more info on the cafe and the characters' backstory, then I highly recommend reading the other books.
3. Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
This book revolves around two students, who are victims of bullying. Due to their shared struggle, a friendship blossoms between them. The depiction of bullying and its impacts is raw and authentic, the story providing the perspectives of both the victims and the perpetrators. It was a rage-inducing but thought-provoking read.
4. The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
This book follows Nana the cat as he embarks on a road-trip with his owner, Satoru. Now, cats are my absolute weakness. I love cats. I WOULD DIE FOR THEM. Which is why reading this book was hard and painful. The writing is witty, since it is written from the perspective of a cat. The plot itself is kind of predictable, but it doesn't make it any less painful. Tldr; Shredded my heart into pieces. Cried so hard, I couldn't breathe.
5. Almond by Won-Pyung Sohn
The story follows the main character, Yunjae, who suffers from a rare condition called Alexithymia that essentially makes him unable to feel emotions. Due to that, he couldn't understand social cues so people shun him. The development of the story centers on the people Yunjae are going to meet, and how his relationship with these people develops. The ending felt a little anticlimactic, but I loved it nonetheless.
6. Eartheater by Dolores Reyes
The unnamed protagonist can locate missing people and find out their fate by eating dirt, so people seek her to know the fate of their missing loved ones. It was definitely an interesting read, with elements of magical realism in relation to the protagonist's ability. It is also an intriguing depiction of femicide, a reflection of a system that continuously fails women. I felt rage for the women failed by the system and the sufferings they had to endure at the hands of hateful men.
7. A House is a Body by Shruti Swamy
This book is a collection of short stories, which is a raw and authentic depiction of what it is like being human. I enjoyed certain stories, while some left me utterly confused. The narratives are enticing and poetic, so despite some stories not hitting that hard, I enjoyed the writing.
8. The Vegetarian by Han Kang
After having a bizarre dream, Yeong-Hye declares that she is turning vegetarian, and this sudden change concerned her family. I made the mistake of thinking that this book is merely a depiction of what it's like to be a vegetarian. HELL NO. It utterly deviates from my expectation. I could only describe the book as bizarre and spooky, in an unconventional way. It depicts the complexity of the human mind when the contraint of societal expectations is disregarded.
#book#books#book review#book recommendations#book reccs#book blog#bookblr#booklr#reading#sweet bean paste#before the coffee gets cold#eartheater#the vegetarian#almond#heaven#the travelling cat chronicles#mieko kawakami#toshikazu kawaguchi#durian sukegawa#won pyung sohn#hiro arikawa#dolores reyes#shruti swamy#han kang
149 notes
·
View notes
Text
People say that May is the queen of seasons, but I don't quite agree [...] A month that's overrated. And May was the month that always reminded me I was different from the rest of the world. Everything on earth glittered, vibrantly.
Won-Pyung Sohn, from 'Almond', tr. Sandy Joosun Lee
127 notes
·
View notes
Text
Some more Korean reads 🇰🇷📚
난 요즘 많이 좋아 😌
#the dog who dared to dream#sun mi hwang#human acts#han kang#please look after mother#kyung sook shin#almond#won pyung sohn#the plotters#un su Kim#concerning my daughter#kim hye jin#miss Kim knows#cho nam joo#korean lit#korean literature#books#reading#bookblr#bookstagram#read
27 notes
·
View notes
Text
October TBR 🍁🍂
I decided I’m not going to be my worst enemy anymore. And that includes not sabotaging myself, and doing things I enjoy once more, just for the sake of it.
in Spanish: Almendra (Won-Pyung Sohn) ; Música, sólo música (Haruki Murakami y Seiji Ozawa) ; Orlando (Virginia Woolf)
in French: Notre-Dame de Paris (Victor Hugo)
I wanted to get Orlando in English, but they didn’t have it at the local library…
ES
Lista de lectura de octubre 🍂🍁
He decidido que voy a dejar de ser mi peor enemiga. Eso incluye dejar de sabotearme a mí misma, y volver a hacer las cosas que me gustan, sólo por el placer de hacerlas. Quería sacar Orlando en inglés, pero no lo tenían en la biblioteca…
20 notes
·
View notes
Text
“I’ve decided to confront it. Confront whatever life throws at me, as I always have. And however much I can feel, nothing more, nothing less.”
Almond, Won-Pyung Sohn
58 notes
·
View notes
Text
From what I understood, love was an extreme idea. A word that seemed to force something undefinable into the prison of letters. But the word was used so easily, so often. People spoke of love so casually, just to mean the slightest pleasure or thanks.
Won-pyung Sohn with Sandy Joosun Lee, Almond
6 notes
·
View notes
Text
#almendra#won pyung sohn#la triste realidad#no necesitas una almendra para sentir esto#life sucks#escritos#night#citas
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
almond- won-pyung sohn
135 notes
·
View notes
Text
"What does love mean?" she asked mischievously.
"To discover beauty" he answered while looking into her eyes, "and I found that in your soul."
Won-Pyung Sohn (Almond)
24 notes
·
View notes
Text
my absolute favorite part about finishing a book is reading the author(s)'s notes about their work. Like, I went through a great number of pages written by you, of course I need to know how your brain came up with everything! Tell me, tell me, tell me
#it just makes me appreciate the book even more#ugh I LOVE AUTHOR'S NOTES#Good Omens#Neil Gaiman#terry pratchett#almond#won pyung sohn#carlton mellick iii even makes little comics at the end#mo things
14 notes
·
View notes
Text
“ eu tenho amêndoas em mim. Assim como você”
Amêndoas foi o livro que finalizei hoje, não tenho o costume de ter pressa pra terminar livros, mas esse confesso que terminei rápido, uma leitura fluida e que da pra terminar em um dia se você tiver tempo.
A história triste e de final feliz de um menino que não têm acesso a nenhum sentimento, como alegria, medo ou tristeza. Mas que com muitas coisas acontecendo na vida dele, ele vai desenvolvendo e lidando com sentimentos do jeito dele, um livro extremamente bonito e com uma mensagem linda sobre o quanto os sentimentos são importantes…
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
~ November's Books Reviewed ~
Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston
(418 pages)
I had wanted to read this book for AGES and I'd say it definitely lived up to my expectations - every shitty christmas romcom! And I mean that both in a bad way, and a very very good way. I unapologetically loved every second of it.
I gave this book 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Fateful Crossing by Tom Hindle
(449 pages)
Not bad, but also, not good. A little messy and therefore a bit confusing, especially as a murder mystery, messy plot holes etc can really detract from the story in my opinion. That being said, I read it quickly and it was an easy and enjoyable enough story for that to happen.
I gave this book 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Babel by R. F. Kuang
(546 pages)
Really interesting concept. I think I maybe read it a little too quickly so didn't fully appreciate it as it should have been. The commentary and insights on society and racism and xenophobia was very well done and extremely engaging which is what's going to make me say (unusually for me) that the fantasy elements were the worst bits of this book for me, and I almost felt that the same story could have been told without the "magic" and it maybe would have been even more impactful to just be commenting on language and communication in a reality that is more obviously similar to our own.
I gave this book 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Murder Game by Tom Hindle
(373 pages)
Better than the other Hindle book I read in my opinion, but still a little too "convenient" almost to be a fully successful and good murder mystery for me. Still obviously an easy and light read though, otherwise I wouldn't have picked it up after the first one.
I gave this book 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Where are the Women by Sara Sheridan
(447 pages)
I was gifted this book and it is therefore an obvious movement away from the normal sorts of books I choose to read (it is designed more similarly to a guide book or history text book). In theory, this book is extremely interesting and so so undeniably well researched. I definitely learnt a lot. However, there is a reason I don't tend to read non fiction (or fictions books like this designed to be like a guide book), and that is because I don't particularly like reading them - they always feel just like an info dump with a lack of an actual story arc to me (which I suppose is exactly what they're aiming for...)
I gave this book 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Secret History by Donna Tart
(559 pages)
It is clever. And I'm always going to appreciate a book that is the first of its genre or does something new for the first time. That being said, just because somethings the first, rarely means it's the best, and I've definitely read other dark academia style books that I've enjoyed more to be honest. I found myself skim reading sections which speaks to the fact that I perhaps didn't find it as engaging as other books.
I gave this book 3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌗
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
(386 pages)
I was waring going in to this book since it has blown up, but mostly with people a little older than myself (late 30s-early 50s as far as I've seen), but I really really enjoyed this (and have now recommended it to all my reading friends my age too!)! It filled me with a righteous anger, but in a very validating way. Bits were a little predictable, but that hardly mattered when the social commentary was so much more important than the plot. I'd support a rule saying that every cis male should have to read this to be honest, it's such a peak behind the curtain at just the unintentional, but so deeply engrained micro aggressions that all us women experience, nevermind the outright moments of sexism and misogyny.
I gave this book 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Almond by Won Pyung Sohn
(252 pages)
A bit of a non story, but I strangely enjoyed it. I read the entire thing in less than an hour so hardly an intense read, but it was a very interesting perspective and commentary on people and their relationships with each other, and with themselves.
I gave this book 3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune
(398 pages)
Everything I wanted and/or needed. So wholesome. My only complaint actually is that I wanted more to be honest. All the characters are so so lovely and I loved their found family. T. J. Klune rarely disappoints.
I gave this book 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#claireelizabethsblog#book review#book reccs#red white and royal blue#casey mcquiston#a fateful crossing#tom hindle#babel rf kuang#babel#rf kuang#the murder game#where are all the women#sara sheridan#the secret history#dona tart#lessons in chemistry#bonnie garmus#almond#won pyung sohn#the house in the cerulean sea#tj klune
4 notes
·
View notes
Text
When visiting Melbourne it is essential to go book shopping 🛍️📚💁🏼♀️
#lapvona#ottessa moshfegh#if i had your face#frances cha#almond#won pyung sohn#Nevada#imogen binnie#please look after mother#please look after mom#kyung sook shin#books#literary fiction#korean literature#reading#book#TBR
31 notes
·
View notes
Text
Almond was a random find on my Kindle Unlimited. I'd never heard of the book or the author before but the description I head got to me... "This story is, in short, about a monster meeting another monster. One of those monsters is me."
How could I pass that up?
Now that I've finished reading, I can say it's something outside of what I would normally read. It is based in Korea, with Korean references, but there were no problems with that. It was perfectly translated and didn't have any references and uncultured American like myself couldn't understand. It was beautifully written, heartfelt and rich in details. The characters were deep and well rounded. They were imperfect and real in the best of ways.
The main character Yunjae was born with a brain condition called Alexithymia, which means that he doesn't feel or recognize emotions like 'normal' people do... even in the face of great tragedy. As always, I don't want to give away any major plot lines but it's the type of tragedy that would bring the strongest person to their knees.
His mother and grandmother spend their time raising him with love and acceptance but also, always trying to teach him proper reactions to those around him so that he can live normally and not be bullied or teased at school. They are the only real people in his life. His grandmother is where he gets the idea to call himself a monster. "“Maybe it’s because you’re special. People just can’t stand it when something is different, eigoo, my adorable little monster.” Granny hugged me so tight my ribs hurt. She always called me a monster. To her, that wasn’t a bad thing."
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Yunjae finds a whole new circle of people in his life. With them, he learns new things about himself and about the world. For the first time, he makes friends outside of his mother and grandmother. In their own ways, they try to teach Yunjae about feelings and people. They become in circle.
Some of my favorite parts of the book are how Yunjae describes the books in his mother's used book store.
Books that were already drenched in the scent of time. Not new ones that would regularly flow into the bookstores, but ones that Mom could handpick volume by volume. Hence, used books.
To be more specific, I felt connected to the smell of old books. The first time I smelled them, it was as if I’d encountered something I already knew.
Books took me to places I could never go otherwise. They shared the confessions of people I’d never met and lives I’d never witnessed. The emotions I could never feel, and the events I hadn’t experienced could all be found in those volumes.
But books were different. They had lots of blanks. Blanks between words and even between lines. I could squeeze myself in there and sit, or walk, or scribble down my thoughts. It didn’t matter if I had no idea what the words meant. Turning the pages was half the battle.
But books are quiet. They remain dead silent until somebody flips open a page. Only then do they spill out their stories, calmly and thoroughly, just enough at a time for me to handle.
They way he sees himself in books, even if he doesn't relate to the emotions he reads in them is touching to me. Maybe because I've always found solace in books myself. They've always been a place of comfort. They have lots of blanks as he said... for me, spaces we fill in with our own experiences and interpretations. And maybe that's why they were special to Yunjae as well, because they held no expectations for him, they didn't care that he wasn't 'normal'.
Perhaps one of the most poignant ideas of the story was Yunjae saying that Noone can ever know whether a story is happy or tragic. He says it might be impossible to fit so neatly into one category or the other because "life takes on various flavors as it flows." It reminded me of something I'd read before that stated that people are not all good or all bad, and that sometimes the perception comes again from our own experiences. You can be a good person who had done bad things. A life can be happy even with moments of tragedy.
This is absolutely a book I would recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
#book review#fiction#book recs 2023#angst#books about loss#books about overcoming#books with unusual themes#books with unusual plotlines#almond#won pyung sohn#korean literature
10 notes
·
View notes
Text
“Once you repeat the same word over and over, there comes a time when its meaning fades. Then at some point, letters go beyond letters, and words beyond words. They start to sound like a meaningless, alien language. That’s when I actually feel those incomprehensible words like “love” or “eternity” start speaking to me.”
— Won-Pyung Sohn, Almonds
#novel#quotes#books#academia#dark acadamia quotes#academia aesthetic#literature#dark acadamia aesthetic#won pyung sohn#almonds
18 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
contrivedcoincidences6
Too many obsessions
jezreelblogs-blog
jgmp
fairiedance
FairieDance
the-jam-to-the-unicorn
Good morning, Mr. President.
vivihrts
✩