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thevalleyslily's review
3.0
I wonder if things got lost in translation and this book, in its original language, was more evocative. I didn't exactly dislike it but I found myself quite detached while reading. Everything was simple, almost way too simple, leaving me wishing for something more, something deeper. There was so much to explore, a richer story to paint but it was done hastily, only scratching the surface, and often by the way of telling instead of showing. All in all, it was nice but it's far from being the most memorable read in my opinion.
literarykerry's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
shiminmin's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The book taught me that time does not heal all wounds, but forgiveness does. I adored the character growth of the protagonist, Kang. In the beginning, he was motivated by revenge to heal his wounded child self, and yet by the end, his motive shifted to acceptance, healing his inner child, while reconciling with the people he used to despise. The large array of characters is seen to slowly melt the cold heart of Kang, allowing him to finally feel at peace.
lieselie's review against another edition
4.0
Lief verhaal, prettig geschreven en met wat mooie wijsheden. Wel wat open deuren en het plot was wat voorspelbaar, maar dat gaf niet. Het was daarom niet minder mooi. Aan het eind was ik opnieuw een beetje geroerd.
greybeard49's review against another edition
5.0
I was attracted to this book by the simple but very attractive cover illustration. When I read the flyleaf I was unconvinced but decided to give it a go. A good decision.
Hard book to describe really. Initially the novel reads like a foreign fairy tale written in a slightly naive language but as you are pulled further into the story you recognise how subtly the author is slipping in quite sophisticated coverage of some of man's fundamental social and psychological problems. The tale and characters become very appealing and wanting to discover how things pan out becomes the reader's only concern. I enjoyed this and was moved emotionally at times by the story and also by the way it was told. Loved the simple illustrations preceding each chapter.
Hard book to describe really. Initially the novel reads like a foreign fairy tale written in a slightly naive language but as you are pulled further into the story you recognise how subtly the author is slipping in quite sophisticated coverage of some of man's fundamental social and psychological problems. The tale and characters become very appealing and wanting to discover how things pan out becomes the reader's only concern. I enjoyed this and was moved emotionally at times by the story and also by the way it was told. Loved the simple illustrations preceding each chapter.
aliciagriggs's review against another edition
3.0
Originally I thought this was "meh" but the more I got, especially as it got close to the end, the more I realised what a heartwarming, lovely story this is.
It's about an old man who has a brain tumour and returns to his childhood home on Cherry Hill. But he comes back bitter and resentful of the neighbours and resents their continuous intrusions onto his private property. This is a book about reconciliation and human fragility- the joys and the sorrows of it.
It's about an old man who has a brain tumour and returns to his childhood home on Cherry Hill. But he comes back bitter and resentful of the neighbours and resents their continuous intrusions onto his private property. This is a book about reconciliation and human fragility- the joys and the sorrows of it.
haroun's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0