Man, I hate beginning any review like that. Of course I wish I liked it more. Frankly even when I like a bookThis a book I really wish I liked more...
Man, I hate beginning any review like that. Of course I wish I liked it more. Frankly even when I like a book and give it four stars, I obviously wish I liked it more so it could have gotten that fifth star. It's such a ridiculous way to start a review. Let's try this again:
*Resets time*
This is a book I... wish... had been better.
No, that's the same thing.
*Resets time again*
Wait... I don't have the power to reset time? Oh, disappointing. Much like this book (hey-o, now that's a better start!).
All jokes aside, this is a book that was filled with so much potential. The book takes place in an alternate Korea where the concept of the magic girl cartoons basically happen. Young women find out they have a certain power and use it to try to save the world. Here's the thing though, if you're spending a full time job putting yourself at risk, using magic to alter reality and dealing with criminal elements while trying to at least somewhat hide your identity, well, what insurance company is going to let you sign on? This and several other aspects led to a union for magic girls.
That concept right there, honestly kind of brilliant. I read that description and decided I had to check this out. When it plays with these sort of real world issues, I found it great fun.
It just doesn't play with them much. Instead we follow a 29 year old woman who is feeling suicidal, until she suddenly finds out that she has powers (the magic girl of time maybe?!?!?). She ends up learning from a clairvoyant magic girl though that she has an important future ahead and... honestly not much happens. The book is only 150 pages, and while it was clearly written for adults, it feels like a YA short story. We get about 50 pages of interesting real world outlook on magic girls, 50 pages of the main character trying to learn her power, 40 pages of conflict and then a quick wrap up.
In the end it felt very unsatisfying. It was overly simplistic, didn't deliver on the "real world" aspects and the main conflict was so quick that it also just felt... dull. There were so many good ideas here, I wish it would have taken its time and been a bit longer, then it could have been good fun, but as things stand it feels more like a proof of concept than a full story....more
The plot: Yunjae was born with a brain condition called Alexithymia that makes it hard for him to feel emotions like fear or anger. He doesn't really The plot: Yunjae was born with a brain condition called Alexithymia that makes it hard for him to feel emotions like fear or anger. He doesn't really feel happiness, at least not in a strong way, but he is content living with his mother and grandmother… until an incident that leaves his grandmother dead and his mother in a coma. Dealing with the aftermath of this, he tries to cope without anyone to help him make through life faking what he's "supposed" to feel.
This gif sums up the entire novel for me:
[image]
It really was so close. I loved getting inside this character's head. I loved seeing his attempts at getting to know others. The friendship he starts to form and how he interacts is quite clever. It was a four, possibly five star read. Really this is a book that's ruined by the last twenty pages.
Warning: Major spoilers.
(view spoiler)[So, the end of this book lowered this so much. Guess what, he feels emotions "because the heart is more powerful than the brain" or something like that… SO LOVE BEATS MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND THEIR SILLY MEDICAL DEGREES! Also, his mom comes out of her coma seemingly fine, despite the fact that those silly medical professionals said that she most likely wouldn't come out of the coma, and even if she did she would not be the same, THEY WERE WRONG BECAUSE THEY KNOW NOTHING. It's such a ridiculous happy ending that feels so tonally off that it just hurt what was such a good book. (hide spoiler)]
Had the book ended a few pages earlier or had a different ending this would have been a 4 or 4.5 star read. As things stand sections one through three are still great, but the ending lowered it to a generous 2.5/5 stars, rounded up to 3....more
I am genuinely shocked by the mostly low scoring reviews I'm seeing at the moment for this book. Most seem to be in the 3 and under range, which ratheI am genuinely shocked by the mostly low scoring reviews I'm seeing at the moment for this book. Most seem to be in the 3 and under range, which rather boggles my mind. Admittedly this isn't exactly the most well written or deep classic, but it's an adventure that's pure fun and well worth your time.
The plot follows a Robin Hood-like figure named Hong Gildong. He's the son of a high ranking official and a servant girl, thus even though he is well educated in his father's house, he will never be able to advance in station because of his mother. He chooses to instead set off on his own; he becomes the leader of a group of bandits and proceeds to dispense justice on corrupt officials. Unlike Robin Hood, he does not steal taxes, as he genuinely respects his king and wants to see his country grow. He only steals from the corrupt and often plays as a trickster figure (he has magic allowing himself to fly and various other abilities).
If there is a large flaw that I agree with the other reviews on, it is that Guildong is too perfect. There is simply no true threat to him. Every situation has zero suspense as he's more overpowered than Superman. Literally every situation is resolved in a few paragraphs as he's just too good at everything.
Now, I already said it was massively entertaining though, but it is also a historically important work. It was written during a time where Korean works were still written in Chinese. This is one of the earliest fictions to break away from this and be written in the country's native language. As a friend of mine here on goodreads pointed out (shout out Nocturnalux who made me think about it in these terms as well), the fact that this is a rather simple fantasy/adventure story is probably one of the main reasons it was written in Korean. It wasn't meant to be "literature," it was meant to be fun. So, by thinking of this story as a simple pleasure, this unknown author managed to elevate it into an important work. That dear friends, is a wonderful story in and of itself.
A solid 4/5 stars and a recommendation to all who like their classics on the fun side....more
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