Book Review | Human Acts

[@szvqorwnpstahskypfwmp9821]

Who would have thought that the author Han Kang would win the Nobel Prize in Literature back in 2018 and now here we are in 2024 as Koreans celebrate her winning the prize, people here in Korea are going insane over her win and buying all her books. I am so proud of her and big congratulations to her and her country. Her writing takes deep into painful human suffering and trauma that we all humans can relate to especially in this day and age with all the war and suffering we are literally witnessing right before our eyes. She is an amazing writer and a wonderful and caring human being. God bless you Han Kang!! We all love you very much!!

[@kjkj1162]

This book was really hard to read for me. it feels like my eyes get burned and I couldn't stop crying. Now, Han Kang is one of my favorite author. Her sentences are very raw but so powerful and so exquisite!! I couldn't really understand every single words you said. cuz it's too fast for my poor english..haha but I can feel this is great review for "Human Acts"

[@Learninglearning-xz3qc]

Congratulations to Han Kang! 🎉 Nobel Laureate 2024 in literature!

[@angelicalabadlabad4174]

I totally agree with the idea of reading books for the characters. I am having difficulty attempting to start the book as the Introduction has not grabbed me. Your review definitely helped give me the drive to give it a second chance.

[@ClaireReadsBooks]

Ah, I'm so glad you loved this! It's still on my mind (and I read it last November). I feel like this is a novel that will be rewarding on reread (I really liked your point about what makes a nation-government vs. military vs. citizenry-I hadn't really thought about that much while reading it, which is just another reason to revisit it! I also agree with you about feeling more emotionally connected to the Dong-ho threads than the other characters...but I sometimes think that emotional distance/numbness evokes the coping mechanisms those characters were all using in the wake of the traumas they experienced (or is that too generous a reading?). But the Dong Ho stuff really got me (I'm not that weepy, but the second to last chapter from Dong Ho's mother's perspective really wrecked me...goddddd, it still breaks my heart just thinking about it)-great review!

[@bookishsabrina]

Oh man, the chapter from Dong-Ho's mom's perspective is so heartbreaking. There are few lines that are just stunning.

[@moonymoon3015]

소름 돕았습니다 정말 놀랍습니다 대단한 식견입니다 감사합니다

[@anaovejero103]

Excellent review!!! so thoughtful!! I really like the idea you give by saying that you feel a tighness in the back of your throat. Iam planning to get the book now.

[@OjaswiShxrma]

I read The Vegetarian and I loved it in the moment but honestly i don't think about it a lot, i kind of forget about it most of the time. I am still wondering wether I should read Human Acts and I think I'll after this video.

[@bookishsabrina]

It is very different from The Vegetarian in terms of structure and message. I found Human Acts to be much more harrowing. But I really enjoyed both novels. I'd say it is worth a shot, but if you don't want to, you certainly don't have to!

[@sangjoo1990]

Your comment induced this book to be Nobel prized , congrat!!

[@ravichanana3148]

Family is important---this is what I gathered from your review. Family in terms of an immediate family as well as the nation as a whole.

[@monicap8561]

Great review! I agree, history classes in the West are very limited in terms of focus and viewpoint. The best history class I ever took was actually a women's writers course. The professor was from Mumbai and he wanted to focus on South Asian women writers, and focusing on the partition of India. Through that course, I now know so much of what was going on around the historical event, whereas before, I hadn't even known there was a partition of India, which says something in and of itself. I was wondering which of Kang's books you would recommend someone read first, this title or the Vegetarian? I don't think I saw a review of the Vegetarian that pulled my interest towards it as this one. Also, I just uploaded my first video, and I would love it if you checked it out when you've finished catching up on videos from your hiatus!

[@bookishsabrina]

I think it depends on the kinds of things you are interested in. I read The Vegetarian first but I liked Human Acts more. Human Acts is making greater statements about society and grief and citizenship, whereas The Vegetarian is more about a woman's agency and treatment in terms of mental health. If Human Acts compels you more, you should start with that one and go back to The Vegetarian if you get on with her style. That's my recommendation!

[@손민기-g3u]

5.18 광주 민주항쟁에서 군인들이 벌인 학살은 세계사적으로 봐도 손에 꼽을 정도로 아주 잔혹합니다. 살인, 강간, 폭행은 기본이고, 어린아이들 까지 무차별적으로 죽이는 것도 모자라, 임산부의 배를 갈라서 영아를 꺼내서 죽이는 미친 짓까지 했죠. 하지만 한국에서는 이걸 인정하지 않는 극우세력이 한국 정치의 가장 큰 세력중에 하나이기 때문에 아직까지 5.18 민주항쟁에 관련해서 갈등과 왜곡이 계속해서 일어나고 있습니다.

[@sgayathri7180]

Yes, the historical background is important but you're being very simplistic if you say it is something the west wont understand. The harrowing details reminds the reader of what political/ nationalistic regimes do always to retain power: see the parallel between the ruthless butchering in Palestine, Syria, Kashmir(India) etc, etc.