#52BookClub
Prompt: Has short chapters
Serial: 05/52
Book: Almond: A Novel
Author: Sohn Won-pyung [narrated by Greg Chun]
Translator: Sandy Lee
Duration: 4 hours 52 minutes [Storytel]
Publication: HarperAudio
Genre: YA
This was my first foray into Korean literature, and I loved the experience.
Plot
Yunjae is born with a brain condition which renders him immune to emotions like fear and grief. However, in the aftermath of a personal tragedy, he encounters a troubled teenager, Gon. His life changes. For the better? Or worse?
Review
Almond was a roller coaster ride. Just like K-Dramas, this book relies a lot on emotions. Yunjae’s mom goes to extreme lengths to ensure her son doesn’t face any issues at school because of his condition. Her diligently sticking random notes on dialogues and related reactions at all corners of the house elicits a bittersweet response in readers. The grandmother, on the other hand, is sassy and headstrong.
The novel is narrated by Yunjae in the first-person point of view, but the readers get to know about the secondary characters through him and still empathise with them. Dr Shim is the friend we all need in our lives. Dora appears for a couple of chapters, yet one can feel the fire of ambition raging within her.
The character arcs of Gon and Yunjae are memorable. Gon is introduced as a bully, but like an onion, his traits gradually reveal layers of uncertainty and the need for acceptance. Likewise, Yunjae transforms from an emotionless boy to a true friend who does the unthinkable to rescue Gon from the clutches of Steel Wire.
As Yunjae feels tears for the first time in his life, lying on a hospital bed, I could feel my eyes welling up as well.
The translator has done a decent job in bringing to life the story of Yunjae. However, I wish that the narrator put a little more emphasis on diction and modulation. In many places, I felt the recitation to be a bit drab.
There are certain scenes which were a tad too graphic for my taste, like the one where Gon tortures a butterfly to elicit an emotion from Yunjae. I gasped and winced as the poor creature died a painful death. Certain lines stayed with me, especially the one where Dr Shim admits that being ‘ordinary’ is the most difficult task to accomplish. It broke my heart to note how society dictates what is acceptable.
Almond is not just a saga of Yunjae or Gon. It raises pertinent issues like neurodivergence and societal pressures, and yet, it believes in the power of miracles. The ending may have been too perfect considering its theme, but the feel-good factor permeates even the K series. To be honest, I would have bawled like a baby if the tale took on a tragic twist.
Overall, the novel proved to be a wonderful read.
Do I recommend Almond? Yes!
PS – I read that a couple of BTS members have loved this book. If you’re a fan of the pop group, this might encourage you to have a dekko.
Click on the link here to get your hands on a copy.
