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272
Novel • Fiction
Seoul, South Korea • 2000s
2008
Adult
18+ years
In Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin, when 69-year-old So-nyo Park goes missing outside Seoul Station, her family embarks on a desperate search, delving into their memories and realizing they never truly knew her. Through multiple perspectives, including So-nyo's, the novel explores themes of family, identity, and the clash between traditional and modern values. The book touches on emotional abuse, death, and other traumatic events.
Emotional
Melancholic
Contemplative
Nostalgic
45,113 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Kyung-Sook Shin's Please Look After Mom captivates with its emotional depth and unique narrative structure, exploring familial bonds and cultural dynamics. While praised for its poignant storytelling and profound themes, some readers find the shifting perspectives confusing. Overall, it's a moving and thought-provoking read.
Readers who appreciate heartfelt family sagas and emotional narratives will enjoy Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin. Fans of titles like The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan or Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner will find the themes of maternal sacrifice, memory, and cultural identity especially compelling.
45,113 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
So-nyo’s Husband
So-nyo’s unnamed husband, often self-absorbed and inattentive, comes to terms with the impact of his wife's absence on his life.
Chi-hon
So-nyo’s eldest daughter, a novelist, who reevaluates her relationship with her mother and confronts her guilt following her mother’s disappearance.
Hyong-chol
So-nyo’s eldest son, who struggles with guilt over his mother's disappearance and the unfulfilled promises he made to her during his youth.
The Youngest Daughter
The youngest child of So-nyo, whose life choices surprise her mother, and who feels the strain of being unable to actively search for her missing mother.
Eun-gyu Lee
An old man and So-nyo’s secret best friend, whose longstanding connection with her played a significant role in her life.
Sister-in-Law
So-nyo’s sister-in-law, who frequently clashed with So-nyo, later reflecting on their relationship with regret following So-nyo’s disappearance.
272
Novel • Fiction
Seoul, South Korea • 2000s
2008
Adult
18+ years
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