Book Review: Almond by Won-Pyung Sohn

 

Book: Almond 

Author: Won-Pyung Sohn 

Pages: 272

Read on: Kindle 

Read in: ~3 hours

Plot Summary: 

This story is, in short, about a monster meeting another monster. 

One of the monsters is me.

Yunjae was born with a brain condition called Alexithymia that makes it hard for him to feel emotions like fear or anger. He does not have friends—the two almond-shaped neurons located deep in his brain have seen to that—but his devoted mother and grandmother provide him with a safe and content life. Their little home above his mother’s used bookstore is decorated with colorful Post-it notes that remind him when to smile, when to say "thank you," and when to laugh.

Then on Christmas Eve—Yunjae’s sixteenth birthday—everything changes. A shocking act of random violence shatters his world, leaving him alone and on his own. Struggling to cope with his loss, Yunjae retreats into silent isolation, until troubled teenager Gon arrives at his school, and they develop a surprising bond.

As Yunjae begins to open his life to new people—including a girl at school—something slowly changes inside him. And when Gon suddenly finds his life at risk, Yunjae will have the chance to step outside of every comfort zone he has created to perhaps become the hero he never thought he would be. 

Things I Liked: 

1. This is a beautiful story about a boy who feels the world and emotions differently than most. Born with a brain condition called Alexithymia, Yunjae does not understand emotions and how to respond appropriately when faced with them. He lives in an apartment behind the used books store owned by his mum and grandma. Their life is filled with little moments of joy and contentment until tragedy strikes and Yunjae has to fend for himself without his mum and grandma acting as interpreters and buffers between him and the emotions of the world. 

2. I really loved Yunjae! He is uncomplicated, kind and has made peace with being different. He doesn't mind his mom trying very hard to get him to be "more normal" by mimicking normal responses to emotional situations even though he wishes she'd let him be. When his mum and grandma are viciously and fatally attacked by an unhappy spree killer, Yunjae does his best to manage the used book shop, visit with his mum (who is in a coma) and continue with his school. He cares deeply in his own way and is fortunate enough to meet a few people who understand and appreciate that. 

3. Gon, the other "monster" (btw, monster doesn't have a negative connotation in this book. It is merely used first by Yunjae's grandma and then Yunjae himself to show how he is different from everyone else), is also an interesting and inherently tragic character. Having grown up in the foster system after being kidnapped from his genteel and well-heeled parents, Gon has also spent a few years at a juvenile detention centre and he is rough, angry and dealing with a lot that he has not processed yet. Your heart breaks for him and it is only Yunjae, who starts to understand him. 

4. Loved the beautiful relationships in this book- between Yunjae and Dr. Shim (their kindly landlord), Yunjae and Gon and Yunjae and Dora (his romantic interest of sorts). 

5. Almond is a beautiful book about looking beyond the surface and trying to be empathetic towards those who are different from us. To not label people so quickly but instead to try and understand them. Yunjae is called a 'robot' and a 'freak' because he can't feel fear or anger or sorrow. Gon has been labeled 'disturbed', 'delinquent', 'trouble-maker' by a legal system that is supposed to protect vulnerable kids like him. These labels make Gon question his own self-worth and almost leads him down a wrong and dangerous path. 

6. Almond is beautifully written and if you enjoy books like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, then this book is definitely a must-read! Also, if you are a BTS fan, then you already know that they've recommended this book as well! :) 

Rating: 5/5