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padancer's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Death of parent and War
eve81's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: War
electrachet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
This was beautiful, lyrical, moving. My favorite piece of this book: "There are certain memories that remain inviolate to the ravages of time. And to those of suffering. It is not true that everything is colored by time and suffering. It is not true that they bring everything to ruin."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death and Miscarriage
Minor: Death and Death of parent
nniee's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and War
bluelilyblue's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death
m4rtt4's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Beautiful.
For me, white has always been one of my least favourite colours, one I've considered dull, empty, sterile and soulless. This book not only made me see white, but also hear and taste it — it was so vivid, as it deserves to be. Because after all, if you add up all the colours — the visible wavelengths of light — you get white.
This book made me feel so many things, it submerged me in melancholy and made me yearn for things I already have (been taking for granted) and as I look outside to the soft fall of February snow, I can't quite see it the same as I used to.
For someone who's lived her entire life in Northern Europe, the endlessly dark winters and heaps of snow are so mundane that Kang's protagonist being in awe of them really took me aback. The winters can be (and will be) depressing, yet they also are a home — something to be appreciated, to be missed — and miss them I would, were I ever to set my foot on a foreign soil.
For me, white has always been one of my least favourite colours, one I've considered dull, empty, sterile and soulless. This book not only made me see white, but also hear and taste it — it was so vivid, as it deserves to be. Because after all, if you add up all the colours — the visible wavelengths of light — you get white.
This book made me feel so many things, it submerged me in melancholy and made me yearn for things I already have (been taking for granted) and as I look outside to the soft fall of February snow, I can't quite see it the same as I used to.
For someone who's lived her entire life in Northern Europe, the endlessly dark winters and heaps of snow are so mundane that Kang's protagonist being in awe of them really took me aback. The winters can be (and will be) depressing, yet they also are a home — something to be appreciated, to be missed — and miss them I would, were I ever to set my foot on a foreign soil.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War
kia_y_k's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Death, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Pregnancy, and War
readingwithnic's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Minor: Death of parent
belladonnashrike's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
this was so beautiful and so incredibly sad. definitely something I will revisit in the future, i’m going to be thinking about some of these essays & poems for awhile.
favorites (in no particular order)
- breast milk
- she
- wave
- moon
- breath cloud
- small white pills
- white pebble
- sand
- black writing through white paper
- parting
sand.
favorites (in no particular order)
- breast milk
- she
- wave
- moon
- breath cloud
- small white pills
- white pebble
- sand
- black writing through white paper
- parting
sand.
and she frequently forgot,
that her body (all our bodies) is a house of sand.
that it had shattered and is shattering still.
slipping stubbornly through her fingers.
also hey bestie if you’re reading this thank you for the book xx I loved it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
rieviolet's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Earlier this year I read Human Acts by the same author and was completely stunnend by it, so I was a bit scared to try
any of her other works, especially because they seemed quite different in style and I feared I would not love them as much. Well, I fretted for nothing really, I was absolutely mesmerized by The White Book.
I found the writing style so poetic and evocative. I loved the poetry sections, even as someone who reads very little poetry.
I was completely absorbed in this sober but at the same time deep and powerful exploration of grief. The final chapter really moved me and I got a bit teary-eyed.
It is a book that I'm surely going to return to.
any of her other works, especially because they seemed quite different in style and I feared I would not love them as much. Well, I fretted for nothing really, I was absolutely mesmerized by The White Book.
I found the writing style so poetic and evocative. I loved the poetry sections, even as someone who reads very little poetry.
I was completely absorbed in this sober but at the same time deep and powerful exploration of grief. The final chapter really moved me and I got a bit teary-eyed.
It is a book that I'm surely going to return to.
There are certain memories that remain inviolate to the ravages of time. And to those of suffering. It is not true that everything is colored by time and suffering. It is not true that they bring everything to ruin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Animal death, Blood, Antisemitism, and Death of parent