Product description
About the Author
Sohn Won-pyung is a film director, screenwriter, and novelist living in South Korea. She earned a BA in social studies and philosophy at Sogang University and film directing at the Korean Academy of Film Arts. She has won several prizes, including the Film Review Award of the 6th Cine21, and the Science Fantasy Writers’ Award for her movie script I Believe in the Moment. She also wrote and directed a number of short films, including Oooh You Make Me Sick and A Two-way Monologue. She made her literary debut in 2017 with this, her first full-length novel, Almond, which won the Changbi Prize for Young Adult Fiction, followed by which won the Jeju 4.3 Peace Literary Award.
Sandy Joosun Lee is a translator and interpreter based in Seoul. She earned a BA in Literature/Writing from the University of California, San Diego. She has received translation grants from Literary Translation Institute of Korea and Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea. She currently works at Studio Mir where she translates and develops animated content.
CS –
The book follows a teenage boy who suffers from a rare neurological condition and his struggles of living alone after the passing of his family.The little details in the book are significant to the read as much as the bigger more prominent ones.
Khalida –
best book
Karthiga_57 –
This book definitely got me out of my reading slump. I read this in one siting. I did however go into it with expectations of it being an extremely sad story (blame bookstagram), but it wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong it is an emotionally moving story and you get to experience a range of emotions but it’s not going to make you sob. It is however an amazing story of a boy who tries really hard to understand himself and the ones around him. The narration felt a little bit like Rue from Euphoria, and I definitely got subtle Murakami vibes of setting the scene. It is definitely worth the read.
eswar kanna –
Almond is a 2017 novel by Sohn Won-pyung, translated into English by Sandy Joosun Lee in 2021. It tells the story of Yunjae, a 16-year-old boy with a brain condition called alexithymia, which makes it difficult for him to experience and process emotions. Yunjae is often misunderstood by those around him, and he feels like an outsider.One day, Yunjae meets Gon, a boy who is the complete opposite of him. Gon is impulsive, emotional, and often gets into trouble. Despite their differences, Yunjae and Gon become friends, and they help each other to understand themselves and the world around them better.Almond is a beautifully written and moving novel that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the power of empathy. It is a story about what it means to be human, and how we connect with each other despite our differences.Review:Almond is a truly unique and special novel. It is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Sohn Won-pyung’s writing is simple yet elegant, and his characters are complex and relatable.Yunjae is a fascinating protagonist. He is a boy who is both different from everyone else and yet also deeply human. His journey of self-discovery is both inspiring and heartbreaking.Gon is another unforgettable character. He is a boy who is struggling to find his place in the world, and he often lashes out in anger and frustration. But beneath his tough exterior, he is a kind and caring person.The relationship between Yunjae and Gon is the heart of the novel. They help each other to grow and learn, and they teach each other valuable lessons about life.Almond is a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and think. It is a story about the importance of empathy, understanding, and acceptance. It is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.I highly recommend Almond to anyone who is looking for a beautifully written and moving novel. It is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
Debasmita Bhowmik –
I started reading the book and it took me to another world. Felt like I’m inside and and feeling each and every emotion the characters are going through. Amazingly explained and easy to read. Beginnings can go for it. ❤
Moon –
exploration on book –
In the heart-wrenching tale of Yunjae, our main protagonist is born with a condition called Alexithymia, rendering him unable to express emotions. He grows up under the care of his mother and grandmother. His mother, who sells rare books secondhand, adeptly guides him to experience laughter, tears, and more according to each situation. Every mother wishes for a better life for her child, and despite their efforts to teach him, Yunjae is left to navigate the world on his own.During a joyous Christmas outing to a shop for their first snowfall, tragedy strikes as a strange incident claims his grandmother’s life and leaves his mother in a coma. Faced with this upheaval, Yunjae begins attending school and takes charge of his mother’s bookshop. Adjacent to the shop is Dr. Shim’s bakery, where he finds support and guidance to improve himself.As he enters his teenage years, Yunjae develops feelings for Dora and Gon, even though they frequently mock him. These two individuals play a pivotal role in shaping his journey to self-improvement. The raw emotion exchanged between Yunjae and Gon adds depth and significance to the narrative, creating a profoundly beautiful story. The translator’s exceptional work preserves the emotional resonance throughout.In conclusion, “Yunjae” is a must-read for everyone seeking to experience a profound emotional connection. It is a touching narrative that transcends linguistic boundaries, skillfully bringing Yunjae’s world to life.
Mubi Ismail –
“Not knowing fear doesn’t mean you’re brave,It means you’re stupid enough to stay standing on a roadWhen a car is charging towards you”Almond is such a poignant coming of age with bothsadness and hope. The writing has so many layers despitebeing such an easy read which i completed in one sitting.This story centres around Yunjae – a boy who hasAlexithymia which makes it hard for him to feel anyemotions. Yunjae retreats into silent isolation after ashocking act of violence shatters him until he meets Gon, atroubled hothead teenager Who feels too much emotionsafter being lost from his parents.They both strike a strong bond which leads Yunjae to stepout of his every comfort zone to become a hero he neverthought he would be.”People shut there eyes to a distant tragedy saying there’snothing they could do,yet they didn’t stand up for the onehappening nearby either because they are too terrified,most people could feel but didn’t act they said theysympathised but easily forgot, I didn’t want to live like that””There is no such person who can’t be saved, There areonly people who give up on trying to save others”Yunjae’s conversations with himself are the best part, hisquestions to himself, his urge to understand theappropriate response to unfamiliar situations hits us hard.
Shilpa –
The book itself is subtly translated however the last 20 something pages were folded
Amaz –
Extraordinarily written coming of age story, of a boy who is suffering from alexithymia “an inability to understand and express feelings or emotions”. How his world collapses and collides, and the way he comes through it, trying to make sense of emotions surrounding him.Heartfelt story with light undertone and amazing translation which allows you to appreciate the originalAnd Brilliantly designed book cover, almond colour circle is where the organ responsible for this condition is situated- amygdala. Apparently it has almond shaped cells and its said that to increase the capacity of that organ you need to eat more almonds, hence the name -Almond