Title: Please Look After Mom
Author: Shin Kyung-sook
First published November 5, 2008
237 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780307593917 (ISBN10: 0307593916)
Rating: 3.87
Overview
With over 1.5 million copies sold in Korea and an international sensation, Please Look After Mom is a heart-wrenching story that explores the complex relationship between a mother and her family. When sixty-nine-year-old Mom goes missing in a crowded Seoul subway station, her children are consumed with guilt and sorrow.
As they search for her and post flyers throughout the city, they realize that they don’t really know the woman they called Mom. Through the alternating voices of Mom’s daughter, son, husband, and Mom herself, the novel reveals a life that appears ordinary but is anything but.
It’s a mystery that delves into the triumphs and disappointments of all mothers and leaves readers with tears in their eyes. If you’ve ever been a daughter, son, husband, or mother, this book is a must-read.
About the Author
Meet Shin Kyung-sook – a talented writer hailing from South Korea. In 2012, she made history by becoming the first woman and South Korean author to win the prestigious Man Asian Literary Prize for her novel ‘Please Look After Mom’.
Editoral Review
Shin Kyung-sook’s “Please Look After Mom” is a heart-wrenching exploration of the complexities of familial relationships, identity, and memory. Published in 2008, the novel captured the hearts of readers worldwide and was a bestseller in South Korea, where it was first published.
Shin Kyung-sook, who has won numerous literary awards including the Man Asian Literary Prize, wrote the novel in Korean, and it was later translated into English by Chi-Young Kim.
The novel follows the story of an elderly woman who goes missing in a crowded Seoul subway station, and her family’s search to find her. As they search for their mother, each member of the family is forced to confront their own memories, regrets, and unspoken emotions.
The novel is divided into four sections, each narrated by a different family member, including the mother’s daughter, son, husband, and finally, the mother herself.
Shin Kyung-sook’s writing style is simple yet poignant, with vivid descriptions that transport the reader to the bustling city of Seoul and the tranquil countryside where the mother grew up. She captures the essence of Korean culture and tradition, exploring the tension between modernity and tradition in contemporary South Korea.
The novel also touches on themes such as gender roles, sacrifice, and the impact of urbanization on rural communities.
The novel’s strength lies in its portrayal of the mother, who is depicted as a selfless, hardworking woman who sacrificed everything for her family. Through the eyes of her family members, the reader realizes how little they truly knew about her and the sacrifices she made for them.
The novel also explores the guilt and regret that each family member feels for not appreciating their mother when she was alive. The novel’s pacing is slow and deliberate, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story and empathize with each character.
While the novel’s strength lies in its portrayal of the mother and the family’s relationships, it falls short in its exploration of some of the secondary characters. The novel’s focus on the family leaves little room for the development of other characters, making them feel one-dimensional at times.
Additionally, the novel’s structure, while innovative, can be confusing at times, with the constant switching of narrators and timelines.
Overall, “Please Look After Mom” is a beautifully written novel that explores the complexities of family relationships and the impact of memory and regret. While it may not be for everyone, readers who enjoy literary fiction and stories that tug at the heartstrings will find much to appreciate in this novel.
It is a poignant reminder to appreciate and cherish our loved ones while they are still with us.
Rating: 4/5
