Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Warm best

"Park has a sound sense both of his characters' kindness and banality, and as the novel progresses he succeeds in nailing the note of false ennui the young group at first gives off, exposing not just their dull, sad anxieties but the sweet affection they do develop for each other, with sharp and lovely language....[T]he final section [is] a soulful love letter and apologia that distills the gracefulness of Park's prose throughout the book to a single elegant voice, the individual that was before entering the assembly line of the Jobmilla nightmare....[A] lyrical and often piercing look at daily life made strange and beautiful by faithful transcription."

—Kathryn Joyce, "Hamlet at the Water Cooler," Newsweek [Minor spoiler alert]

No comments: