Please Look After Mother

Kyung-Sook Shin

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missing mother story

emotional family dynamics

contemporary south korea setting

motherhood

family values exploration

poignant introspective prose

unique second person perspective

character introspection

complex flawed characters

languid pacing for emotional depth

family reflections and guilt

literary fiction

cultural context and societal commentary

"Please Look After Mother" by Kyung-Sook Shin tells the story of a mother who goes missing in the Seoul subway system, leading her family to reflect on their relationships with her. explores themes of family values, motherhood, and the impact of the mother's disappearance on the family dynamics. Through multiple perspectives, the author delves into the deep characterization of each family member and their journey towards understanding the importance of appreciating and connecting with their mother.

Characters:

The characters are complex, often flawed, and undergo significant introspection about their relationships, particularly with their mother.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is poignant and introspective, employing a unique second-person perspective that enhances emotional engagement.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative revolves around a mother who goes missing, prompting her family to reflect on their relationships with her and their shared guilt.

Setting:

The setting is contemporary South Korea, providing cultural context and societal commentary.

Pacing:

The pacing is languid, prioritizing emotional depth and character exploration over rapid developments.

The family is gathered at your eldest brother Hyong-chol’s house, bouncing ideas off each other. You decide to make flyers and hand them out where Mom was last seen. The first thing to do, everyone ag...

Notes:

The novel 'Please Look After Mom' was written by South Korean author Kyung-Sook Shin.

It tells the story of a mother's disappearance at a crowded Seoul subway station.

The family struggles to find her while reflecting on their relationships with her.

The book is notable for its use of second-person narrative in one of the chapters.

It explores themes of maternal love, family dynamics, and cultural expectations in South Korea.

The novel questions how well family members understand and appreciate their mother.

'Please Look After Mom' became a bestseller in South Korea, selling a million copies within 10 months of its release in 2009.

The English translation by Chi Young Kim won the 2011 Man Asian Literary Prize.

Readers often find it emotionally devastating, leading many to sob while reading.

The book has four chapters, each narrated from the perspective of a different family member.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers and content warnings include themes of loss, animal cruelty, mental health issues, and the effects of aging.

From The Publisher:

A million-plus-copy best seller in Korea-a magnificent English-language debut poised to become an international sensation-this is the stunning, deeply moving story of a family's search for their mother, who goes missing one afternoon amid the crowds of the Seoul Station subway.

Told through the piercing voices and urgent perspectives of a daughter, son, husband, and mother, Please Look After Mom is at once an authentic picture of contemporary life in Korea and a universal story of family love.

You will never think of your mother the same way again after you read this book.

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About the Author:

Kyung-sook Shin is the author of numerous works of fiction and is one of South Korea's most widely read and acclaimed novelists. She has been honored with the Manhae Literature Prize, the Dong-in Literature Prize, and the Yi Sang Literary Prize, as well as France's Prix de l'Inapercu. "Please Look After Mom "is her first book to appear in English and will be published in nineteen countries. Currently a visiting scholar at Columbia University in New York City, she lives in Seoul.

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