Almond : A Novel

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.

𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮 : Almond is centered on the life of Yunjae, who is a simple boy but has to face different circumstances due to his brain condition Alexithymia that makes him hard to feel emotions such as rage, fear, happiness. His Grandma and Mom are the two people who help him navigate in society through constant training of how he should react. When tragedy strikes, he is left alone in the world to function in daily life.This is a story of friendship and the power of emotions. It shows us both the positives and negatives of feeling emotions.𝙒𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 : The writing is simple, easy, and bingeable. It was thought-provoking. I completed it easily in two days. The narrative was painful, different, and yet very beautiful.𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 : Dr. Shim was my fav character. The way he was there for Yunjae >>>>>Without intruding much, he guided him with his perfect short and simple answers. I loved reading about them.𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 : "Even though my brain was a mess, what kept my soul whole was the warmth of the hands holding mine on both sides."

"Almond" is a book about a 'monster' meeting another 'monster'. Yunjae, a boy diagnosed with Alexithymia, where one is unable to identify or express emotions such as fear, love, anger, sadness etc. He was labelled as the 'freak' of the society by his classmates and people around him. His only safe haven were his mother and his grandmother. Amidst the bullying and abuse he faced in his life journey, he met Gon. Gon is another 'monster' in his own right, a delinquent whose rough exterior hides a tumultuous past. Their unusual friendship made Yunjae feel the unfelt emotions.What is even normal? That was the central question of the book. Despite the dark undertones, the book felt like a warm embrace. The theme of nature v/s nurture, as well as trauma response, were well explored. Gon was lost when he was just a kid. He was raised by strangers, he moved from one foster home to another, he went through abandonment at every step of his life. The day he meets his father, his father decides to not let Gon come in front of his sick, dying mother due to his appearance. Why am I talking so much about Gon? Because I absolutely loved his character. I am not justifying his actions but my heart bled for him. His motto in life is that he doesn't want to get hurt so he will hurt others...love is soft and he wants to be tough. Yes, a pretty immature take but keep in mind his age.Yunjae, his character and Alexithymia, were portrayed with depth. The book really dived into how his brain worked, as in how his thought process worked. There were so many hard-hitting dialogues, and paragraphs. I have to admit, it was an immersive read. While the pacing occasionally faltered, the first part of the book was gripping.Rating: 4.5/5Do check out all the trigger warnings before starting the book.

The novel tells the story of two isolated boys, Yunjae who can't feel any emotion and Gon who don't know how to hide his emotions meet each other, their unique friendship and how they change for good.The novel is an easy read with short chapters and the author portrayed the characters unfiltered and original.