Almond: A Novel by Sohn Won-pyung
Almond: A Novel is about a boy who cannot feel emotions due to a brain condition called Alexithymia. He navigates life through the words of his mother and grandma, teaching him emotions that he should know and to try his best to fit into society. His house above his mother’s bookstore is covered with post-it notes reminding him what he should do in social situations: when to smile, say thank you, or even laugh. Once his whole family was abruptly taken away from him, it took meeting another monster to understand what it truly means to be a human. That monster was Gon, another schoolmate who is bursting with hatred and rage after being abandoned by his family at a young age.
It took me less than a week to finish reading this book, and not one second did I not feel compelled and compassionate for Yunjae. The juxtaposition between Yunjae and Gon is brilliant and shows that it is the parent’s love that truly affects a child’s attitude toward the world. This was one of the first international books I had read, and it felt so refreshing from the American literature that I was brought up to read. This novel itself is very simple and easy to understand. The storyline is fast-paced and captures your attention.