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A review by paperbacksandsketchbooks
Stone Angels by Helena Rho
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thanks BookSparks for the gifted copy of Stone Angels!
Stone Angels is a blend of literary and historical fiction. I would say it leans more on the literary side. It is beautifully written. Helena Rho has a way with words!
This story follows Angelina on her journey to Korea to study the language, but while she's there, she wants to find her grandmother who she's never met and see who her Korean family is after her mother's untimely and tragic death. While she's there, she discovers something she never knew about her family.
I liked how this book was told with multiple POVs spanning over many years. We have Angelina in the present - 2006 in this case, and Angelina's mother in the 1940s up until her death in 2005. There is a third POV in there but I won't spoil anything with that one ;)
The reason I say this is more literary fiction is because we have a character driven story following decisions these characters are making that impact their lives. The writing reads more like prose. Sometimes it takes a lot of brain power to interpret what's happening. Don't let scare you off from this book, though. If you enjoy reading character driven books, you'd enjoy this one!
I wasn't a huge fan of our main character Angelina. I felt some of her decisions were rash. Can those decisions be justified? Maybe. Her life is complicated, and we get to see how being Korean-American impacts her life, too. It made me sad at times. I found myself wanting the best for Angelina, and I want Americans to do better.
The first half of this book moved a bit slow for my taste. I felt some of the anecdotes of Angelina's life could have been condensed. The second half towards the end moved so quick, though, and I loved that third POV.
Overall, if you're a fan of literary fiction, you'd enjoy this book! While the pacing does seem disjointed at times, the story ends up being wholesome and wrapped up nicely.
Stone Angels is a blend of literary and historical fiction. I would say it leans more on the literary side. It is beautifully written. Helena Rho has a way with words!
This story follows Angelina on her journey to Korea to study the language, but while she's there, she wants to find her grandmother who she's never met and see who her Korean family is after her mother's untimely and tragic death. While she's there, she discovers something she never knew about her family.
I liked how this book was told with multiple POVs spanning over many years. We have Angelina in the present - 2006 in this case, and Angelina's mother in the 1940s up until her death in 2005. There is a third POV in there but I won't spoil anything with that one ;)
The reason I say this is more literary fiction is because we have a character driven story following decisions these characters are making that impact their lives. The writing reads more like prose. Sometimes it takes a lot of brain power to interpret what's happening. Don't let scare you off from this book, though. If you enjoy reading character driven books, you'd enjoy this one!
I wasn't a huge fan of our main character Angelina. I felt some of her decisions were rash. Can those decisions be justified? Maybe. Her life is complicated, and we get to see how being Korean-American impacts her life, too. It made me sad at times. I found myself wanting the best for Angelina, and I want Americans to do better.
The first half of this book moved a bit slow for my taste. I felt some of the anecdotes of Angelina's life could have been condensed. The second half towards the end moved so quick, though, and I loved that third POV.
Overall, if you're a fan of literary fiction, you'd enjoy this book! While the pacing does seem disjointed at times, the story ends up being wholesome and wrapped up nicely.