Mini-reviews: Alcestis, Forgotten Country, and The Sigh

 I’ve read a lot of books so far this year but because of school and my own laziness, I haven’t reviewed most of them. So here’s a few short reviews on what I’ve read in 2012.

Alcestis by Katharine Beutner. Published in 2010 by Soho Press. Source: Personal library.

 The more that I read novels based on Greek tales, the more I realize that I really need to read The Iliad and The Odyssey. When ancient Greeks thought of the ideal wife, Alcestis came to mind. She was a woman, who took her husband’s place when Hermes came to claim his life. The book was an interesting read that took some fantastic turns once Alcestis was in the underworld. I love the imagery of Hades (the place and the god) and the interactions between Persephone and Alcestis. The ending was fantastic. I just wish I didn’t have to wait until the second half of the book for the action to pick up. My rating: 3 ½ out of 5 stars.

 

Forgotten Country by Catherine Chung. Published in 2012 by Riverhead. Source: Publisher.

Since childhood it’s been Janie’s job to make sure nothing happens to Hannah, her younger sister. It’s not an easy job as the two sisters are opposites. Protecting Hannah becomes even harder once she goes off to college and disappears. The girls’ parents blame Janie and it’s her job to find Hannah and close the rift between the two sisters once and for all. This is Chung’s first book but you couldn’t tell reading Forgotten Country. I found the language to be beautiful while the descriptions of Korea breathtaking. There were many passages that I read aloud to myself just to hear them. The family’s issues and the revealed secret from the past were believable. I’m glad that this was a family who wasn’t dysfunctional but more like they misunderstood each other. Forgotten County is a book that I didn’t want to end. I won’t hesitate to pick up Chung’s next book. My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

 

The Sigh by Marjane Satrapi. Published in 2011 by Archaia. Source: Library

The Sigh is the fairy tale-like story of Rose, the daughter of a rich merchant who wishes for the seed of a blue bean. When her father is unable to find one, a mysterious creature has exactly what Rose wants but it’s comes at a price. What I think: The Sigh is a cute book. That’s it. It’s more like something that you give to your kid as a present and less like something you publish. The Sigh doesn’t have any of the strength or purpose of Persepolis or Embroideries. My rating: 2 out of 5 stars.