I also am quite the Anton Hur fan, I will admit, so that played a factor into this as well. I have been a very big fan of the work that the Feminist Press puts out, and, although I have not liked some of Shin’s other novels as much as other people, I saw the premise of this book and was very fascinated. 'The story of thwarted desires and the isolated individuals that harbor them.I have been meaning to pick up a copy of this book for a while now, but didn’t want to commit to a brand new paperback from Feminist Press, although I do love the American publisher of this book. Reading VIOLETS is like she's writing a script written perfectly for me' Doona Bae, actor (Netflix's SENSE8, CLOUD ATLAS) 'I always find myself acting out the main character in my mind when I read Kyung-Sook Shin's novels. ' binds a spell around the reader until the very end' Park Wanseo

Throughout, San's moment with Namae lingers in the back of her mind.Ī story of desire and violence about a young woman who everyone forgot, VIOLETS is a captivating and sensual read, full of tragedy and beauty. There, we are introduced to a colourful cast of characters, including the shop's mute owner, the other florist Su-ae, and the customers that include a sexually aggressive businessman and a photographer, who San develops an obsession for. We next meet San, aged twenty-two, as she starts a job in a flower shop. Following a moment of physical intimacy in a minari field, Namae violently rejects San, setting her on a troubling path of quashed desire and isolation. She meets a girl called Namae, and they become friends until one afternoon changes everything. We join San in 1970s rural South Korea, a young girl ostracised from her community. 'A subtle, deep, unique work of true literature' Defne Suman, author of THE SIELNCE OF SCHEHERAZADE 'Darkly beautiful, VIOLETS explores the toll of abandonment and relentless marginalisation' Frances Cha, author of IF I HAD YOUR FACE 'Mesmerising, dreamlike and prescient in its sharpness and attentiveness to the dynamics between women and the male and female gaze' Sharlene Teo, author of PONTI

A neglected young woman experiences the violence and isolation of contemporary Korean society, from the two million copy bestselling author of PLEASE LOOK AFTER MOTHER

Please look after mom ending