Let’s discuss Won Pyung Sohn’s novel Almond. I wrote probably too many discussion questions for our Beanie Book Club, but feel free to start conversations with other insights, too.
I wrote ten discussion prompts last month–just to start things! 😃
1. Do you like novels with unreliable narrators? Do you think Seon Yunjae counts as an unreliable narrator?
2. Yunjae’s grandmother calls him “adorable little monster.” Did you grow up with negative/teasing nicknames? Is that a norm in your culture/subculture? How do you feel about it?
3. As a total outsider to Korean culture, I’ve been fascinated by the idea of nunchi, loosely translated as emotional intelligence. How does the importance of nunchi affect Yunjae in this novel?
4. Which k-dramas have you seen where the main character lacks nunchi? What were some of the narrative pretexts for this? Which of these dramas did you like?
5. Which characters in world literature or popular culture have trouble understanding other people’s emotions? Any favorites?
6. Many k-dramas seem to make an argument about what is good parenting. What does this book have to say about parenting?
7. Throughout the novel, Yunjae expresses his love of books. Why are books important to him? Did you have similar experiences to his with books and reading?
8. This book has some violent scenes. How did Yunjae’s lack of fear affect how you perceived the violence?
9. What does this book have to say about mending relationships and becoming a better person?
10. Can people show love when they don’t understand how another person feels? Is that what Yunjae is doing here? What’s your experience? Have you ever tried to “fake it until you make it” with an action that’s supposed to be motivated by a feeling? Did it work for you?
Ha! I love it that you like the questions! Do you also like main characters that can’t understand their own or other people’s emotions? I always liked Spock from Star Trek.
1.
Yes Yunjae does at times feel like an unreliable narrator. Yunjae constantly being told he can’t feel/ will never be able to feel emotions, similar to Gon being written off as nothing but a delinquent and not worth understanding, it felt like these two boys were given a label and were confined only to that label. Yunjae is a little different in that he does have a diagnosis and medical condition but even so, as stated in the beginning of the book “the ability of the amygdalae to process fear and anxiety can be increased through training”. There’s the scene where Yunjae’s mother and granny dies, Yunjae does try to intervene but his granny shuts the door stopping him, protecting him. He was pounding at the door and yet this horrific moment was rewritten by people who weren’t even there and Yunjae seems to accept those version of events.
2.
Yes, I was a chubby child and my mum’s nickname for me was laddu. Laddu is a round, ball-like South Asian sweet. It was interesting to read Yunjae’s thoughts on being called an “adorable little monster” since his thoughts mirrored by own. However, I was able to sense affection when my mum called me the nickname as opposed to when my distant relatives did. I couldn’t identify if they said it with affection or if they were just being mean, to this day I still don’t know.
Ah, you hit something I hadn’t thought about! I was only thinking about how Yunjae is really good at observing his surroundings. I didn’t think about how being told he’s not feeling emotions contributes to him not being able to identify what he’s feeling.
It’s adorable that your negative nickname was so cute! You were a little sweetie! My mom sometimes called me “schmegege” which apparently has a different negative meaning than I thought? (My mom said it meant “raggamuffin” but it really means know it all, which is unfortunately on the nose.) But not very frequently because she wasn’t feeling that affectionate all the time. I never found it confusing but I heard from other people that it’s confusing for children.
3.
Huh interesting I haven’t come across the term nunchi before and reading up on it, I think I’d be pretty bad at it honestly. While I might be able to read the emotions of people who are close to me, I find it difficult to read strangers. Obviously Yunjae would have difficulty, but what I find rather interesting with neurodivergent characters is questioning the “norms” of behaviour and society. I remember a scene where Yunjae realises there can be more than one response to a situation, he questions his mother about this and she responds with only one “correct” answer. There’s also contradictions such as when someone says one thing but means something completely different and how complex human communication can be even to a “normal” person.
4.
In terms of a kdrama character that lacks nunchi, I can only think of the male lead in FLOWER OF EVIL. It’s been a while since I’ve watched it so my memory is kind of fuzzy, but there were scenes where he practices smiling in the mirror and finds communication kind of alien. We’re initially meant to believe that he is a serial killer but it’s later revealed he’s not, so after reading ALMOND he might have the same condition as Yunjae, Alexithymia.
I bet his mom gave him only one correct answer because it would be difficult for a young child to remember all the possible responses. My friend’s autistic kid (who is now getting married, time flies!) used to ask me to test him on facial expressions. I remember pushing him on the swings in their backyard and making faces for him to identify.
“…what I find rather interesting with neurodivergent characters is questioning the “norms” of behaviour and society.” Yes! I really like the way you put that. Also your example of Flower of Evil. I’m not sure which show I was thinking of when I wrote that question, but I feel like a lot of characters in K-dramas have this to a greater or lesser extent. Certainly it takes them ages to realize that they are friends with someone or have a crush on them or are being hit on or are being scammed.
6.
I think the author did a good job with having sympathetic parents even if they may not always be considered a “good” parent. I think this is the case especially with Gon’s father Professor Yun. His neglect and shame prevented him from understanding and communicating with Gon. And while I can see his perspective on why he didn’t want Gon to meet his mother, this was a crucial mistake. While Professor Yun may have wanted to absolve any further guilt his wife might have felt, Gon never got the closure to finally meet his mother and in preventing their reunion it sends a message to Gon that he’s not good enough. However, I am glad Professor Yun did learn from his mistakes and is doing his best to be a father to Gon by the end of the novel
7.
I enjoyed scene of Yunjae expressing his fascination of reading books, especially as he so aptly describes that books leave room for the reader to fill in the blanks as opposed to more visual mediums such as film. Personally, I’m not a voracious reader compared to my sister, I may not have this strong passion for reading but I do enjoy it 😊
Professor Yun is a horrible person! I keep thinking about how he prevented his son from seeing his dying mother. It was like his wife was a real person to him but his son was not.
8.
I actually found Yunjae’s lack of fear to be more frightening, particularly the scene where he witnesses a boy being beaten up (to death). I wasn’t sure how the scene was going to unfold and the whole time I was reading it I had this eerie feeling for Yunjae’s safety as well as for the boy that was being violently beaten up
9.
While ALMOND deals with rather tough topics, I feel it’s actually quite positive in its conclusion. That even if it’s hard we can mend broken relationships and we can become better people. Yes it takes hard work, being able to apologise meaningfully and put in the work to reconcile but it is doable. The unexpected friendship between Yunjae and Gon I really think is the central message of the novel.
10.
I do feel Yunjae can love, maybe his love isn’t what we typically conceive what love should look like, but it is love regardless. Visiting his mother at hospital everyday and feeling the empty presence of his family no longer being there.
My friends have been branching out and being more social and making new friends. I’m very anxious with meeting new people in real life and I know I should make more of an effort to be more social. I guess I should use the fake it till you make it method, perhaps a goal for the new year 😅
I felt like, if I accepted the terms of the book, whatever scary thing had already happened. It was in the character’s past. Yet it made everything so much more upsetting! It was obviously a trauma for the character, yet he couldn’t tell the story in terms of feelings.
I found Yunjae a very loving and humane person. Even the moments when he has to tell Gon, “Stop, I can’t give you what you want.” I think a lot of people would like to say that to their tormentors. He says and does kind things without being fully aware of how other people are taking it.
Fake it til you make it works sometimes. It’s scary though! I feel like I have great nunchi in some situations, like maybe, 45% of the time! Sometimes I really do not at all. When I’m on I’m really on, but sometimes I am really not! I prefer if there is a thing I’m supposed to say or do. Sometimes people think manners are phony, but it’s actually great to have something to say and do in a tricky situation.
This was a quote from the book that meant a lot to me: “Books took me to places I could never go otherwise. They shared the confessions of people I’d never met and lives I’d never witnessed. The emotions I could never feel, and the events I hadn’t experienced could all be found in those volumes.” One of the aspects of the book I found most touching was Yunjae’s frustration with his inability to understand emotion in print.
Quotes that resonated with me and made question my emotions vs actions and my moral convictions:
“A tragedy that’s too distant cannot be ‘your’ tragedy”(p. 240)
“People shut their eyes to a distant tragedy saying there’s nothing they could do, yet they didn’t stand up for one happening nearby either because they’re too terrified. Most people could feel but didn’t act. They said they sympathised, but easily forgot. The way I see it, that was not real. I don’t want to live like that.” (p. 240-241)
“There is no such person who can’t be saved. There are only people who give up on trying to save others” (p. 121)
This was a quote by a fictional character P. J. Nolan.
I think about this quote a lot especially considering in my state election the LNP party won with a campaign on harsher punishment and “adult time” for minors which is bonkers in my opinion, also add to the fact that minors themselves aren’t allowed to vote.
I believe minors can be saved however for adults who do heinous crimes, if I’m honest with myself, in some cases I don’t they can be saved.
Anyway thanks for hosting the book club @toomuchtv I’ll be back with answers to some of the discussion prompts
Adult punishments for minors is a big thing in the US. The idea is, if the crime is bad enough, you’re an adult. I really don’t understand that. How is the nature of the crime supposed to determine whether the person had the understanding or self-control to make a mature decision to commit it?
Thank you for hosting the DB Bookclub discussion on Almond. I appreciate the thought that went into the questions and I think the responses showed that those who read the book had lots to think about.
I am sorry it was not a book I could read as I feel I missed out on this discussion.
Yeah, only two of us read the book! I thought it was great. I had recently learned that adolescents experience literal physical growth in their amygdala region of the brain. (Apparently it’s really a physical growth, not just additional development!) Since the book starts with the idea that the protagonist has a small amygdala, that was interesting for me. Also I’m relieved that I’m not the only person who grew up with affectionately-meant negative nicknames being a normal thing.
2
0
Modal title
Modal title
Modal title
Modal title
A verification email has been sent to your new email address.
Please click the link in that email to complete the email change process.
Modal title
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit,
sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna
too_much_tv
November 9, 2024 at 9:57 PM
Let’s discuss Won Pyung Sohn’s novel Almond. I wrote probably too many discussion questions for our Beanie Book Club, but feel free to start conversations with other insights, too.
too_much_tv
November 9, 2024 at 9:58 PM
I’m tagging everyone who asked here: @indyfan @mellowarmadillo @attiton @elinor @ahjummaaa @wonhwa @unaspirated @cayong03 @babylilo @ruhi0101 @petrolia @acacia @dramaforever @zindigo @linarrick @ndlessjoie @sonai @kdramajoy @minniegupta1 @lucky
too_much_tv
November 9, 2024 at 10:02 PM
I wrote ten discussion prompts last month–just to start things! 😃
1. Do you like novels with unreliable narrators? Do you think Seon Yunjae counts as an unreliable narrator?
2. Yunjae’s grandmother calls him “adorable little monster.” Did you grow up with negative/teasing nicknames? Is that a norm in your culture/subculture? How do you feel about it?
3. As a total outsider to Korean culture, I’ve been fascinated by the idea of nunchi, loosely translated as emotional intelligence. How does the importance of nunchi affect Yunjae in this novel?
4. Which k-dramas have you seen where the main character lacks nunchi? What were some of the narrative pretexts for this? Which of these dramas did you like?
5. Which characters in world literature or popular culture have trouble understanding other people’s emotions? Any favorites?
6. Many k-dramas seem to make an argument about what is good parenting. What does this book have to say about parenting?
7. Throughout the novel, Yunjae expresses his love of books. Why are books important to him? Did you have similar experiences to his with books and reading?
8. This book has some violent scenes. How did Yunjae’s lack of fear affect how you perceived the violence?
9. What does this book have to say about mending relationships and becoming a better person?
10. Can people show love when they don’t understand how another person feels? Is that what Yunjae is doing here? What’s your experience? Have you ever tried to “fake it until you make it” with an action that’s supposed to be motivated by a feeling? Did it work for you?
Ahjummaaa
November 10, 2024 at 10:37 AM
Wow these are great questions~~~!!! Love~~~!!!
too_much_tv
November 10, 2024 at 11:27 AM
Ha! I love it that you like the questions! Do you also like main characters that can’t understand their own or other people’s emotions? I always liked Spock from Star Trek.
Linarrick
November 12, 2024 at 3:01 AM
1.
Yes Yunjae does at times feel like an unreliable narrator. Yunjae constantly being told he can’t feel/ will never be able to feel emotions, similar to Gon being written off as nothing but a delinquent and not worth understanding, it felt like these two boys were given a label and were confined only to that label. Yunjae is a little different in that he does have a diagnosis and medical condition but even so, as stated in the beginning of the book “the ability of the amygdalae to process fear and anxiety can be increased through training”. There’s the scene where Yunjae’s mother and granny dies, Yunjae does try to intervene but his granny shuts the door stopping him, protecting him. He was pounding at the door and yet this horrific moment was rewritten by people who weren’t even there and Yunjae seems to accept those version of events.
2.
Yes, I was a chubby child and my mum’s nickname for me was laddu. Laddu is a round, ball-like South Asian sweet. It was interesting to read Yunjae’s thoughts on being called an “adorable little monster” since his thoughts mirrored by own. However, I was able to sense affection when my mum called me the nickname as opposed to when my distant relatives did. I couldn’t identify if they said it with affection or if they were just being mean, to this day I still don’t know.
too_much_tv
November 12, 2024 at 5:59 AM
Ah, you hit something I hadn’t thought about! I was only thinking about how Yunjae is really good at observing his surroundings. I didn’t think about how being told he’s not feeling emotions contributes to him not being able to identify what he’s feeling.
It’s adorable that your negative nickname was so cute! You were a little sweetie! My mom sometimes called me “schmegege” which apparently has a different negative meaning than I thought? (My mom said it meant “raggamuffin” but it really means know it all, which is unfortunately on the nose.) But not very frequently because she wasn’t feeling that affectionate all the time. I never found it confusing but I heard from other people that it’s confusing for children.
Linarrick
November 12, 2024 at 3:02 AM
3.
Huh interesting I haven’t come across the term nunchi before and reading up on it, I think I’d be pretty bad at it honestly. While I might be able to read the emotions of people who are close to me, I find it difficult to read strangers. Obviously Yunjae would have difficulty, but what I find rather interesting with neurodivergent characters is questioning the “norms” of behaviour and society. I remember a scene where Yunjae realises there can be more than one response to a situation, he questions his mother about this and she responds with only one “correct” answer. There’s also contradictions such as when someone says one thing but means something completely different and how complex human communication can be even to a “normal” person.
4.
In terms of a kdrama character that lacks nunchi, I can only think of the male lead in FLOWER OF EVIL. It’s been a while since I’ve watched it so my memory is kind of fuzzy, but there were scenes where he practices smiling in the mirror and finds communication kind of alien. We’re initially meant to believe that he is a serial killer but it’s later revealed he’s not, so after reading ALMOND he might have the same condition as Yunjae, Alexithymia.
too_much_tv
November 12, 2024 at 6:08 AM
I bet his mom gave him only one correct answer because it would be difficult for a young child to remember all the possible responses. My friend’s autistic kid (who is now getting married, time flies!) used to ask me to test him on facial expressions. I remember pushing him on the swings in their backyard and making faces for him to identify.
“…what I find rather interesting with neurodivergent characters is questioning the “norms” of behaviour and society.” Yes! I really like the way you put that. Also your example of Flower of Evil. I’m not sure which show I was thinking of when I wrote that question, but I feel like a lot of characters in K-dramas have this to a greater or lesser extent. Certainly it takes them ages to realize that they are friends with someone or have a crush on them or are being hit on or are being scammed.
Linarrick
November 12, 2024 at 3:04 AM
6.
I think the author did a good job with having sympathetic parents even if they may not always be considered a “good” parent. I think this is the case especially with Gon’s father Professor Yun. His neglect and shame prevented him from understanding and communicating with Gon. And while I can see his perspective on why he didn’t want Gon to meet his mother, this was a crucial mistake. While Professor Yun may have wanted to absolve any further guilt his wife might have felt, Gon never got the closure to finally meet his mother and in preventing their reunion it sends a message to Gon that he’s not good enough. However, I am glad Professor Yun did learn from his mistakes and is doing his best to be a father to Gon by the end of the novel
7.
I enjoyed scene of Yunjae expressing his fascination of reading books, especially as he so aptly describes that books leave room for the reader to fill in the blanks as opposed to more visual mediums such as film. Personally, I’m not a voracious reader compared to my sister, I may not have this strong passion for reading but I do enjoy it 😊
too_much_tv
November 12, 2024 at 6:17 AM
Professor Yun is a horrible person! I keep thinking about how he prevented his son from seeing his dying mother. It was like his wife was a real person to him but his son was not.
Linarrick
November 12, 2024 at 3:06 AM
8.
I actually found Yunjae’s lack of fear to be more frightening, particularly the scene where he witnesses a boy being beaten up (to death). I wasn’t sure how the scene was going to unfold and the whole time I was reading it I had this eerie feeling for Yunjae’s safety as well as for the boy that was being violently beaten up
9.
While ALMOND deals with rather tough topics, I feel it’s actually quite positive in its conclusion. That even if it’s hard we can mend broken relationships and we can become better people. Yes it takes hard work, being able to apologise meaningfully and put in the work to reconcile but it is doable. The unexpected friendship between Yunjae and Gon I really think is the central message of the novel.
10.
I do feel Yunjae can love, maybe his love isn’t what we typically conceive what love should look like, but it is love regardless. Visiting his mother at hospital everyday and feeling the empty presence of his family no longer being there.
My friends have been branching out and being more social and making new friends. I’m very anxious with meeting new people in real life and I know I should make more of an effort to be more social. I guess I should use the fake it till you make it method, perhaps a goal for the new year 😅
too_much_tv
November 12, 2024 at 6:37 AM
I felt like, if I accepted the terms of the book, whatever scary thing had already happened. It was in the character’s past. Yet it made everything so much more upsetting! It was obviously a trauma for the character, yet he couldn’t tell the story in terms of feelings.
I found Yunjae a very loving and humane person. Even the moments when he has to tell Gon, “Stop, I can’t give you what you want.” I think a lot of people would like to say that to their tormentors. He says and does kind things without being fully aware of how other people are taking it.
Fake it til you make it works sometimes. It’s scary though! I feel like I have great nunchi in some situations, like maybe, 45% of the time! Sometimes I really do not at all. When I’m on I’m really on, but sometimes I am really not! I prefer if there is a thing I’m supposed to say or do. Sometimes people think manners are phony, but it’s actually great to have something to say and do in a tricky situation.
too_much_tv
November 10, 2024 at 6:48 PM
This was a quote from the book that meant a lot to me: “Books took me to places I could never go otherwise. They shared the confessions of people I’d never met and lives I’d never witnessed. The emotions I could never feel, and the events I hadn’t experienced could all be found in those volumes.” One of the aspects of the book I found most touching was Yunjae’s frustration with his inability to understand emotion in print.
Linarrick
November 11, 2024 at 6:47 AM
Quotes that resonated with me and made question my emotions vs actions and my moral convictions:
“A tragedy that’s too distant cannot be ‘your’ tragedy”(p. 240)
“People shut their eyes to a distant tragedy saying there’s nothing they could do, yet they didn’t stand up for one happening nearby either because they’re too terrified. Most people could feel but didn’t act. They said they sympathised, but easily forgot. The way I see it, that was not real. I don’t want to live like that.” (p. 240-241)
“There is no such person who can’t be saved. There are only people who give up on trying to save others” (p. 121)
This was a quote by a fictional character P. J. Nolan.
I think about this quote a lot especially considering in my state election the LNP party won with a campaign on harsher punishment and “adult time” for minors which is bonkers in my opinion, also add to the fact that minors themselves aren’t allowed to vote.
I believe minors can be saved however for adults who do heinous crimes, if I’m honest with myself, in some cases I don’t they can be saved.
Anyway thanks for hosting the book club @toomuchtv I’ll be back with answers to some of the discussion prompts
too_much_tv
November 11, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Adult punishments for minors is a big thing in the US. The idea is, if the crime is bad enough, you’re an adult. I really don’t understand that. How is the nature of the crime supposed to determine whether the person had the understanding or self-control to make a mature decision to commit it?
Linarrick
November 12, 2024 at 2:59 AM
Yes exactly, perfectly said!
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
November 16, 2024 at 10:07 AM
Thanks so much for the time you took to share your thoughts on this interesting book.
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
November 16, 2024 at 10:05 AM
Thank you for hosting the DB Bookclub discussion on Almond. I appreciate the thought that went into the questions and I think the responses showed that those who read the book had lots to think about.
I am sorry it was not a book I could read as I feel I missed out on this discussion.
too_much_tv
November 16, 2024 at 4:40 PM
Yeah, only two of us read the book! I thought it was great. I had recently learned that adolescents experience literal physical growth in their amygdala region of the brain. (Apparently it’s really a physical growth, not just additional development!) Since the book starts with the idea that the protagonist has a small amygdala, that was interesting for me. Also I’m relieved that I’m not the only person who grew up with affectionately-meant negative nicknames being a normal thing.