Thomas's Reviews > Shoko's Smile: Stories

I liked how this short story collection showcased the complex lives of young women living in South Korea at the intersections of class, generational status, and mental health. However, I found the writing rather monotonous and therefore the characters difficult to connect with. Choi Eun-young includes interesting ideas throughout the collection (e.g., complexities of mother/daughter dynamics, fathers who are vocal about social justice while letting down their families, how the passage of time affects relationships) though I wish I could have felt more of an emotional pull toward these characters and their lives.