Human Acts

Uprising. It is through the stories of the experiences of other people that we can learn about ourselves and can appreciate how much we have in common with others. In her novel titled, Human Acts, Han Kang tells the story of the 1980 uprising in Gwangju, South Korea. Teenager Dong-ho tries to find the body of a missing friend amid the many dead bodies piled up in the street following the uprising. When Dong-ho refuses to go home, he is killed. Kang moves forward and backward in time to explore the uprising from multiple points of view as she explores the range of emotions and reactions to this event. Her lyrical prose contrasts with the story of oppression. Readers who enjoy finely written literary fiction are those most likely to enjoy reading this novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Human Acts from amazon.com.