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Fixed on Fiction

May Discussion

In May, Fixed on Fiction met to discuss Shelter by Jung Yun-

Kyung Cho is a young father burdened by a house he can’t afford. For years, he and his wife, Gillian, have lived beyond their means. Now their debts and bad decisions are catching up with them, and Kyung is anxious for his family’s future.

A few miles away, his parents, Jin and Mae, live in the town’s most exclusive neighborhood, surrounded by the material comforts that Kyung desires for his wife and son. Growing up, they gave him every possible advantage—private tutors, expensive hobbies—but they never showed him kindness. Kyung can hardly bear to see them now, much less ask for their help. Yet when an act of violence leaves Jin and Mae unable to live on their own, the dynamic suddenly changes, and he’s compelled to take them in. For the first time in years, the Chos find themselves living under the same roof. Tensions quickly mount as Kyung’s proximity to his parents forces old feelings of guilt and anger to the surface, along with a terrible and persistent question: how can he ever be a good husband, father, and son when he never knew affection as a child?

As Shelter veers swiftly toward its startling conclusion, Jung Yun leads us through dark and violent territory, where, unexpectedly, the Chos discover hope. Shelter is a masterfully crafted debut novel that asks what it means to provide for one's family and, in answer, delivers a story as riveting as it is profound.

-Summary courtesy of Goodreads.

The majority of readers’ votes for Shelter were so-so, with the occasional thumb up or thumbs down. Here are some initial comments readers made while discussing their reaction to this month’s title:

  • I thought it was awesome. I disliked Kyung of course and didn’t appreciate his drunken outburst at the dinner table. Why say all of those hurtful things?
  • It started off well but the longer I read, the less I liked it. A downer.
  • I liked her writing style but it seemed to go on forever. The pacing was off.
  • It should have made me cry…but it didn’t. I wasn’t invested enough.
  • This was obviously a first novel. The character development was pretty weak.
  • If I can’t remember too much about the book shortly after reading it…then it’s not great for me.
  • I appreciated reading about this perspective- about a family that suffers from multiple levels of domestic violence. It is, sadly, so common.
  • It was depressing. I felt bad when Kyung tried to reconnect with his parents and they shut him down.
  • This was anxiety-provoking and thought-provoking. I kept thinking it would get better and it only got worse.

These are just a few highlights from our discussion. Feel free to leave additional comments on Shelter below.

 

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