Almond by Sohn Won-Pyung

You know that feeling when you bite into an almond and get that burst of nutty flavor? Well, Sohn Won-pyung’s debut novel “Almond” hits you with a similar intensity, except instead of taste buds, it’s your heart that gets walloped. This book, man. It’s like… it sneaks up on you, you know? At first, you think you’re reading this quirky story about a kid who can’t feel emotions, but before you know it, you’re ugly crying into your pillow at 2 AM.

A Monster Meets Another Monster (And They Become Friends?)

Okay, so our main guy is Yunjae. Poor kid’s got this condition called alexithymia, which basically means his emotional hardware is all wonky. Fear? Anger? Joy? Nope, nada, zilch. It’s like his brain’s running Windows 95 while everyone else has the latest iPhone. But hey, he’s got his mom and grandma, who’ve turned their little apartment into Post-it Note Central, giving him step-by-step instructions on how to human. “Smile here!” “Say thank you there!” You get the idea.

Everything’s chugging along fine until – BAM! – tragedy strikes on Christmas Eve (which also happens to be Yunjae’s 16th birthday, because of course it is). Suddenly our boy’s flying solo, trying to navigate high school and, you know, life, without his emotional training wheels.

Enter Gon. This dude’s like the yang to Yunjae’s yin – all fire and fury where Yunjae’s cool as a cucumber. At first, Gon’s just another bully making Yunjae’s life hell. But then… something shifts. These two outsiders start to see something in each other. It’s like watching two puzzle pieces that shouldn’t fit somehow click together.

More Than Just Another Coming-of-Age Story

Listen, I know what you’re thinking. “Great, another YA book about misfits finding themselves.” But trust me, “Almond” is so much more than that. Sohn Won-pyung takes these familiar tropes and twists them into something fresh and, frankly, kind of magical.

The way she writes Yunjae’s perspective is… haunting. You’re right there in his head, seeing the world through this weirdly detached lens. It’s unsettling, but also weirdly beautiful? Like, there’s this scene where he’s describing a butterfly, and it’s so clinical, but also somehow poetic. It’ll mess with your head, I’m telling you.

And Gon? Oh man, Gon. This kid’s a powder keg of emotions, but Sohn peels back his layers so delicately. You start to see the scared, hurting kid beneath all that anger. It’s heartbreaking stuff.

A Meditation on What It Means to Be Human

Here’s the thing – Almond by Sohn Won-Pyung isn’t just about Yunjae learning to feel. It’s asking some big questions about empathy, connection, and what it really means to be human. Can you be a good person without feeling emotions? Is raw feeling without control any better? Sohn doesn’t give us easy answers, but she sure as hell makes you think.

There’s this undercurrent of loneliness running through the whole book that’ll hit you right in the gut. Yunjae and Gon are both so isolated, but in completely different ways. Watching them fumble towards some kind of understanding… it’s messy and awkward and sometimes painful, but also weirdly hopeful?

A Cultural Lens

Okay, I gotta talk about the Korean setting for a sec. Sohn doesn’t beat you over the head with it, but there are these little details that add so much texture. The pressure cooker of the Korean education system, the expectations placed on kids, the way mental health is (or isn’t) talked about – it all feeds into the story in really interesting ways.

And can we talk about the food descriptions? There’s this scene with some cold noodles that’ll have you frantically Googling the nearest Korean restaurant. Just saying.

Not Your Average “Issue” Book

Here’s what I love aboutAlmond by Sohn Won-Pyung – it deals with some heavy stuff (mental health, bullying, grief), but it never feels preachy or after-school special-y. Sohn’s touch is light, even when she’s tackling dark subjects. There’s humor threaded throughout, these little moments of absurdity that’ll make you snort-laugh.

And the pacing! This book moves, people. It’s got that page-turner quality, but not in a cheap, cliffhanger-y way. You just get so invested in these characters that you need to know what happens next.

A Word on the Translation

Major props to Joosun Lee for the translation. Translating is an art, and Lee nails it. The prose flows so naturally, you forget you’re reading a translation. There are probably all sorts of nuances I’m missing, but even in English, the writing sings.

Who Should Read This Book?

Pretty much everyone, if you ask me. But especially:

• Anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider (so… everyone?)
• Fans of character-driven stories with a dash of the unusual
• People who like their fiction with a side of “wow, that made me think”
• Korean literature newbies looking for a gateway book

Fair Warning

Look, I’m not gonna lie—this book will wreck you a little bit. In a good way! But still. Maybe don’t read it on public transport unless you’re cool with strangers seeing you cry. Just saying.

The Verdict

Almond by Sohn Won-Pyung is the literary equivalent of those flavor-changing candies. It starts off one way, then shifts into something completely unexpected, leaving you a little disoriented but also kind of exhilarated.

Sohn Won-pyung has created something really special here. It’s a debut that doesn’t feel like a debut, you know? There’s a confidence to her writing, a sureness of voice, that’s pretty remarkable.

Is it perfect? Nah. There are a couple of plot points that felt a tiny bit contrived. And if you’re looking for a neat, tidy ending wrapped up in a bow… well, this ain’t it. But honestly? Those little imperfections almost make it better. They make it feel real.

Final Thoughts

I finished “Almond” a week ago, and I’m still thinking about it. It’s one of those books that burrows into your brain and sets up camp. You’ll find yourself mulling over scenes, replaying conversations, wondering “what if?”

It’s a book about feeling, yes, but more than that, it’s a book that makes you feel. And in a world that can sometimes feel a little numb, that’s no small thing.

So go read it. Seriously. Right now. Then come back and talk to me about it, because I am dying to dissect this book with someone. Anyone. Please?

Similar Reads

If “Almond” leaves you hungry for more (see what I did there?), check out:

• “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon (another unique narrator perspective)
• “Convenience Store Woman” by Sayaka Murata (quirky outsider protagonist in a Japanese setting)
• “Pachinko” by Min Jin Lee (for more fantastic Korean literature)