PLEASE LOOK AFTER MOM

Author: Kyung-sook Shin


Fiction. Based on the tragic past of Park Son-yo


Genre: Tragic, Mystery, Suspenseful, Moving

The novel ''Please Look After Mom" by Kyung-sook Shin. It tells the story of a daughter searching for her mother called Park Son-yo. The girl's father always had the habit of walking  faster than  his wife. As a result, his wife and the girl's mother disappears in the train station at Seoul.

The novel describes the search for the mother and it presents the memories of each character related to her. Also the novel explores the hidden, tragic side of the mother. In addition, nobody ever knew that she had Dementia. Her family, friends, strangers and the police were looking for her. The last time she was seen, she was wearing blue sandals at the train station.

The narrative voice changes. At times the reader seems to be the one of the characters while at other times the point of view is limited omniscient. Moreover, each narrator has a sad moving past in relationship to their mother.

I enjoyed reading this book because it taught me some important things in life.  It shows that when people grow up, sometimes we don’t cherish the important and special moments with our family. However, when you lose someone important to you; you start to regret all the bad things you have ever done to that person and start to care about all the special moments you had been with that person.






3/5