I admit that work prevented me from finishing this book before its release date. However, I'm so glad that I took the time to slowly savour Jinwoo Park's debut novel "Oxford Soju Club." I don't think I would have enjoyed the reading experience if I'd rushed my reading, At its heart, "Oxford Soju Club" is a story about transnationalism and the Korean disaspora. It's a story about how one finds their place in the world when home has changed and our relationships/surroundings/roles have changed in such profound ways.
I do feel that Park's novel suffered having too many main characters and not enough depth or development. It's a shorter novel, so even the setting and environment felt undeveloped. Yet, the story still worked, and if you're a fan of stories that are more plot-heavy, then this story could work for you. I appreciate what Park's story and writing aimed to do, and I don't think it's wasn't successful in many ways, but I felt like it was too short (rarely a complaint I have since I LOVE shoter novels) for the number of characters and even the plot. I wish I'd been able to spend more time with the charaters. I wish I was able to more easily feel like I was in Oxford.
If you're interested in a story that's more of a literary murder mystery (less emphasis on the murder mystery), if you're interested in reading contemporary publications about the Korean disaporta, and/or if you're interested in a story about loyalty to found family, then this could be for you!
I'm very interested in reading what Jinwoo Park publishes next!
Many, many thanks to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for the chance to read Jinwoo Park's novel "Oxford Soju Club" in exchange for an honest review!
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