Hello everyone :)!
I hope everyone who’s reading this is having a nice day, night / timezone.. to make it easier! And if you’re not, cheer up it does get better :).
Well, shall we start?
It’s been a while since I picked up a book for me — not for law classes, not for research for my work, but purely for the pleasure of getting lost in a story and making the time tick a little slower. Recently, I broke that streak with Almond by Won-pyung Sohn. It wasn’t a random find either; I discovered the book through BTS’s Suga (hah see, BTS is in every aspect of my life😅), who was seen reading it. Knowing Suga’s thoughtful nature and later hearing his song Amygdala, I was drawn to see what made Almond so special to him.
What’s Almond About?
Almond tells the story of Yunjae, a boy born with a condition called alexithymia, which makes it difficult for him to recognize or express emotions. The title refers to the almond-shaped amygdala in the brain, responsible for processing emotions (although his mom made him eat almonds a lot😂). Through Yunjae’s eyes, we experience a journey of growth, loss, and connection. It’s a touching exploration of what it means to feel, and how human connection can transcend emotional barriers. In one moment it made it seem as if those who have the privilege of feeling every emotion take them for granted while Yunjae tries so hard to understand and connect them.
The book is beautifully simple in its language yet profound in the themes. As you read, you’re drawn into Yunjae’s world — a world where feelings are foreign, yet human bonds are powerful enough to break through the emotional barriers.
Amygdala by Suga
You know I have to connect it to BTS :). The connection to Suga’s Amygdala gave the book even more depth for me. In his song, Suga reflects on personal struggles and memories that shaped him, using the amygdala as a metaphor for processing trauma and pain. Instead of burying it deep within himself and hoping it goes away on its own, he has to process those feelings to move forward in life. I’m good in Korean, but not fluent. But you can just feel the emotions in the song because music transcends language barriers. You can feel what the artist is trying to convey without knowing a word, especially for a song as powerfully sung and performed as Amygdala. We all experienced something traumatic in our life that we never got to fully process. The feeling of being trapped in your pain, being unable to let go and being pulled deeper into despair. And you keep asking yourself what could you’ve done then differently. The answer is nothing. You can’t control or change what happens to you. You can’t be happy and okay all the time. And that’s okay, that’s life.
You can check out the song here:
It’s truly amazing how art — whether through books or music — helps us navigate through hard times.
Rediscovering the Love of Reading
I can’t remember the last time I sat down with a book like this, completely absorbed, feeling that familiar yet longforgotten joy of turning pages. Law books are fine and all (okay, maybe not fine), but this reminded me of the importance of reading for pleasure, not just “obligation”.
What’s Next on My Reading List?
Inspired by this I’m hoping to dive into Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami next. I’ve heard so much about Murakami’s surreal and provoking style, and it feels like the perfect next step on this reading journey. Fingers crossed I that they have a copy!
If you’re thinking about picking up a book, Almond is a short (close to 300 pages), impactful read. And who knows, maybe a song or a recommendation from your favorite artist will guide you to your next great read too! 📚✨
Thank you for reading!
