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  • Almond

  • A Novel
  • By: Won-pyung Sohn
  • Narrated by: Greg Chun
  • Length: 4 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (34 ratings)

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Almond

By: Won-pyung Sohn
Narrated by: Greg Chun
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Publisher's Summary

This story is, in short, about a monster meeting another monster. One of the monsters is me.

Yunjae was born with a brain condition called alexithymia that makes it hard for him to feel emotions like fear or anger. He does not have friends - the two almond-shaped neurons located deep in his brain have seen to that - but his devoted mother and grandmother aren’t fazed by his condition. Their little home above his mother’s used bookstore is decorated with colorful Post-it notes that remind him when to smile, when to say "thank you", and when to laugh. Yunjae grows up content, even happy, with his small family in this quiet, peaceful space. 

Then on Christmas Eve - Yunjae’s 16th birthday - everything changes. A shocking act of random violence shatters his world, leaving him alone and on his own. Struggling to cope with his loss, Yunjae retreats into silent isolation, until troubled teenager Gon arrives at his school and begins to bully Yunjae. Against all odds, tormentor and victim learn they have more in common than they realized. Gon is stumped by Yunjae’s impassive calm, while Yunjae thinks if he gets to know the hotheaded Gon, he might learn how to experience true feelings. Drawn by curiosity, the two strike up a surprising friendship. As Yunjae begins to open his life to new people - including a girl at school - something slowly changes inside him. And when Gon suddenly finds his life in danger, it is Yunjae who will step outside of every comfort zone he has created to perhaps become a most unlikely hero. 

The Emissary meets The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime in this poignant and triumphant story about how love, friendship, and persistence can change a life forever. 

©2020 Won-pyung Sohn (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Almond

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Short and sweet!

A friend of mine recommended this short read and I was surprised at the brief but packed journey! I enjoyed reading of how Yunjae's growth is not just his own but the way it radiates to those around him, despite all the labels put upon him.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Simple, short and entertaining

I really liked this one. The narrator was great, the story and central character were interesting and it's not too long. I'd listen again!

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