Violets follows Oh San, a woman who moves through life quietly detached from the people around her. The novel focuses less on events and more on her inner state, shaped by loneliness, restraint, and unspoken longing. It is a subtle, inward story where atmosphere carries more weight than plot.
My Review
This is a quiet novel, slow in pace but steady in how it pulls you in. The story unfolds gently, almost cautiously. Oh San lives at a distance from others, and that distance never really closes. As a reader, you remain slightly removed, observing rather than fully entering her inner world.
The author’s use of the present tense reinforces this emotional distance. Everything feels suspended, as if time is not moving forward but circling the same thoughts and feelings. That choice creates stillness, and at times emotional coldness, which feels intentional. You are meant to watch, not interfere.
The ending was the weakest point for me. It felt rushed and anticlimactic. Given Oh San’s mental state earlier in the novel, the conclusion felt predictable and arrived too quickly, without enough space to fully absorb it.
Still, Violets is a strong and thoughtful read. It relies on mood rather than action and leaves an impression through what it withholds rather than what it explains.
What I Loved
- Calm, restrained writing style
- Strong sense of mood and atmosphere
- Consistent emotional tone
- Clear narrative focus on inner life
Could Be Better
- Ending feels rushed
- Emotional distance may limit reader connection
The Verdict
A quiet, introspective novel that values restraint over resolution. Not emotionally expansive, but memorable in its stillness and tone.