Barbara Krasnoff reviewed Familiar Things by Hwang Sok-Yong
Review of 'Familiar Things' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
One of the ways writers can portray poverty without hopelessness is by doing so through the eyes of a child. Familiar Things does just that, and does it very well. It's protagonist, who calls himself Bugeyes, is a 13-year-old boy who lives in a community of families on the outskirts of Seoul, existing by picking through mounds of garbage. His life, his insights, and the beings who offer him a glimpse of another world make this a fascinating novel.