Couldn't get into this one, much less finish it. I think mostly I don't have the history/knowledge to fully understand some of the story.

I tried. I just cannot finish this book. It is not for me. The premise sounds good, but this book is not for me.

Thank you Random House for allowing me to read and review Same Bed Different Dreams on NetGalley.

Published: 11/07/23

Stars: 2 (exception)

Out of my league.

The synopsis is what it is. Frankly, I didn't understand this. I spent my time reading, thinking, and trying to find a story to no avail. Another book loaded with prizes that has left me stymied.

Doing some catchup on the backlist. This is one that didn't entirely land for me personally, but the setup of using historical fact to spin alternate futures was really well done. Definitely worth a read through.

This is an ambitiously conceived, fast paced, engaging book. It has some fine lines, amusing mild snark, a generally amiable tone, a few well-conceived set pieces, and a fair share of perceptive and insightful observations. It's also good, sometimes pointed, fun. I would encourage inquisitive readers who like playing with genre conventions to give the book a try.

An intense journey through an alternate history of Korea that feels like it was penned by Thomas Pynchon, blending encyclopedic references to historical figures and pop culture, wit, and postmodern playfulness, all wrapped up in the tumultuous 20th-century Korean experience.

What a fascinating book. Ed Park is definitely an author to watch. This book is truly unique and unlike anything I have ever read. It took me a while to get to it but I am so glad that I made time to read this.

This book was really hard to get into. I lived in Korea in the past and thought it would be really interesting, but this "alt history" felt like a journal instead of a novel. Sorry it just was not for me.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC #sponsored

"Same Bed, Different Dreams" by Ed Park presents a unique premise that delves into the complexities of identity, memory, and the nature of reality. While the novel offers a thought-provoking exploration of these themes, its ambitious scope is ultimately hindered by uneven pacing and a lack of clarity in its narrative structure.

One of the novel's most compelling aspects is its central conceit: the existence of parallel universes and the possibility of alternate versions of oneself. Through the experiences of the protagonist, Park crafts a fascinating meditation on the nature of selfhood and the ways in which our choices shape our lives. The concept of encountering different iterations of oneself in alternate realities is inherently intriguing, and Park explores it with both creativity and depth.

Moreover, the prose in "Same Bed, Different Dreams" is often lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into the surreal landscapes of the various parallel worlds. Park demonstrates a keen ability to create vivid imagery and atmospheric settings, lending the novel a dreamlike quality that is both captivating and disorienting.

However, where the novel falls short is in its execution of this intriguing premise. The narrative unfolds in a disjointed fashion, with shifts between different timelines and realities that can be confusing to follow. While this non-linear approach may be intentional, it often detracts from the overall coherence of the story, leaving readers feeling disoriented and disconnected from the characters and their journeys.

Additionally, the pacing of the novel can be uneven, with certain sections dragging on while others feel rushed. This inconsistency in pacing can disrupt the flow of the narrative, making it difficult for readers to fully engage with the story and its themes.

Overall, "Same Bed, Different Dreams" is a novel that presents a compelling concept but struggles to fully realize its potential due to issues with narrative structure and pacing. While it may appeal to readers intrigued by existential themes and speculative fiction, it may leave others feeling frustrated by its lack of clarity and coherence.

For publisher, review will be posted to Goodreads.

Could not finish. I expected this to be more like The Man in the High Castle but it was way too dense.

The novel offers a poignant exploration of family, memory, and the search for identity in a complex and ever-changing world.
Park's prose is elegant and evocative, imbued with a sense of melancholy and longing. His descriptions of New York City are especially vivid, capturing the energy and diversity of the urban landscape with precision and detail. At the heart of the novel is the relationship between siblings, Daniel and Jenny, whose lives take divergent paths as they navigate the challenges of adulthood. Park deftly explores the dynamics of siblinghood, capturing the bond that unites them even as they grapple with their struggles and desires.

https://lithub.com/lit-hubs-most-anticipated-books-of-2023-part-two/?single=true

Sometimes the simulation is a little on the nose—you see the glitches when trying to make sense of the world in its current iteration. So goes the present-day US for a handful of characters clumped under the “Asian-American” label in Ed Park’s witty and inventive new novel Same Bed Different Dreams, which hinges on a revisionist history in which the Korean Provisional Government of 1919 survives to strategize reunification from behind the Red Window Shade.

What did it mean to be Korean, rather than Japanese, wonders a character whose ethnic inheritance has been shrouded by the aftermath of World War II, a sentiment that extends to cultural touchpoints in the present era, from the Stanley Cup to failing lit mags to the tech aspirations of your local HR department. The novel houses a dream inside a story inside a flashback, and brings together the histories of Soon Sheen, a programmer at a nefarious tech company (GLOAT), Parker Jotter, a Korean war vet turned appliance story owner, Monk Zingapan, a game designer, and Story (Astoria), Soon’s gaming child. Park’s alternate history is written with a dedication to invented facts rivaling Biography of X and The Man in the High Castle. Hurry to snatch a copy, then take your time so you don’t miss all the Easter eggs.

I did not have time to give this book a proper review before the publish date, however I am giving this book 4 stars.

I wanted to read this book because the blurb sounded nuts. I’m happy to say, it mostly lives up to that promise.

While the book transverses multiple time periods, timelines, and perspectives, the actual history it’s rooted in helps it make sense (in an insane kind of way), and the necessity of the different parts eventually becomes clearer.

The best thing I can say is that this book sent me down a massive rabbit hole about 20th century Korean history and it seems to be exhaustively researched (Kim Jong Il actually really loved Friday the 13th. Who knew?). But it’s incredibly creative as well, even if I’m not sure it all paid off for me. But I genuinely liked it.

This intricately and cleverly constructed novel should have been something I totally loved. Instead, I found myself bouncing off the text and it is not because of anything the author did, or didn't do.

This is a novel in three parts (as is cleverly mentioned about an in-story book), and deals with politics, foreign occupation, bigotry, what-if scenarios, actual and revisionist history, privacy, overreach by technology companies, war, immigration, dislocation, and more.

This book has everything that would be catnip for me, and yet I just could not make significant progress through this highly imaginative, astute and humorous novel. I think it's me, and not the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this ARC in exchange for my review.

This book was just not for me. I spent a lot of it feeling bored and wanting to put it down and read other things and then come back to it. It jumped around too much and I could not feel a connection to any of the characters. It has so much potential it just wasn’t for me.

Same Bed Different Dreams was a wild ride. I loved what Park did with structure with the different "books" in the story. I also learned a TON about korean history, so I appreciated that.

I cannot put this one into words! No idea how they marketed this so effectively--hats off to the publishing team & author. I believe this might be a masterpiece--I just need someone to explain it to me, haha.

I only have one word for this book, "Odd".

There are three different storylines, and to be honest, I am not quite sure how they all fit together now that I have finished it. That being said though, I still enjoyed the journey immensely.

It reminded me of works by Thomas Pynchon with the way it was written and I did enjoy the elements of Korean history that I previously had not known.

Frequently lost my way in the labyrinth of Park's densely imagined alternate history, but never in a bad way. Always wanted to learn more.