Reviews

I Have the Right to Destroy Myself by Young-Ha Kim

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suhkrusai's review

dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I guessed that the author is male from the first few pages and it does not always mean that the writing is bad but it was isufferable in this book. I’m just so tired of reading about distubed young women who for some reason are always nyphomans. Only finished it because it’s so short.

theeuphoriczat's review

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3.0

I will be honest with you, I don't know what to rate this book. It is either a 1 star or 5 stars (Will settle on 3 stars). There is something so disgustingly enjoyable about this book. In a book that highlights suicide and death, it almost makes justifications and desirability of difficult situations.
.
As someone who to some extent have a good knowledge of Korean popular cultures such as their food, music and dramas. The suicide rate in Korea is one of the highest in the world, so it was not surprising to read this book from the point of view of someone who encourages people to die.
As he said, he does not kill them himself, he does not necessarily put the knife in their hands, he almost wants us to believe that he gave these people courage in the last days of their lives.

Two themes take precedence in Judith, Evian, Mimi; desire and absurd fulfillment. He writes about his experience with these people, where he met them, how he vetted their desire and he helped them achieve their aim. He believes that life is not worth living and that he is doing a service to the world and the people he has helped but yet he has not helped himself.

I quote "There are two kinds of people. Those who can kill and those who can't. The second kind is worse. - People who can't kill can't ever truly love". He is the worse kind of person, he cannot love, he has in his own way been a thief, stealing his victim's hopes and dreams.

This book does not necessarily encourage murder or suicide as people seem to think. It just draws out morbid desires, imprisoned deep in the unconscious.

balfa76's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? No

3.75

requlus's review against another edition

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4.0

this sent a chill up my spine with its ending!

theseventhl's review

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5.0

It's hard to put into words why Young-ha Kim's novel was so effective or so emotionally draining, but it was, and it was an excellent read all together. It has me very excited about his other English translated works.