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noella19's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
All in all be careful when you read the book. Very trigger warning conversations
The brothers felt even more like strangers at the end than in the beginning.
I feel for K and the fact that he attempted to reach out but was ignored by C. He seems very lost and the book ends with him unraveling.
C is quite literally the worst. He appears to believe himself the center of the universe but not to a degree were he consideres himself above everything and everyone else (at least not blatantly) but he’s just so stuck in his own world. Everyone appears like a prop in his life to keep his day going and even though some made an impact in his life but somehow not enough to ground him in reality. He seems not see people as people but pieces and some with more depth than others.
Mimi and Judith felt like text book manic pixie girls but yet were intriguing. Can’t say their choices surprised me but their explanations fell flat but maybe it’s because they were talking to c and were aware of how he views them. I wanted more from and for them.
The ominous voice that assisted with the decisions to exit was intriguing to say the least. At first I thought he was simply the embodiment of death himself but clearly he wasn’t but he was something else. His reasoning is realistic but unfair to most but he seemed to hold more compassion for the people he met and helped.
The book sad and the characters are broken but each one is finding a way to cope or make the pain go away.
All in all be careful. Take breaks if necessary.
The brothers felt even more like strangers at the end than in the beginning.
I feel for K and the fact that he attempted to reach out but was ignored by C. He seems very lost and the book ends with him unraveling.
C is quite literally the worst. He appears to believe himself the center of the universe but not to a degree were he consideres himself above everything and everyone else (at least not blatantly) but he’s just so stuck in his own world. Everyone appears like a prop in his life to keep his day going and even though some made an impact in his life but somehow not enough to ground him in reality. He seems not see people as people but pieces and some with more depth than others.
Mimi and Judith felt like text book manic pixie girls but yet were intriguing. Can’t say their choices surprised me but their explanations fell flat but maybe it’s because they were talking to c and were aware of how he views them. I wanted more from and for them.
The ominous voice that assisted with the decisions to exit was intriguing to say the least. At first I thought he was simply the embodiment of death himself but clearly he wasn’t but he was something else. His reasoning is realistic but unfair to most but he seemed to hold more compassion for the people he met and helped.
The book sad and the characters are broken but each one is finding a way to cope or make the pain go away.
All in all be careful. Take breaks if necessary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
kochbethany's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not sure what I'm suppose to take from this other than a main character is a sociopath and a serial killer who believes what he's doing is beautiful and righteous, which all and all made it pretty boring,
joanasunday's review
2.0
Pretencioso e intensito.
Con algunas frases memorables para subrayar y una trama con potencial que se queda en eso. De hecho, me atrevería a decir que solo vale la pena el primer capítulo.
Además, el tratamiento de los personajes femeninos me parece que deja mucho que desear.
Con algunas frases memorables para subrayar y una trama con potencial que se queda en eso. De hecho, me atrevería a decir que solo vale la pena el primer capítulo.
Además, el tratamiento de los personajes femeninos me parece que deja mucho que desear.
anarodell's review against another edition
2.0
"I have the right to destroy myself" y es un autor que monetiza de las historias de personas que el guía al suicidio diciendo que tienen el derecho por que ellas mismas lo hacen pero realmente el las manipula.
Did i get the whole point? Sea cual sea la respuesta un "narrador" no puede percibir a mujeres como "Judith" de manera misógina si el mismo autor no lo es dejando en claro lo plano que son todos los personajes y describiendo a las protagonistas tan sexualizadas sin punto alguno.
Me gustó el título, la portada, la premisa de la historia y la escritura pero realmente desde que inicie la historia sabía a lo que iba dándome cuenta de las ideas del autor,
Did i get the whole point? Sea cual sea la respuesta un "narrador" no puede percibir a mujeres como "Judith" de manera misógina si el mismo autor no lo es dejando en claro lo plano que son todos los personajes y describiendo a las protagonistas tan sexualizadas sin punto alguno.
Me gustó el título, la portada, la premisa de la historia y la escritura pero realmente desde que inicie la historia sabía a lo que iba dándome cuenta de las ideas del autor,
cat_thecatlady's review against another edition
3.0
this book feels exactly like one of those old European movies. it's artistic and it tries to be antagonistic without ever directly telling you exactly what it means to say. so you finish it and spend time considering "did I understand it? did I even like what I think I understood?".
I'm not completely sure if I liked this book or not. I enjoyed reading it but when I got to the end I felt a bit empty. maybe I'll read it again another time. but now I'm extremely curious to read the author’s other books
I'm not completely sure if I liked this book or not. I enjoyed reading it but when I got to the end I felt a bit empty. maybe I'll read it again another time. but now I'm extremely curious to read the author’s other books
livimmortal's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookswithantheia's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly, there were a lot of parts that didn’t make sense, but I think that’s because of translation errors, but it’s probably more of a me problem, so ignore that.
I cannot stress this enough, CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS. I’m sure there are some out there, you just have to look. I went into this book blindly and was…surprised, to say the least.
I cannot stress this enough, CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS. I’m sure there are some out there, you just have to look. I went into this book blindly and was…surprised, to say the least.
janaaier's review against another edition
3.0
This is a quick read but very full of experimental techniques and interesting ways of moving through the plot and creating mood. Very absorbing with lots to consider.
guitarpotato's review against another edition
3.0
The premise of a narrator going around searching for clients to encourage them to commit suicide was quite twisted yet unique and fascinating. This translation is well written and quick to read. Despite this work trying to really show the darker side of the human condition it was difficult for me to really connect with any of the characters.
It would have been nice to have understood more about the female characters since they play a pivotal role in this work. However, their depiction was quite objective (and very sexual – was that snowball necessary? What was the meaning of that? Was there any deeper meaning to it?). If I didn’t know this was written by Kim Young-ha I honestly would have guessed this is a Murakami novella. And to be honest, I don’t know if that is good or bad.
On a personal note, having spent time at some of the locations mentioned in the book added some more depth to it for me. For a few weeks I commuted from Sadang Station to Suwon (and passed through Uiwang Tollgate every time) so to see that exact route depicted in this novella excited me.
That being said, I think I am failing to really understand the message that the author is trying to convey with this work. Is it that art is what connects both the living and the dead? Or is it that everything human is art? Or is it that humans will fight like hell to go on living despite lingering suicidality? That we are such fickle creatures? Too many ideas are brought up, but it felt like none of them were really fully developed.