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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Well, this was fantastic!
Yes, it's gritty and dark, and the world in which the characters live is utterly hopeless but the story is also filled with dark humour and it's witty and very, very enticing.
An intelligent satire with solid characters that got me from the beginning and never let me down.
I'll be looking for more books by this author.
Arthur Lee's narration is excellent.
Yes, it's gritty and dark, and the world in which the characters live is utterly hopeless but the story is also filled with dark humour and it's witty and very, very enticing.
An intelligent satire with solid characters that got me from the beginning and never let me down.
I'll be looking for more books by this author.
Arthur Lee's narration is excellent.
很喜歡這部作品。在圖書館長大又喜歡看書的殺手，不性感嗎XD 殺手的人生，有時候讀到讓我莫名覺得沉重，還好作者時不時帶入的幽默能引起笑點。越是讀到後面，越有畫面感，最後一幕令人不勝唏噓，卻是主角最好的解脫吧！
"In my opinion, a man ought to be able to choose a death that gives his life a dignified ending. Only those who truly walk their own path can choose their own death."
In the world of commerce, there is a term called liquidation. What this term means is that all the assets of a business that is going under must be sold off to reimburse creditors. The prices these assets are sold off at usually benefit the buyer rather than the seller. A bear market rather than a bull market.
Everything must go! The paintings! The chairs! The portraits of the pale-faced founders! Your economic security as a mere, lowly employee! Buy, buy, buy, and sell, sell, sell it all! That is the way these things go.
Nothing is personal. It is merely business.
In the criminal underworld, liquidation is a term that is simply the fancier way to describe wetwork. Murder. A hit job. Ghosting somebody! Money goes in one hand, and a bullet or knife goes out the target's stomach or lungs. The cleaness of the killshot often depends on the quality of the assassin, mind you. You get what you pay for, and this logic still applies to murder.
Yet in this novel by Un-su Kim, these separate yet equal worlds aren't just combined. They are melted into a seamless entity. Organized murder is cheaper than ever before and open to whoever can pay the rock bottom prices. Bottom lines must be maintained and watered with the blood of the murdered dead or endless fall guys. And only the most selfish, most sociopathic can ride the wave of red blood and tan cream on top to better, loftier shores where brown-skinned woman with beautiful faces give you rum cocktails in coconuts. A rising tide may allegedly lift all boats, but it still helps to see who's gunning for the wooden bottom of yours with a harpoon. Such is the way of things in this alternate history of Seoul, South Korea.
Here we have Reseng as the main protagonist, a man born with a military grade knife in his hand and a rifle of similar quality in the other. After making his first kill at seventeen or so, he seems to see himself as a man damned to this bloody lifestyle. But as Reseng does what he only knows what to do the best through the years, he messes up a job. This simple act that involves kindness in a murderous world sparks an unholy mess of events that can only be read to be believed.
This sentiment can be seen here: "Just as a plant grows wherever it sets down roots, so all your life’s tragedies spring from wherever you first set your feet."
But don't be deceived by this. The grim fatalism of this quote is the aluminum wrapping of the delicious chocolate heart of this novel. The Plotters may suggest the novel's content being a straightforward affair, but understand that the only thing straightforward in this novel is the economic use of language that does what it needs to do and leaves without another word - much like Reseng, the assassin.
As you finish reading this review, remember this: Just the smallest acts of cruelty or even better, kindness, can shatter entire worlds better off being smashed and left to fly in the dust of the void. This is how a better world can happen. No, this is how a better world will happen.
In the world of commerce, there is a term called liquidation. What this term means is that all the assets of a business that is going under must be sold off to reimburse creditors. The prices these assets are sold off at usually benefit the buyer rather than the seller. A bear market rather than a bull market.
Everything must go! The paintings! The chairs! The portraits of the pale-faced founders! Your economic security as a mere, lowly employee! Buy, buy, buy, and sell, sell, sell it all! That is the way these things go.
Nothing is personal. It is merely business.
In the criminal underworld, liquidation is a term that is simply the fancier way to describe wetwork. Murder. A hit job. Ghosting somebody! Money goes in one hand, and a bullet or knife goes out the target's stomach or lungs. The cleaness of the killshot often depends on the quality of the assassin, mind you. You get what you pay for, and this logic still applies to murder.
Yet in this novel by Un-su Kim, these separate yet equal worlds aren't just combined. They are melted into a seamless entity. Organized murder is cheaper than ever before and open to whoever can pay the rock bottom prices. Bottom lines must be maintained and watered with the blood of the murdered dead or endless fall guys. And only the most selfish, most sociopathic can ride the wave of red blood and tan cream on top to better, loftier shores where brown-skinned woman with beautiful faces give you rum cocktails in coconuts. A rising tide may allegedly lift all boats, but it still helps to see who's gunning for the wooden bottom of yours with a harpoon. Such is the way of things in this alternate history of Seoul, South Korea.
Here we have Reseng as the main protagonist, a man born with a military grade knife in his hand and a rifle of similar quality in the other. After making his first kill at seventeen or so, he seems to see himself as a man damned to this bloody lifestyle. But as Reseng does what he only knows what to do the best through the years, he messes up a job. This simple act that involves kindness in a murderous world sparks an unholy mess of events that can only be read to be believed.
This sentiment can be seen here: "Just as a plant grows wherever it sets down roots, so all your life’s tragedies spring from wherever you first set your feet."
But don't be deceived by this. The grim fatalism of this quote is the aluminum wrapping of the delicious chocolate heart of this novel. The Plotters may suggest the novel's content being a straightforward affair, but understand that the only thing straightforward in this novel is the economic use of language that does what it needs to do and leaves without another word - much like Reseng, the assassin.
As you finish reading this review, remember this: Just the smallest acts of cruelty or even better, kindness, can shatter entire worlds better off being smashed and left to fly in the dust of the void. This is how a better world can happen. No, this is how a better world will happen.
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
surprising and surprisingly good. interesting mood change and intensity after pretty cosy start
*2.5 rounded up*
Okay, I'll be honest, I don't think this book is bad I just think it was wasted on me. Alot of the underlying messages went over my head which therefore made this a very dull book in places. When I read the premise I expected something way more exciting than what I was presented with - however the first chapter was fantastic as were other excerpts hence my rating!
Okay, I'll be honest, I don't think this book is bad I just think it was wasted on me. Alot of the underlying messages went over my head which therefore made this a very dull book in places. When I read the premise I expected something way more exciting than what I was presented with - however the first chapter was fantastic as were other excerpts hence my rating!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow. What a branch out for me. It was a book club pick, and I’m not mad. I guess this is considered Korean Noir. Definitely felt the noir. It’s weird because it’s a book about Korean assassins. It’s about the seedy underbelly of Seoul and the political machinations that go on. But oddly enough, I somehow found myself rooting for the antihero (he’s may be the MC but he’s no protagonist). There was so much humanity throughout. It was a bit unsettling at times.
In some ways. This book fell flat for me. It’s very character driven. The plot is like a side piece. But I wanted more plot. I wanted all those little threads to be answered. I wanted connections made. But ultimately, we don’t really get that as it’s ultimately about Reseng and his evolution.
I do recommend this. But don’t be fooled by the rhetoric calling this a thriller. While there are some thrilling aspects, I don’t consider it a thriller. It’s noir about an assassin.
In some ways. This book fell flat for me. It’s very character driven. The plot is like a side piece. But I wanted more plot. I wanted all those little threads to be answered. I wanted connections made. But ultimately, we don’t really get that as it’s ultimately about Reseng and his evolution.
I do recommend this. But don’t be fooled by the rhetoric calling this a thriller. While there are some thrilling aspects, I don’t consider it a thriller. It’s noir about an assassin.