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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
I think this might include the saddest story of a serial killer ever.
Short stories have an interesting premise. Titular story is well written with an interesting take on the unreliable narrator. I lost interest in the other stories.
The novella that this collection opens up with goes beyond the sensationalism of serial killing to address identify and sickness, reality vs perception, and what drives us when the concept of selfhood falters. The other stories were not as fleshed out but were interesting.
A fun collection of short stories.
Diary of a Murderer, the title piece, is about a retired serial killer, Byeongsu. He's been diagnosed with dementia and is no longer able to make memories from the present. He is later horrified to find out that his adopted daughter is dating a serial killer and does everything in his power to protect her by using notes and recording devices that serve to help with remembering things. However, his memory rapidly declines and starts to become an reliable narrator. It's a story about redemption, guilt and facing consequences.
The Origin of Life is a story about an affair between two childhood friends. It explores themes of loyalty, love and violence. Ina tells Seojin that her husband is physically abusing her. Seojin is determined to protect her until he is threatened by a man that he convinces himself to be Ina's husband. Panic-stricken by this encounter, he cuts of all ties with Ina until he receives a phone call that causes his life to take a dramatic turn.
Missing Child centers around parents Yunseok and Mira whose lives spiraled into misery when their 3-year old son got abducted. Mira developed schizophrenia and Yunseok has worked tirelessly handing out flyers regarding his missing son, barely making ends meet at work, and taking care of his wife. A decade later, they get a phone call that their son has been found. As the three reunite, their lives all spiral out of control as their reunion deviates drastically from what they had in mind. It's certainly the most depressing short story in the novella.
The Writer drifts away from themes of depression. It is a humorous, yet dark, story about Bak Mansu wrestling with his lack of drive to write a book. After talks with his friends and his editor (also his ex-wife), he moves to his publisher's house in New York to get him out of his writing slump. Complications arise when the publisher's wife shows up in that same apartment. The stroy begins to be quite unhinged as Mansu's behavior starts to get more erratic.
Diary of a Murderer, the title piece, is about a retired serial killer, Byeongsu. He's been diagnosed with dementia and is no longer able to make memories from the present. He is later horrified to find out that his adopted daughter is dating a serial killer and does everything in his power to protect her by using notes and recording devices that serve to help with remembering things. However, his memory rapidly declines and starts to become an reliable narrator. It's a story about redemption, guilt and facing consequences.
The Origin of Life is a story about an affair between two childhood friends. It explores themes of loyalty, love and violence. Ina tells Seojin that her husband is physically abusing her. Seojin is determined to protect her until he is threatened by a man that he convinces himself to be Ina's husband. Panic-stricken by this encounter, he cuts of all ties with Ina until he receives a phone call that causes his life to take a dramatic turn.
Missing Child centers around parents Yunseok and Mira whose lives spiraled into misery when their 3-year old son got abducted. Mira developed schizophrenia and Yunseok has worked tirelessly handing out flyers regarding his missing son, barely making ends meet at work, and taking care of his wife. A decade later, they get a phone call that their son has been found. As the three reunite, their lives all spiral out of control as their reunion deviates drastically from what they had in mind. It's certainly the most depressing short story in the novella.
The Writer drifts away from themes of depression. It is a humorous, yet dark, story about Bak Mansu wrestling with his lack of drive to write a book. After talks with his friends and his editor (also his ex-wife), he moves to his publisher's house in New York to get him out of his writing slump. Complications arise when the publisher's wife shows up in that same apartment. The stroy begins to be quite unhinged as Mansu's behavior starts to get more erratic.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I struggled with this book to be honest, this does not mean I found it bad by any counts but the style was hard work for me. However the stories were interesting and I loved the story about a serial killer with dementia and thought the story was very clever in the way it developed and would make a really good dark and creepy film I think. The other stories were interesting but not really my cup of tea if I’m honest.
3.5
The crown jewel of this collection is undoubtedly the title story, which is a dark little delight and worthy of a five star rating on its own. Happily, the remaining stories in this book, while not quite hitting the standard of Diary of a Murderer, are compelling and original in their own right.
Lovely little collection for anyone who likes their crime fiction on the right side of bleak.
Recommended. With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
The crown jewel of this collection is undoubtedly the title story, which is a dark little delight and worthy of a five star rating on its own. Happily, the remaining stories in this book, while not quite hitting the standard of Diary of a Murderer, are compelling and original in their own right.
Lovely little collection for anyone who likes their crime fiction on the right side of bleak.
Recommended. With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read the main story, 3.7-4 ⭐ for it; didn't finish the others because I wanted to read something else, but the story is well written and is a perfect length.