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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
fast-paced
i thought the first story was so creative and well executed, and then the other stories felt a little mid. so like, i would have enjoyed it more as a shorter book with just the first story.
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The title story absolutely steals the show in this collection. I was completely captivated by this exploration of memory and violence, following a former serial killer who's desperately trying to protect his adopted daughter from someone he suspects shares his dark past. It's unsettling how you find yourself rooting for someone so morally reprehensible, but Kim's depiction of Alzheimer's disease is genuinely devastating.
What makes this story brilliant is how you're constantly questioning what's actually happening versus what exists only in Byeongsu's deteriorating mind. The line between truth and constructed memory becomes increasingly unclear as his condition worsens, leaving you as disoriented as he is. It's this psychological uncertainty that makes the narrative so compelling.
The remaining stories in the collection aren't terrible by any means, but they definitely feel overshadowed by the powerhouse opening piece. They're solid enough, but nothing that particularly grabbed me or stayed with me after finishing.
I'd say it's worth picking up just for the title story alone. Young-ha Kim creates something genuinely haunting with that one piece, even if the rest doesn't quite measure up to that same standard.
What makes this story brilliant is how you're constantly questioning what's actually happening versus what exists only in Byeongsu's deteriorating mind. The line between truth and constructed memory becomes increasingly unclear as his condition worsens, leaving you as disoriented as he is. It's this psychological uncertainty that makes the narrative so compelling.
The remaining stories in the collection aren't terrible by any means, but they definitely feel overshadowed by the powerhouse opening piece. They're solid enough, but nothing that particularly grabbed me or stayed with me after finishing.
I'd say it's worth picking up just for the title story alone. Young-ha Kim creates something genuinely haunting with that one piece, even if the rest doesn't quite measure up to that same standard.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
[۷ از ۱۰] [خیلی دوسش داشتم ولی ماجرای معماش به خاطر راوی غیرقابل اعتماد آب بسته شد. با این حال از لحاظ فلسفی و باقی چیزا خیلی دوسش دارم. بعدا دوباره با دقت بیشتری میخونمش.]
Honestly, I have no idea what this book was about, but I finished it because vibes.
Absolutely amazing and a quick ready. I just couldn't stop reading it and I really loved the diary style that was used to tell the story.
What on earth happened here... It's been a good long while since I have been this surprised by an ending, and then twice in one collection of four short stories. It only took me a few hours to finish them, I barely looked up, they were so riveting. And rather disturbing.
Kim Young-Ha is a very powerful writer, and Krys Lee is a very talented translator. The fast, clipped writing was so elegant and easy to read, it's hard to put into words what skill must lie behind these innocuous looking pages.
The twists and turns in each story will keep you on your toes, not in the least in the titular story about a serial killer who has been 'retired' for twenty-five years, and is now suffering from losing his memories and his control to Alzheimer's. Awkwardly, you start to empathize with him as he tries to protect his daughter Eunhui and will by the end feel deeply for him despite his deeds.
However outlandish the storylines - though never unbelievable - the characters behave very realistically which causes so many conflicting emotions. It made me think about them long after I finished reading, made them come alive more than you'd expect after so few pages per story.
I'm hoping to find more books by the same author, that's for sure. Ready to get my mind blown again.
Kim Young-Ha is a very powerful writer, and Krys Lee is a very talented translator. The fast, clipped writing was so elegant and easy to read, it's hard to put into words what skill must lie behind these innocuous looking pages.
The twists and turns in each story will keep you on your toes, not in the least in the titular story about a serial killer who has been 'retired' for twenty-five years, and is now suffering from losing his memories and his control to Alzheimer's. Awkwardly, you start to empathize with him as he tries to protect his daughter Eunhui and will by the end feel deeply for him despite his deeds.
However outlandish the storylines - though never unbelievable - the characters behave very realistically which causes so many conflicting emotions. It made me think about them long after I finished reading, made them come alive more than you'd expect after so few pages per story.
I'm hoping to find more books by the same author, that's for sure. Ready to get my mind blown again.