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A review by vangluss
City of Ash and Red by Pyun Hye-young
4.0
Following the literary tradition of surreal (and often horrific) writers like Kobo Abe, Kafka, and a pinch of Indra Das, this horror novel by Mrs. Pyun is the worthwhile next of kin. The best parts of this book were how strong the mood and obedience to the themes were. In the style of Kafka, the Unnamed Protagonist, no matter where he goes, is endlessly besieged by forces, people, and situations he can barely begin to understand. He is always confused. He is constantly debased. He is consistently terrified. And near the end, he is dehumanized like none other. However, there was also another event in the end that made this novel's eerie, psychological horror mood all the better.
The worst part of this book was that the uMC (Unnamed Main Character) was a bit flat, and how gross things were from time to time. Things seem to happen more to the uMC rather than he causing them to start. Of course, this book is supposed to have that helplessness mood going on, but it can get pitiful to watch a man just sit down and rot. Maybe this is the wrong criticism for the right genre/book? Either way, one thing that's certain about this novel is how goddamn disgusting it can get. The uMC eats rotting trash, lives in rotting trash, and nearly becomes rotting trash. The few scenes where the uMC is described as literally mashing rats on the floor were...something to behold. I liked the more cerebral scenes where the author describes how society and everything in it is breaking down while getting coated in spooky white dust. Those were great.
All in all, CoAaR is a fine short psychological horror read if you can get past the beaten down protag and the consistent gross shit he endures as a result.
The worst part of this book was that the uMC (Unnamed Main Character) was a bit flat, and how gross things were from time to time. Things seem to happen more to the uMC rather than he causing them to start. Of course, this book is supposed to have that helplessness mood going on, but it can get pitiful to watch a man just sit down and rot. Maybe this is the wrong criticism for the right genre/book? Either way, one thing that's certain about this novel is how goddamn disgusting it can get. The uMC eats rotting trash, lives in rotting trash, and nearly becomes rotting trash. The few scenes where the uMC is described as literally mashing rats on the floor were...something to behold. I liked the more cerebral scenes where the author describes how society and everything in it is breaking down while getting coated in spooky white dust. Those were great.
All in all, CoAaR is a fine short psychological horror read if you can get past the beaten down protag and the consistent gross shit he endures as a result.