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A review by secrethistory
I Have the Right to Destroy Myself by Young-Ha Kim
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Certain parts of this were painfully edgy, and the handling of women characters is questionable at best, but despite that I really liked the book and want to read more by the author. I was in a very dark place reading it, and the lack of clear morality and striking sadness of characters who sometimes don’t even realize how sad they really are resonated deeply. The ending with Mimi was stronger than Se-yeon’s story, but both were mostly good. I think the novel really explores negative feelings people have about life in a novel way, and the way the clients are built up is clever. We don’t know of any details of tragic histories, yet their sadness is obvious to everyone except the men sleeping with them. I think there was also am interesting difference in the narrator’s clients, who needed his services, and K, who seems ready to go on his own. It’s made me think about how people don’t always understand each other and what makes a life worth living. I think I’ll think about it for a long time.
Art features heavily in the book, which is interesting because it’s one of the things frequently cited as making life worth living, but is having that effect on none of the characters. The art discussed is always seductively violent, with one person who appears unmoved by the violence. A peaceful bathtub murder, an aroused woman with a severed head, a king watching over destruction, a fictional violent performance art. I appreciated the decision but need to think more on the role of art on the novel and it’s narrator.
All in all a thought provoking and good read, but again with the edgy man writing warning, and if you’re sensitive to sexual violence or suicide depictions turn away.
Art features heavily in the book, which is interesting because it’s one of the things frequently cited as making life worth living, but is having that effect on none of the characters. The art discussed is always seductively violent, with one person who appears unmoved by the violence. A peaceful bathtub murder, an aroused woman with a severed head, a king watching over destruction, a fictional violent performance art. I appreciated the decision but need to think more on the role of art on the novel and it’s narrator.
All in all a thought provoking and good read, but again with the edgy man writing warning, and if you’re sensitive to sexual violence or suicide depictions turn away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Sexual violence