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A review by sas_lk
Diary of a Murderer: And Other Stories by Young-Ha Kim
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Probably the first short story collection I've truly liked.
Story 1: Diary of a Murderer [5 stars]
By far my favourite, this was so good. I felt like I was losing my mind with the character. I was so engrossed in this story and I myself started questioning reality; started questioning what I had read, my understanding, and everything around me. Diary of a Murderer tells a story of a serial killer that is diagnosed with dementia.
Story 2: The Origin of Life [5 stars]
In The Origin of Life, Kim perfectly portrays the selfishness of humans. We, as humans, always like to think of ourselves as selfless, and that we would do anything to help others.
However, this is not really true. Once we meet someone with a sad story, we convince ourselves that we want to help them; to save them. What we actually want is to feel like we are good people, that we are selfless. However, in the end, once we escape the sad story, we're usually just happy that we survived in the end, and that it was only the other person who has to live with their sad life.
That's why the people we try to save are usually so tired, because they have seen this obsession with their own sad story before.
Story 3: Missing Child [3.5 stars]
This one was just sad to be honest, I felt a sense of dread throughout the whole story. It's about a couple who's son gets kidnapped when he is 3 years old. 11 years later, they get a call saying that their son has been found. However, the son had no idea he was kidnapped, and therefore his parents are strangers to him, and he a stranger to his biological parents.
Story 4: The Writer [2 stars]
The Writer was my least favourite story of all of them. I think I need to do more research because I think that I probably missed the point the author was trying to make somewhere. This story is about a writer that has to write a book for his new publisher, however, he is convinced that the publisher is sleeping with his ex-wife. He decides to write a nonsensical novel to spite the publisher.
Story 1: Diary of a Murderer [5 stars]
By far my favourite, this was so good. I felt like I was losing my mind with the character. I was so engrossed in this story and I myself started questioning reality; started questioning what I had read, my understanding, and everything around me. Diary of a Murderer tells a story of a serial killer that is diagnosed with dementia.
Story 2: The Origin of Life [5 stars]
In The Origin of Life, Kim perfectly portrays the selfishness of humans. We, as humans, always like to think of ourselves as selfless, and that we would do anything to help others.
However, this is not really true. Once we meet someone with a sad story, we convince ourselves that we want to help them; to save them. What we actually want is to feel like we are good people, that we are selfless. However, in the end, once we escape the sad story, we're usually just happy that we survived in the end, and that it was only the other person who has to live with their sad life.
That's why the people we try to save are usually so tired, because they have seen this obsession with their own sad story before.
Story 3: Missing Child [3.5 stars]
This one was just sad to be honest, I felt a sense of dread throughout the whole story. It's about a couple who's son gets kidnapped when he is 3 years old. 11 years later, they get a call saying that their son has been found. However, the son had no idea he was kidnapped, and therefore his parents are strangers to him, and he a stranger to his biological parents.
Story 4: The Writer [2 stars]
The Writer was my least favourite story of all of them. I think I need to do more research because I think that I probably missed the point the author was trying to make somewhere. This story is about a writer that has to write a book for his new publisher, however, he is convinced that the publisher is sleeping with his ex-wife. He decides to write a nonsensical novel to spite the publisher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Dementia, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Gun violence