Welcome to Litsy!

This Korean novella explores LGBTQ issues in modern day Korea through the POV of a woman in her 60s whose 30something daughter is in a lesbian relationship. The MC works as a caregiver in a SNF; the story also explores topics themes of aging and end of life care as well as discrimination and domestic violence.

An interesting sparse novel, told from an unlikely perspective about contemporary queer lives in Korea and investigativing issues like ageism, elder care, and how the heteropatriarchay and capitalism fail to fulfill their promises to women. A 70-year-old mother is forced to reckon with the fact that her 30something daughter is a lesbian when she and her partner move in with her. The restrained depiction of the mother never makes her a villain.

“The server brings over two bowls of hot udon. I look at my daughter as she grabs chopsticks and spoons from the box of utensils. She looks tired, or thinner, or older.“

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Parts I liked, parts I had a hard time following which caused the lower rating. Really interesting generational story of a widow coming to terms with her daughter and her partner and taking care of a dementia patient. Fluid story telling that allows the reader to live in the main character‘s mind.

Everything that has nothing to do with her is all 'the way of the world' that she can put away in some place where she doesn't have to see it... She's probably constantly telling her children that too. And her children will say that to their children. And in that way, things that can be labeled 'the way of the world' and put out of sight are created one after the other.

"Crossing off items from the list of things you enjoy - that's what it means to grow old."