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I‘ve seen mixed reviews on this one but I have to say I loved it. Reseng is an assassin who changes a job which leads to consequences he could never have imagined. The story is populated with people who make a living killing often without knowing why someone needs to die. It‘s darkly comedic & human at the same time as secrets & motivations are revealed. The translation is excellent, the premise odd & intriguing & I loved the main character.

Assassins and the masterminds behind them for today‘s reading.

The Vegetarian is very moving and intriguing. The narrative is told from 3 separate perspectives offering a complete exploration of trauma, emotional breakdown and mental strain. Is Yeong-hye mad or is her behaviour a logical conclusion of the society she‘s been subjected to? There are elements I didn‘t fully understand but it still left a powerful impression. 7/10

4/5 🌟

This short, intriguing and brilliantly crafted novel follows a family's grief after the brutal murder of a young girl, told through three perspectives. As the victim's sister seeks closure years later, the story reveals the impact and consequences left behind.

“I've got a neighbor who blacks out after a night out drinking. Maybe death is a stiff drink that helps you forget the boring night out that is your life.“
-“Diary of a Murderer“

“Words are slowly escaping me. My head is turning into a sea cucumber. A hole is opening up. It's slimy and everything escapes through it.“
-“Diary of a Murderer“

A woman has become mute. She has lost her husband, teaching job, and custody of her 8-yr-old son. Lost herself, she takes a course in Ancient Greek taught by an instructor about her age who is losing his sight. Somehow a gentle warm story comes out of this, layered onto of darker histories and life pains, and terrific interesting prose. This completes my two week run through Han‘s four English-translated novels. (Another is due out in January)

Han begins with a room of unclaimed corpses. South Korea has a dark history. In May 1980, in response to a coup, university students and young female factory workers joined to inspire an uprising in Gwangju, a university town. The government responded with an intentionally brutal crackdown and massacre. Han, a born in Gwangju, is uncharacteristically direct here, and brings us to the crackdown and to its long aftermath. It‘s an important book.