ohhellosandee's reviews
27 reviews

I really wanted to like this book, but Olivia’s personality felt like trying to run a marathon in flip-flops—frustrating and painful (not that I've tried doing that by the way). By the halfway mark, I realized the only thing I was finishing was my patience!

Batman: One Bad Day – The Riddler is a brilliant exploration of Edward Nigma's descent into villainy. Inspired by The Killing Joke's "one bad day" concept, it dives into what pushed him over the edge. In 88 pages, we see a terrifying version of the Riddler—unpredictable and dangerous when he no longer follows his own rules.

While the story was a bit confusing at times, it quickly pulls you back in, rewarding careful attention. The open-ended conclusion is haunting, leaving enough ambiguity to let your imagination fill in the gaps. Overall, it’s a powerful, character-driven take on one of Batman's most iconic villains.

Diary of a Murderer opens with a gripping first-person perspective that pulls readers immediately into the mind of its complex narrator, an aged serial killer grappling with Alzheimer's. From the start, this unsettling and introspective journey is marked by a darkly comedic tone and a haunting exploration of memory, identity, and moral decay. The narrator's wit and detached yet deeply personal storytelling add unexpected depth and, at times, disarming humor to a thriller that otherwise grapples with heavy themes.

The main story leaves readers questioning both reality and the narrator's recollections—an unreliable narration that captivates, even as his memory deteriorates. As we’re taken through his convoluted sense of morality, the lines blur between his past and present crimes, leaving readers to unravel whether his intended last murder is more a product of his fragile memory or a chilling reflection of his truest self.

The additional short stories in the collection delve into themes of love, loss, and obsession, each with unique characters facing morally complex situations. The Origin of Life, the second story, introduces Seokjin and Ina, whose toxic relationship unfolds against a background of financial and emotional despair, yet the tale is undercut by questions about its thematic relevance to the collection. While The Missing Child faltered somewhat in capturing your interest, The Writer takes a shockingly surreal turn, pushing the boundaries of Kim’s exploration into obsession and identity, making it the most unforgettable—if bizarre—entry in the collection.

Ultimately, Diary of a Murderer is a thought-provoking and bold anthology that captures the intricacies of the human psyche under extreme conditions. Young-ha Kim skillfully balances philosophical reflection with narrative tension, leaving an impression both unsettling and profound.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie is a masterful whodunit filled with clever misdirection, charming characters, and a satisfying conclusion, all told through the engaging yet slightly naive eyes of Hastings.

It's a brilliantly plotted mystery filled with red herrings, complex relationships, and Christie’s signature twists. Experiencing the story through Hastings' first-person perspective adds a refreshing intimacy, allowing readers to feel his confusion and admiration for Poirot’s towering intellect. Though the writing style occasionally feels cumbersome, the richly developed characters and perfectly tied-up ending more than make up for it. Even if you know the story from the Poirot tv show, the novel’s unique insights and layered emotions make it an essential read for any mystery lover.

"The Tattoo Murder Case" has intriguing characters and historical insights into Japanese tattoo culture, but the plot feels bogged down by an overly lengthy introduction, scattered focus, and frustratingly misogynistic elements from one of the characters.

The Tokyo Zodiac Murders offers an undeniably intriguing premise: a mastermind's detailed plan for a series of murders executed posthumously, leaving readers to unravel a decades-old mystery on how the murders were committed. The atmospheric tension and the complexity of the puzzle kept me hooked on finding out the truth. However, the narration style didn't work for me at all—it felt more like a podcast conversation than an actual narration (based on the 30% I've read), dragging the pace and diminishing my enjoyment. Despite the mystery's allure, the journey became monotonous, making this my second DNF. Skimming to the end revealed a fascinating resolution, but I only wish the path to it had been more compelling.

Every Moment Was You is a heartfelt collection of poems and prose that beautifully captures the ups and downs of life. It speaks to the anxiety we all face, the feeling of not being good enough, the joy of falling in love, trying to hold onto that a love that is slowly slipping away, losing the love you thought would stay, and eventually finding a way to move on. This book resonated with me deeply and offered comfort when I needed it the most. Having gone through many of the experiences described, it tugged at my heartstrings quite a lot. I absolutely loved the illustrations. They added an extra layer of emotion to the poems, making them even more impactful.

I read the translated version, and I feel that some nuances might not have come through perfectly in English. As a Korean learner, I understand that certain expressions are nearly impossible to translate accurately. So, my views of this book is geared more towards its content rather than the actual use of syntax in the prose.

This entire collection feels like a warm hug for anyone who has experienced any of the things i mentioned earlier. Every Moment Was You is definitely something I would always come back to reread every once in a while just to feel that warm embrace.