The mysterious death of a young, incredibly beautiful girl shocked the local community and public opinion in Korea in 2002. Older people may remember that it was the year of the FIFA World Cup hosted by Japan and South Korea. Police have two strong suspects – the driver of the car in which the victim, Ha-on, was last seen, a boy from a good home, and their poor, kind friend who works as a food delivery man. However, the investigation gets complicated, no definitive clues are found…
In Lemon, Kwon Yeo-sun focuses on what happens after Ha-on dies; how the stories of her alleged murderers, their loved ones, her friends, mother and sister, Da-on, turn out to be. Each chapter, written in a slightly different style, focuses on a different person and their mechanisms of coping with this tragedy. For some it was a turning point that determined their future, for others – just an episode they try to forget.
If you are intrigued by psychological portraits of characters exposed to extreme situations, and you enjoy subtle stories and open endings are your element, be sure to try this book. Particularly recommended for the fans of Kanae Minato and Jeong You-jeong.
