Our Happy Time – Gong Ji-Young

Our Happy Time is a book that in its native Korea had a massive impact on people’s attitude towards the death penalty – not surprising when one reads this poignant tale of two misfits. The book follows Yujeong, a girl who seemingly has it all and yet at the beginning of the book has attempted suicide for the third time. She is visited by her aunt Monica, a Catholic nun, who gives her a choice between going for therapy – again – and accompanying the aunt to visit death-row inmates. Desirous of avoiding therapy Yujeong opts to visit the inmates and this is where the story truly begins. She meets Yunsu, an inmate condemned for rape and murder, and while in the beginning she loathes him for his crimes, slowly she comes to know the man and in a strange way love him.

The narrative switches between first person – Yujeong – and diary entries – Yunsu. It showcases the theme the author wants to convince the reader of, albeit a bit heavy-handedly at times. The traumatic and sometimes violent pasts of both these characters and how they have led them to where they are today form the mainstay of the story. In particular, Yunsu who at first seems reprehensible, becomes a very sympathetic character as we see him through Yujeong’s eyes. Through all of this Aunt Monica’s maternal love provides a strength the two have not been able to find elsewhere.

Philip Morales