In 'The Only Child,' The Thrills Might Be Lost In Translation
When reviewing books in translation, there's always that nagging question: how much of the prose on display is the result of the translator making changes versus the author's original intention? I admit this question nagged me to a startling degree while reading The Only Child by Mi-Ae Seo, translated from the Korean by Yewon Jung.
is one of those books that comes with a meets . Psychologist Seonkyeong is interviewing a serial killer who left behind a long list of dead women. At the same time, Hayeong, her husband's daughter from a previous marriage, has moved into their home after the death of the girl's grandparents in a mysterious fire. From the beginning, Seonkyeong feels there's something troubling about the child, who flings herself into episodes of startling rage. Could Seonkyeong have a budding serial killer as a stepdaughter?
