Our Happy Time

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER 

Yujeong – beautiful, bright and wealthy – is in hospital recovering from her third suicide attempt. Angry at the world, she reluctantly accepts her no-nonsense aunt’s suggestion: to accompany her on charitable visits to inmates on death row.

At first, Yunsu – a convicted murderer – seems unrepenting and savage. Yujeong is repulsed by his crimes, but detects deep suffering behind his hard demeanour. Slowly and with growing passion, the two young misfits reveal to each other the dark secrets and traumas that have shaped their lives.

Yet every week Yunsu’s hands are in cuffs, and it is impossible to forget that the time they have together is painfully short…

From one of South Korea’s bestselling authors…a story that will amke you rethink the way we can love others, and how we can ultimately redeem ourselves.

“A superbly emotional and entertaining read. A fast-paced novel that focuses our attention on issues worth exploring, Our Happy Time melds the themes of victim and victimizer, crime and punishment, love and forgiveness, capital punishment and justice.”
Jang Seok-su, The Flaneur Takes a Stroll Through books, Yedam Publishing: 2007

“Gong's intense gaze is both delicate and tenacious - she captures every detail of her characters, right down to the stains on their clothes and the drops of water clinging to their heels...Gong Ji-young is a magnificent storyteller.”
-Son Jong-eop, Literary Resistance, Bogosa Books: 2001

About Gong Ji-young

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER  Yujeong – beautiful, bright and wealthy – is in hospital recovering from her third suicide attempt. Angry at the world, she reluctantly accepts her no-nonsense aunt’s suggestion: to accompany her on charitable visits to inmates on death [...]