When I first read the instruction of Fates and Furies, it reminded me of Gone Girl, and I was really looking forward to this book.
But it turned out to be quite disappointing. Though it does narrate a seemingly perfect marriage from two perspectives with secrets and private feelings, there is nothing intense in them.
Essentially, the man’s view of things (a section titled “Fates”) is happy, open, naively victorious, and complacent; the woman’s (“Furies”) is secretive, damaged, less happy, and, accordingly, much less complacent.
The story line is fairly boring: a prince charming falls in love with an ordinary girl, for which his mother cuts his pocket money and threatens the girl to leave him (which doesn't work, though). The man is unsuccessful, therefore has no other means than depending on his wife to live. One day (very suddenly), the woman finds her husband's talent in writing, and encourages him to be a play writer, and even sacrifices her job to support him. He becomes famous. Then he dies, of cancer.
It's not only boring (like any Korean TV drama), but also very abrupt. Why do they suddenly get married? Why does the man, always wanting to be an actor, suddenly shows the talent of a writer?
Though it's shortlisted for the National Book Award, I really do not like it.