I found this very difficult to read. I'm not sure if its the translation or just that I can't process this sort of prose, but i did not finish this.

I had a bit of difficulty with the book as i found the beginning section interesting but my interest with it drifted away after the first 50 or so pages as the story and the progression of the plot drifted away from me. I tried to continue with it but i didn't enjoy it. I did like the concept and the idea of an ageing woman who used to be a spy and liked the early chapters but it was not enough to hold me.

' This, then, was Mum, a 'processor of individuals', Mum, whose gentle hand could make my headache go away?'

A fascinating story of how a beloved relative can also be a political informer, but the prose style/translation is flat. The structure doesn't always work with the story being told, but this remains a thoughtful investigation into where ideology and family intimacy coalesce and clash.

I’m afraid I didn’t make strong progress with this book, partly due to the formatting (which I wouldn’t expect to see reflected in the published novel. Intriguing premise but I’m afraid I never completed it.