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emmagreenwood's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Body horror, Vomit, Abandonment, Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Infidelity, Animal death, and Racism
gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
//TW: Disordered Eating, Racism, Body Shaming
I feel like this book had a lot of potential that ended up being overshadowed by questionable writing choices by the author. I appreciated the delving into binge eating disorder and how that can be a generational trauma coupled with gaslighting on the part of the abuser (see: the mother of the unnamed narrator constantly making snippy side remarks about the MC's body, yet when confronted with criticism of her daughter's figure from her sister claims that "it's perfect the way it is, nothing has to change").
However, despite the book being a short story, I almost did not finish the story. The other MC, a Frenchman, is derogatory and truly embodies the White Man who visits Asia to "discover inspiration (himself)." With the way that he is framed, coupled with realizing that this book was originally written in French + the author identifies as Franco-Korean (vs. Korean-French), it's quite easy to piece together the author's colonized and white upbringing, and what this brings to the story. As an East Asian POC , the tone and plot felt very much like the author was trying to distance herself from her non-white identity by over-romanticizing a story where the half Korean main character is dissatisfied with her native homeland and yearns for something More through the Frenchman who comes to stay at the hotel she works at. Lastly, while I understand that this is a short story and I do commend that the MC criticizes the Frenchman's racism regarding the issue, the author's brief quips about the state of the North/South Korea border felt like they lacked critical thinking, before the issue was brushed under the rug never to be brought back up.
Overall, this story left a sour taste in my mouth and I'm hoping my next couple reads will be much more palatable.
I feel like this book had a lot of potential that ended up being overshadowed by questionable writing choices by the author. I appreciated the delving into binge eating disorder and how that can be a generational trauma coupled with gaslighting on the part of the abuser (see: the mother of the unnamed narrator constantly making snippy side remarks about the MC's body, yet when confronted with criticism of her daughter's figure from her sister claims that "it's perfect the way it is, nothing has to change").
However, despite the book being a short story, I almost did not finish the story. The other MC, a Frenchman, is derogatory and truly embodies the White Man who visits Asia to "discover inspiration (himself)." With the way that he is framed, coupled with realizing that this book was originally written in French + the author identifies as Franco-Korean (vs. Korean-French), it's quite easy to piece together the author's colonized and white upbringing, and what this brings to the story. As an East Asian POC , the tone and plot felt very much like the author was trying to distance herself from her non-white identity by over-romanticizing a story where the half Korean main character is dissatisfied with her native homeland and yearns for something More through the Frenchman who comes to stay at the hotel she works at. Lastly, while I understand that this is a short story and I do commend that the MC criticizes the Frenchman's racism regarding the issue, the author's brief quips about the state of the North/South Korea border felt like they lacked critical thinking, before the issue was brushed under the rug never to be brought back up.
Overall, this story left a sour taste in my mouth and I'm hoping my next couple reads will be much more palatable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
j_ellie's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Racism
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