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jesikakaley's review
dark
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
radtj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was very captivating, from the main characters to the evolving plot following them. I really enjoyed how the author slowly develops Ji-won’s character over the course of the book, and shows how she’s changing as a person! Great story.
But I feel like the ending came together almost too perfectly. While it was satisfying, it also felt like there were small plot gaps, like Geoffrey having the knife with Ji-won’s fingerprints all over it. Overall still a great read though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Kidnapping, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia and Suicidal thoughts
robingdorsey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Cannibalism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
tales_told_in_gold's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Who would’ve thought I’d ever root for a cannibal? Not me!
The way this novel made me feel like such a fly on the wall, staring at the lives of Ji-won and her mother and sister as they struggled to deal with the loss of their husband / father through sudden abandonment. Even the seemingly dull aspects of their living were made fascinating by the constant tension underlying their interactions with one another.
This is more than just a story of a young woman with a sick hunger for eyeballs.. it’s a look into generational trauma and grief through the Korean-American perspective. It’s about learning how to combat against oppression from white supremacy. It’s about someone losing their mind to the downsides of life, despite being the cause of some.
Now admittedly there are some plot holes throughout, especially in the ending, but if you’re willing to suspend disbelief then “eye” gotta say.. you’ll love this revengeful tale!
The way this novel made me feel like such a fly on the wall, staring at the lives of Ji-won and her mother and sister as they struggled to deal with the loss of their husband / father through sudden abandonment. Even the seemingly dull aspects of their living were made fascinating by the constant tension underlying their interactions with one another.
This is more than just a story of a young woman with a sick hunger for eyeballs.. it’s a look into generational trauma and grief through the Korean-American perspective. It’s about learning how to combat against oppression from white supremacy. It’s about someone losing their mind to the downsides of life, despite being the cause of some.
Now admittedly there are some plot holes throughout, especially in the ending, but if you’re willing to suspend disbelief then “eye” gotta say.. you’ll love this revengeful tale!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Medical content
amaranth_wytch's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
metanav's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.5
interesting enough book on feminine rage, specifically exacerbated by her experiences as an asian american woman suffering from very real things that i've experienced as a feminine asian american person myself. at times felt a little too on the nose, but that could've been purposeful, with the focus to be more on ji-won's spiral. overall i liked ji-won more than i didn't, but i didn't love her either.
multiple aspects of the story (ex: failed/sabotaged high school friendships) served a specific purpose but it didn't fully carry it out and as a result felt out of place. unless i'm misremembering as i did read this part at like 1am,even the event itself felt almost OOC to me? her hiding her friend's ring to try to sabotage the friendship just over jealousy of not getting into the school? it would've been one thing if their friendship was set up to be tumultuous to begin with, but the fact that it was established to be completely cordial up until that point made everything feel off kilter. even w/ some brushed over history and the events throughout the story, the buildup of everything ji-won was going through felt very sudden and abrupt despite attempts to build it up. the cancer reveal was a definitely an eye roll, and the end of the book overall left me dissatisfied.
wish there was more on ji-won and alexis's relationship though! and umma's character definitely plucked at my heartstrings, even though she is completely different from my own mother, just remembering her own personal struggles as a poor refugee definitely made me emotional over her both her parents' struggles.
multiple aspects of the story (ex: failed/sabotaged high school friendships) served a specific purpose but it didn't fully carry it out and as a result felt out of place. unless i'm misremembering as i did read this part at like 1am,
wish there was more on ji-won and alexis's relationship though! and umma's character definitely plucked at my heartstrings, even though she is completely different from my own mother, just remembering her own personal struggles as a poor refugee definitely made me emotional over her both her parents' struggles.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship
moriahleigh's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racism, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual harassment
selendrea's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Eyes Are the Best Part is truly a book like no other. Within its covers, you'll find horrifying, gory imagery, a tender sister relationship, social commentary on misogyny, fetishization, and Korean American experiences, and so much more. Ji-won is an incredibly complex character who represents pure rage in response to oppression, while also representing the softhearted loyalty of the eldest daughter in a Korean family. This dichotomy is best represented in her attitude towards Umma, a character who shattered my heart in pieces. Ji-won simultaneously desires to protect and heal her mother, but also harbors immeasurable frustration for Umma prioritizing men over the safety and happiness of her children, which is sadly a realistic feeling for many children in dysfunctional families.
George and Geoffrey's characterization, unfortunately, are a bit weaker. While they are successful in provoking discomfort and anger in the reader, they came across as quite over-the-top. I do wish that their dialogue and behavior were a bit more nuanced and subtle. I appreciated that Geoffrey acted as George's foil. In psychology, we have a term called ambivalent sexism, which includes hostile sexism (overt, angry, volatile) and benevolent sexism (seemingly kind but patronizing, prescribes weakness to women). These are two sides to the same coin, and are highly correlated. Kim did a fabulous job bringing both hostile and benevolent sexism to life in these characters, although I still found them to be a bit heavy handed.
My favorite aspect of this novel is that the focal point of the horror, the eyes, are not just for shock value. These scenes are disorienting and off-putting, but, in my opinion, are dripping with literary symbolism. Here are a few of my interpretations of the text:
1. Ji-won makes a point to compare brown eyes and blue eyes, suggesting that brown is muddy and dirty, yet blue is crisp and clear. Since brown eyes are most common for Asian people, this could represent the disparagement of features of people of color. Her obsession with consuming blue eyes, especially George's, is her attempt to consume and absorb a key part of her oppressor. The beginning of the book clarifies the belief that eating fish eyes brings good luck. Perhaps by eating George's eyes, Ji-won can absorb his luck, his privilege, his unearned confidence, and therefore take back power.
2. George is often caught leering at women, both strangers and Ji-hyun, who is underaged. By taking out his eyes, Ji-won is stripping him from his ability to make these women feel objectified with his eyes.
3. Eyes are mentioned or referred to in other ways. One that non-Korean speakers may have missed is when Kim describes Ji-hyun's " 눈치 " (nunchi), which refers to her ability to understand and interpret people. It literally translates to "eye-measure", with "눈" meaning "eye".
4. Ji-won describes her Appa early on as being treated like a king, as is common in Korean families due to strong hierarchy systems. When she first meets George waiting in the Chinese restaurant, she describe him like a king alone on a throne. This foreshadows how much her Umma later treats him as a king despite his... undesirable behavior.
5. Ji-won's primary advantage as a serial killer is her tendency to be underestimated. Kim emphasizes the stereotype that Asian women are weak and demure. She also mentions the oleander bush, which is beautiful yet poisonous, much like Ji-won grows to be. Her descent into madness is in direct contrast to what everyone, especially George, expects her to become.
6. For a minute, the reader may expect the removal of the tumor to cease her insatiable hunger for eyes, but we are quickly corrected when Ji-won's behavior doesn't stop. To me, this represents the fact that her 팔자 (palja) is inescapable.
The Eyes Are the Best Part accomplishes so much in a short, fast-paced novel, and I enjoyed every second of it. The end is so satisfying, and I almost had a hard time closing the book for good. If you like strange, gory horror with a feminist twist, please read it as soon as possible!
George and Geoffrey's characterization, unfortunately, are a bit weaker. While they are successful in provoking discomfort and anger in the reader, they came across as quite over-the-top. I do wish that their dialogue and behavior were a bit more nuanced and subtle. I appreciated that Geoffrey acted as George's foil. In psychology, we have a term called ambivalent sexism, which includes hostile sexism (overt, angry, volatile) and benevolent sexism (seemingly kind but patronizing, prescribes weakness to women). These are two sides to the same coin, and are highly correlated. Kim did a fabulous job bringing both hostile and benevolent sexism to life in these characters, although I still found them to be a bit heavy handed.
My favorite aspect of this novel is that the focal point of the horror, the eyes, are not just for shock value. These scenes are disorienting and off-putting, but, in my opinion, are dripping with literary symbolism. Here are a few of my interpretations of the text:
2. George is often caught leering at women, both strangers and Ji-hyun, who is underaged. By taking out his eyes, Ji-won is stripping him from his ability to make these women feel objectified with his eyes.
3. Eyes are mentioned or referred to in other ways. One that non-Korean speakers may have missed is when Kim describes Ji-hyun's " 눈치 " (nunchi), which refers to her ability to understand and interpret people. It literally translates to "eye-measure", with "눈" meaning "eye".
4. Ji-won describes her Appa early on as being treated like a king, as is common in Korean families due to strong hierarchy systems. When she first meets George waiting in the Chinese restaurant, she describe him like a king alone on a throne. This foreshadows how much her Umma later treats him as a king despite his... undesirable behavior.
5. Ji-won's primary advantage as a serial killer is her tendency to be underestimated. Kim emphasizes the stereotype that Asian women are weak and demure. She also mentions the oleander bush, which is beautiful yet poisonous, much like Ji-won grows to be. Her descent into madness is in direct contrast to what everyone, especially George, expects her to become.
6. For a minute, the reader may expect the removal of the tumor to cease her insatiable hunger for eyes, but we are quickly corrected when Ji-won's behavior doesn't stop. To me, this represents the fact that her 팔자 (palja) is inescapable.
The Eyes Are the Best Part accomplishes so much in a short, fast-paced novel, and I enjoyed every second of it. The end is so satisfying, and I almost had a hard time closing the book for good. If you like strange, gory horror with a feminist twist, please read it as soon as possible!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Grief
erica_reads_things's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A great slow burn. I loved the character development and path that Ji-won and her family took. I really love horror books in particular that take on specific communities and frame the horror around their real life struggles. This one was very well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
emilysshelf's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was a short read that I took longer to read than I hoped for just because it overlapped with socializing on the holidays. I do appreciate feminine rage books and usually enjoy horror/gore, I was very excited for this one based on recommendations I'd gotten. Without spoilers here are some thoughts: I feel this had a slow beginning and I can see how people may be bored and DNF early on. There's nothing super compelling about the MC's narration or life. The MC wasn't anyone I particularly cared for and come to think of it I felt this way for many of the characters. I was mostly apathetic towards Jiwon, (which may have been intentional? Unsure, the author didn't have me often rooting for her despite the obvious reasoning for us to be on her side.) Jiwon just came off as an emotionally immature and kind of jealous, pretentious asshole, especially when viewing her friends and other relationships. A lot of this could've been avoided if she just went to therapy, I get that she was a child of immigrants and her parents obviously weren't going to go be proactive about getting help themselves but for Jiwon and her sister's sake she could've TRIED. There was a bit of victimization on her part despite her "learning" to not think of herself that way and not wanting to continue that cycle like other women in her life. I do wish there were more male figures in her life that didn't suck, this book felt randomly "anti-men" in a similar way to Chlorine by Jade Song. I almost feel that the abuse in her life didn't equate her reaction, which I guess is explained a little bit at the end but I still didn't feel things were justified. Perhaps Jiwon was just a tad of a psychopath at the core or maybe she was always going to slowly unravel this way, up to you to decide I guess. I wanted Jiwon's implied attraction for Alexis to be a bigger point, I wanted her to sit with the possibility of her being LGBT and that maybe impacting her choices as well. I think we barely touched this topic and there was so much potential for their relationship to shape Jiwon's actions. As for the horror elements I think imagery wasn't too graphic and the descent into madness could've been longer, or just better executed. It wasn't super scary at all, or gross at all really, pretty tame on the cannibalism trope unless you're squeamish or new to the genre. I do wish we had a less rushed ending but I understand that it's meant to leave things open ended. Hoping this is a standalone novel and no one requests a sequel, the open ending was a good way to leave things ambiguous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment