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dark
fast-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
đsupportđwomen'sđwrongsđ
Almost everyone in this book is unlikeable, but I didn't mind. The beginning is a little slow, but once the decent into madness starts it doesn't stop. As a squeamish vegetarian, I wasn't super bothered by the pretty descriptive language used to immerse the reader in the main character's culinary experiences throughout the book. The way the author weaves the social commentary on the fetishization of Asian women in America with gore and horror was just, chefs kiss
Almost everyone in this book is unlikeable, but I didn't mind. The beginning is a little slow, but once the decent into madness starts it doesn't stop. As a squeamish vegetarian, I wasn't super bothered by the pretty descriptive language used to immerse the reader in the main character's culinary experiences throughout the book. The way the author weaves the social commentary on the fetishization of Asian women in America with gore and horror was just, chefs kiss
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Racism, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Stalking
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As as a squeemish horror lover I spent a lot of this book saying "no...no, no, no". It pulled me in from the beginning and had more to chew on (jaja) than just the gorier moments. Overall it left me with a "Good for her?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Blood, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racial slurs
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"Correct him whenever you can. Confuse him. Make him feel foolish."
This may be the first book that ever made me actually puke, but it was part of the experience. Phenomenal read. I don't think I'll get this one off my mind for a while.
This may be the first book that ever made me actually puke, but it was part of the experience. Phenomenal read. I don't think I'll get this one off my mind for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
With one of the most complicated narrators I have read in a while, alongside some of the most infuriating male characters I have encountered in a long time, the bizarre, unhinged horror of this book is carried by its shattering heartbreak that the three female characters endure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Ableism
Be aware that this novel features eye-horror, eye-eating, fetishization of Asian women, antagonistic relationships between children and parentâs new partners, divorce, leaving a family for an affair partner, night terrors, performative feminism by misogynistic men, blatant disregard for culture, leering at waitresses, submission towards men, murdering men out of anger towards the patriarchy, drugging peopleâs drinks, strangulation, estranged familial relationships between women, the stress of failing courses in college, friendship break-ups, and a whole lot of infuriating sexism.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, Stalking, Toxic friendship
Minor: Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Le cuesta arrancar un poco sobretodo al principio. MĂĄs o menos hasta el primer cuarto del libro sitĂșa el ambiente y la escena con idas y venidas entre el presente y el pasado.
Cuesta un poco entrar en los personajes pero poco al llegar casi a la mitad, empieza a tomar mĂĄs de ritmo, lo cual se agradece.
El libro explora mås bien el cómo un personaje se convierte en lo que se convierte mås que los actos que acomete, asà que por ese lado es interesante y también otra forma diferente y fresca de desarrollar un thriller.
En un punto pasa algo y parece que eso vaya a desencadenar una resoluciĂłn que hubiera resultado algo floja y âjustificarĂaâ los actos de la protagonista, pero afortunadamente no recurre a ese recurso para nada.
El libro contiene escenas muy explĂcitas difĂciles para estĂłmagos sensibles.
Un buen debut, habrĂĄ que seguirle la pista a la autora.
Cuesta un poco entrar en los personajes pero poco al llegar casi a la mitad, empieza a tomar mĂĄs de ritmo, lo cual se agradece.
El libro explora mås bien el cómo un personaje se convierte en lo que se convierte mås que los actos que acomete, asà que por ese lado es interesante y también otra forma diferente y fresca de desarrollar un thriller.
En un punto pasa algo y parece que eso vaya a desencadenar una resoluciĂłn que hubiera resultado algo floja y âjustificarĂaâ los actos de la protagonista, pero afortunadamente no recurre a ese recurso para nada.
El libro contiene escenas muy explĂcitas difĂciles para estĂłmagos sensibles.
Un buen debut, habrĂĄ que seguirle la pista a la autora.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Toxic friendship
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
You ever read a book and itâs so obvious itâs a debut novel?
The story follows Ji Won and her family after her father leaves them behind for another woman. Her mother, depressed and loss, find comfort in George, a mediocre white man (who very obviously has yellow fever). At the same time, Ji Won develops a weird obsession with eyes, Georgeâs blue eyes in particular.
If youâre expecting a lot of blood and gore, this book isnât probably for you. It focuses mainly on Ji Won's relationship with her mother and younger sister and her role as the eldest daughter in a second gen immigrant family. The madness and murders only really start in the second part of the book, and if Iâm being honest, I donât think they take as much place as the family dynamic. âThe Eyes Are The Best Partâ is more of a study portrait on family/mother-daughter relationship than a gory/horror book like some people may describe it.
The story was compelling and the writing style was good. There were some very good lines here and there, but there were just some flaws. The story telling felt a bit juvenile at times, almost fanfiction-y in its writing and the topics were too On The Nose. It was all in your face, especially chapter 32. Almost like the author was scared the reader wouldnât understand what she was trying to say even though the double meaning and symbolisms were very very easy to understand. Itâs a shame because everything fell perfectly in place like puzzle pieces and then, out of nowhere, we get a whole chapter explaining everything to us as if we were stupid.
I also think the story relied too much on the nightmare effects to show Ji Won's slow descent into madness. I do love a character going crazy, never really trusting what theyâre seeing because what if itâs just their imagination? But this book pulled the nightmare card way too often it became repetitive. There are other ways to show madness.
Other than that, it was a pleasant read. Just very obvious that it is the authorâs first novel. I will be reading her next book because there is clearly talent and place for growth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racism, Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Stalking
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rounded up from 4.5 stars
I had 2 main thoughts that kept rattling in my head during this entire book. 1. these white men are horrible and 2. is this actually happening?
This book was so fast paced that I flew through it. Our fmc really is really struggling through the book in every way; school, family, friends, and love life. We watch as she struggles, becomes more unhinged, and literally loses it. This was so fun, I loved it!
I had 2 main thoughts that kept rattling in my head during this entire book. 1. these white men are horrible and 2. is this actually happening?
This book was so fast paced that I flew through it. Our fmc really is really struggling through the book in every way; school, family, friends, and love life. We watch as she struggles, becomes more unhinged, and literally loses it. This was so fun, I loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Racism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment
Minor: Drug use, Stalking
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
Minor: Cursing, Grief, Gaslighting
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Stalking