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Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Kidnapping, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Blood, Cannibalism, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Abandonment
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity, Stalking
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Vomit
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!
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Classism
Minor: Cursing, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content
I loved this book—from the Korean American perspective, the feminist themes, the brief but notable queerness, and of course the wild dark side of our protagonist.
Monika Kim does an excellent job of weaving a number of different genres and topics that keep you glued to the page, hungry for what happens next. I went through so many emotions reading this: sadness, sympathy, anger, excitement, and nervousness probably were the most prominent. My biggest qualm is with the protagonist’s reason for her actions (revealed near the end) but it wasn’t enough to take away even a whole 0.25 stars.
There is a lot to reflect on with our main character and the cultural and societal reasons why she acts the way she does. That said, the differences between her, her sister, and her mother are pretty striking and interesting to analyze. The familial dynamics of these women are pivotal to understanding Ji-won and extremely well-written.
I disagree with other reviewers that the main male characters—George and Geoffrey—are too cartoonish. As a woman who frequents feminist spaces, I’ve experienced characters like both these men and thought they were pretty spot-on with their actions and descriptions. We are reading about an unhinged teenager in a horror fiction… getting caught up with the specifics of how realistic the men are seems… ironic.
I would love to see a sequel with Appa, with the way the ending was, but this was a juicy tale on its own that I will not be forgetting soon!
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Cannibalism, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Toxic friendship
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Cannibalism, Abandonment
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder
Minor: Self harm