Reviews tagging 'Dementia'

Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang

6 reviews

aleesquer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Child abuse, Body horror, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Car accident, Drug use, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Death of parent, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

jennifercheck's review

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Body horror, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Car accident, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, Racism, Death of parent, and Dementia

Minor: Cannibalism

spicyspookypotato's review

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Drug use, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Body horror, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Dementia, Death of parent, Death, Car accident, Animal cruelty, Violence, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Sexual violence, Classism, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury

thecriticalreader's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Context: 

I borrowed Natural Beauty from my library through the Libby app. 

 

Review:

Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang is everything that Mona Awad’s Rouge wanted to be. This book is a gorgeously written, disturbing reflection on the meaning of beauty. The book establishes the story’s stakes by following the main character as she navigates her loving but somewhat anguished relationship with her impoverished parents. Her relationship with music adds another valuable and textured layer to her character and the story. Once the story hooks the reader in with the main character’s backstory, it deftly juggles commentary on beauty and wellness culture, queer desire, monstrousness, cultural assimilation, white privilege, bodily autonomy, and corporate greed. Huang trusts her reader to pick up on the book’s commentary and thus avoids any obnoxious didacticism or preachiness. The beauty company at the center of Natural Beauty, Holistik, is deliciously devious; Huang freely combines elements of dystopia, science fiction, and fantasy to construct the villainous corporation her main character must face. 

 

As the book nears its conclusion, the book bends to the requirements of a dramatic horror ending which adequately, if a bit predictably, wraps up the plot. The ending leaves a little bit to be desired when it comes to the main character’s relationship with herself and the other characters, but it certainly does not negate the brilliance of the rest of the book.

 

The Run-Down: 

You will probably like Natural Beauty if. . . 

·      You want to read a clever and entertaining commentary on modern beauty standards

·      You love classical music (piano in particular)

·      You can relate to the main character as she navigates tough economic circumstances and her identity as a daughter of Chinese immigrants

·      You want to reflect on what it means for something to be beautiful

 

You might not like Natural Beauty if . . . 

·      You are sick of villain tech billionaires

·      You want complex and fleshed-out side characters

 

 

A Similar Book: 

If you liked the concept of Rouge by Mona Awad but disliked the execution, give Natural Beauty a try! Similarities include . . . 

 

·      An ominous beauty cult organization for the wealthy that promises whiteness and beauty for a price

·      A down-on-her-luck main female character with a troubled relationship with her parents

·      Jellyfish

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Medical trauma, Racism, Trafficking, Body horror, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Drug use, Grief, and Alcohol

seagullsaga's review

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Classism, Racism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Body horror, Drug use, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Body shaming, Rape, Chronic illness, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Dementia, Eating disorder, Grief, and Sexual content

Minor: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Fire/Fire injury

noshinbean's review

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Drug use, and Sexual assault

Minor: Ableism, Cannibalism, Car accident, Dementia, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Sexual violence