Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang

4 reviews

emilywemily6's review

mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

In some ways, this book gave more than I expected, and in other ways, it didn’t quite fulfill what I was hoping for while I was reading. I really liked the conversations on the cosmetic industry, European standards of beauty, the privileges afforded to the privileged, etc. However, there is a lot jammed into this book, and by the end I felt a little unfulfilled in these discussions and plot points that could have gone farther than they did. Also, the main character’s lack of awareness/acceptance of the changes she went through was irksome. If I was suddenly 6 inches taller I would have been startled and run away from Holistik, for one thing, let alone all the other things that happened. She also felt so bad about her relationship with her parents but did nothing to truly fix it or come to terms with it. So I wasn’t a huge fan of the main character. I also felt like the book was over-sexualized. While this novel gave me a lot to think about, it won’t be quite a favorite.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Alcohol, Grief, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Bullying, Death, Cursing, Medical content, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Drug use, Gore, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Miscarriage, Infertility, Pregnancy, Cannibalism, Car accident, and Animal cruelty

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

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Medical content, Gore, Death, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death of parent, Eating disorder, Drug use, Pregnancy, Grief, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Blood, Vomit, and Sexism

Minor: Animal death, Car accident, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Cannibalism, and Child abuse

Various levels of questionable/lack of consent, including outside of a solely sexual context. General exploitation and manipulation. Lots of themes around beauty standards and "healthy" lifestyles, including unhealthy levels of adherence thereto.

mlewis's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Body horror, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, and Sexual content

Moderate: Classism, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Drug use, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, and Death of parent

Minor: Domestic abuse, Infertility, Pedophilia, Bullying, Alcohol, Miscarriage, and Vomit