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A review by caitlynischeckedout
Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
3.0
First I’d like to say: if you like weird horror, gross body horror, and powerful narratives on the beauty industry and society- I’d give this one a shot.
2.5 enjoyment level, but rounded up as I did appreciate the commentary on issues at hand and I think the messaging is important
When I picked it up I didn’t realize it was going to be so focused on gross, creepy body horror, and that’s just not quite my forte so I didn’t enjoy it as much as I think others will. I had a hard time wanting to read this because of that and other content included and it took me a rather long time to get through despite it being around 250 pages long.
The story was written in this poetic prose which was enjoyable to read, and the way it leads you into the horror I think is well done. It’s a subtle journey and drops hints here and there, and when you find out the true horrors behind the scenes it is powerful and horrific. The horror though is very real life horror and commentary on things that are truly happening, so I would read the trigger warnings beforehand so you know what you’re getting into. There is also sexual assault included at several different points which I was not quite prepared for. I’m also not sure I felt the scenes were handled as well as they could’ve been- a lot of things just seemed to happen for shock value to me.
Overall I do think the messaging included is important and worthy of notice, just wasn’t quite what I thought I was getting into.
2.5 enjoyment level, but rounded up as I did appreciate the commentary on issues at hand and I think the messaging is important
When I picked it up I didn’t realize it was going to be so focused on gross, creepy body horror, and that’s just not quite my forte so I didn’t enjoy it as much as I think others will. I had a hard time wanting to read this because of that and other content included and it took me a rather long time to get through despite it being around 250 pages long.
The story was written in this poetic prose which was enjoyable to read, and the way it leads you into the horror I think is well done. It’s a subtle journey and drops hints here and there, and when you find out the true horrors behind the scenes it is powerful and horrific. The horror though is very real life horror and commentary on things that are truly happening, so I would read the trigger warnings beforehand so you know what you’re getting into. There is also sexual assault included at several different points which I was not quite prepared for. I’m also not sure I felt the scenes were handled as well as they could’ve been- a lot of things just seemed to happen for shock value to me.
Overall I do think the messaging included is important and worthy of notice, just wasn’t quite what I thought I was getting into.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Racism, Body horror, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Rape, Medical trauma, and Sexual violence