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A review by selendrea
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
dark
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
The Eyes Are the Best Part is truly a book like no other. Within its covers, you'll find horrifying, gory imagery, a tender sister relationship, social commentary on misogyny, fetishization, and Korean American experiences, and so much more. Ji-won is an incredibly complex character who represents pure rage in response to oppression, while also representing the softhearted loyalty of the eldest daughter in a Korean family. This dichotomy is best represented in her attitude towards Umma, a character who shattered my heart in pieces. Ji-won simultaneously desires to protect and heal her mother, but also harbors immeasurable frustration for Umma prioritizing men over the safety and happiness of her children, which is sadly a realistic feeling for many children in dysfunctional families.
George and Geoffrey's characterization, unfortunately, are a bit weaker. While they are successful in provoking discomfort and anger in the reader, they came across as quite over-the-top. I do wish that their dialogue and behavior were a bit more nuanced and subtle. I appreciated that Geoffrey acted as George's foil. In psychology, we have a term called ambivalent sexism, which includes hostile sexism (overt, angry, volatile) and benevolent sexism (seemingly kind but patronizing, prescribes weakness to women). These are two sides to the same coin, and are highly correlated. Kim did a fabulous job bringing both hostile and benevolent sexism to life in these characters, although I still found them to be a bit heavy handed.
My favorite aspect of this novel is that the focal point of the horror, the eyes, are not just for shock value. These scenes are disorienting and off-putting, but, in my opinion, are dripping with literary symbolism. Here are a few of my interpretations of the text:
1. Ji-won makes a point to compare brown eyes and blue eyes, suggesting that brown is muddy and dirty, yet blue is crisp and clear. Since brown eyes are most common for Asian people, this could represent the disparagement of features of people of color. Her obsession with consuming blue eyes, especially George's, is her attempt to consume and absorb a key part of her oppressor. The beginning of the book clarifies the belief that eating fish eyes brings good luck. Perhaps by eating George's eyes, Ji-won can absorb his luck, his privilege, his unearned confidence, and therefore take back power.
2. George is often caught leering at women, both strangers and Ji-hyun, who is underaged. By taking out his eyes, Ji-won is stripping him from his ability to make these women feel objectified with his eyes.
3. Eyes are mentioned or referred to in other ways. One that non-Korean speakers may have missed is when Kim describes Ji-hyun's " 눈치 " (nunchi), which refers to her ability to understand and interpret people. It literally translates to "eye-measure", with "눈" meaning "eye".
4. Ji-won describes her Appa early on as being treated like a king, as is common in Korean families due to strong hierarchy systems. When she first meets George waiting in the Chinese restaurant, she describe him like a king alone on a throne. This foreshadows how much her Umma later treats him as a king despite his... undesirable behavior.
5. Ji-won's primary advantage as a serial killer is her tendency to be underestimated. Kim emphasizes the stereotype that Asian women are weak and demure. She also mentions the oleander bush, which is beautiful yet poisonous, much like Ji-won grows to be. Her descent into madness is in direct contrast to what everyone, especially George, expects her to become.
6. For a minute, the reader may expect the removal of the tumor to cease her insatiable hunger for eyes, but we are quickly corrected when Ji-won's behavior doesn't stop. To me, this represents the fact that her 팔자 (palja) is inescapable.
The Eyes Are the Best Part accomplishes so much in a short, fast-paced novel, and I enjoyed every second of it. The end is so satisfying, and I almost had a hard time closing the book for good. If you like strange, gory horror with a feminist twist, please read it as soon as possible!
George and Geoffrey's characterization, unfortunately, are a bit weaker. While they are successful in provoking discomfort and anger in the reader, they came across as quite over-the-top. I do wish that their dialogue and behavior were a bit more nuanced and subtle. I appreciated that Geoffrey acted as George's foil. In psychology, we have a term called ambivalent sexism, which includes hostile sexism (overt, angry, volatile) and benevolent sexism (seemingly kind but patronizing, prescribes weakness to women). These are two sides to the same coin, and are highly correlated. Kim did a fabulous job bringing both hostile and benevolent sexism to life in these characters, although I still found them to be a bit heavy handed.
My favorite aspect of this novel is that the focal point of the horror, the eyes, are not just for shock value. These scenes are disorienting and off-putting, but, in my opinion, are dripping with literary symbolism. Here are a few of my interpretations of the text:
2. George is often caught leering at women, both strangers and Ji-hyun, who is underaged. By taking out his eyes, Ji-won is stripping him from his ability to make these women feel objectified with his eyes.
3. Eyes are mentioned or referred to in other ways. One that non-Korean speakers may have missed is when Kim describes Ji-hyun's " 눈치 " (nunchi), which refers to her ability to understand and interpret people. It literally translates to "eye-measure", with "눈" meaning "eye".
4. Ji-won describes her Appa early on as being treated like a king, as is common in Korean families due to strong hierarchy systems. When she first meets George waiting in the Chinese restaurant, she describe him like a king alone on a throne. This foreshadows how much her Umma later treats him as a king despite his... undesirable behavior.
5. Ji-won's primary advantage as a serial killer is her tendency to be underestimated. Kim emphasizes the stereotype that Asian women are weak and demure. She also mentions the oleander bush, which is beautiful yet poisonous, much like Ji-won grows to be. Her descent into madness is in direct contrast to what everyone, especially George, expects her to become.
6. For a minute, the reader may expect the removal of the tumor to cease her insatiable hunger for eyes, but we are quickly corrected when Ji-won's behavior doesn't stop. To me, this represents the fact that her 팔자 (palja) is inescapable.
The Eyes Are the Best Part accomplishes so much in a short, fast-paced novel, and I enjoyed every second of it. The end is so satisfying, and I almost had a hard time closing the book for good. If you like strange, gory horror with a feminist twist, please read it as soon as possible!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Cannibalism, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Grief