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lisaluvsliterature 's review for:
Shine
by Jessica Jung
While I’m personally not into the K-Pop sensation these days, a lot of my students and even some of my friends are. So I was very interested in reading this book and not only getting a glimpse inside the world, but also seeing what my students might actually enjoy reading.
This was a book I could not put down. The only reason I didn’t finish it in one day is because I was so tired and kind of a little down the first day I read it, that when it was bedtime, I just turned off the light and fell asleep instead of my normal up for an hour or two reading. But when I got up this morning, I went and sat by the window and enjoyed the rainy day and a good book.
There was a lot of drama in the story, which probably is exactly how that world is, especially since this author knows exactly what that world was like, having been a part of it herself. And the main character had so many things to juggle, and even when something started to look like she’d reached her dream, something else would either throw a wrench in the whole thing, or it was the “be careful what you wish for” scenario. The world of glitz and glamour was totally shown to be so much less glamorous on the other side, as we pretty much know from all celebrity tell-alls. But another thing that was really pointed out in this book was what a horrible double standard there is for the females compared to the boys. Not even just by the people in charge of the whole music industry, but with the fans as well. The horrible things girls say about the females they see with the male stars that they adore, and how the males can do no wrong, or are encouraged to do those things.
There were so many great issues touched on in this book, but it wasn’t preachy or anything like that. It was just a wonderful, edge of the seat, can’t stop turning pages story.
I did have to google some of the words, I wanted to know about the foods that were being talked about. And I’m sure I butchered the pronunciation of many if not all of the names in the book. But I know it is a culture I’d like to continue to learn more about. I may even look up some of these K-Pop groups just to see what I was reading out. And while I fell a little bit in love with the love interest, Jason Lee, I adored his snarky sarcasm, in the end, the book is about female empowerment and taking charge and not needing a man, even as we continue to fight for the equality we deserve, and all that storyline is fine the way it is.
Review first published on Lisa Loves Literature.
This was a book I could not put down. The only reason I didn’t finish it in one day is because I was so tired and kind of a little down the first day I read it, that when it was bedtime, I just turned off the light and fell asleep instead of my normal up for an hour or two reading. But when I got up this morning, I went and sat by the window and enjoyed the rainy day and a good book.
There was a lot of drama in the story, which probably is exactly how that world is, especially since this author knows exactly what that world was like, having been a part of it herself. And the main character had so many things to juggle, and even when something started to look like she’d reached her dream, something else would either throw a wrench in the whole thing, or it was the “be careful what you wish for” scenario. The world of glitz and glamour was totally shown to be so much less glamorous on the other side, as we pretty much know from all celebrity tell-alls. But another thing that was really pointed out in this book was what a horrible double standard there is for the females compared to the boys. Not even just by the people in charge of the whole music industry, but with the fans as well. The horrible things girls say about the females they see with the male stars that they adore, and how the males can do no wrong, or are encouraged to do those things.
There were so many great issues touched on in this book, but it wasn’t preachy or anything like that. It was just a wonderful, edge of the seat, can’t stop turning pages story.
I did have to google some of the words, I wanted to know about the foods that were being talked about. And I’m sure I butchered the pronunciation of many if not all of the names in the book. But I know it is a culture I’d like to continue to learn more about. I may even look up some of these K-Pop groups just to see what I was reading out. And while I fell a little bit in love with the love interest, Jason Lee, I adored his snarky sarcasm, in the end, the book is about female empowerment and taking charge and not needing a man, even as we continue to fight for the equality we deserve, and all that storyline is fine the way it is.
Review first published on Lisa Loves Literature.