A review by savvylit
Organ Meats by K-Ming Chang

dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Organ Meats is a gorgeously crafted fever dream. In writing this novel, Chang has created a wholly unique tale of childhood loyalty & fierce belief in the imaginary. The themes and imagery in Organ Meats are visceral and vivid. A red thread connected to a sycamore tree. Stray dogs with rusty coats. Pearls. Two girls peering through a chain link fence.

When I was reading this, the only phrase running through my mind was "girlhood, but make it feral." Both girls have a magical and primal view of the world around them. Not only that, but Anita & Rainie have this type of intense - yet pure - bond only forgeable in childhood. Each girl, despite the magical content of the story, seem so archetypal to girlhood. Anita is the one who remembers the powerful pacts of youth; who has no desire to grow up. Rainie is the one who is a bit skeptical, always thinking that the imaginary is false or temporary.

Organ Meats is genuinely Weird in the best way possible. I will say that if you're not a fan of magical realism, you will not enjoy this book. But if you do enjoy magical realism and books about intense female friendship, then you will love Organ Meats.
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