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A review by dominiquediane
The Fetishist by Katherine Min
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
When Kyoko finally puts her plot for revenge into action after years of plotting, absolutely nothing goes right. By the time she finally gets her hands on Daniel, the man she blames for her mother’s suicide, she has no idea what to do with him. Part of her is reveling in the moment, knowing she is on the verge of achieving what has been her life’s goal for so long… part of her is completely unsure about exactly how she plans to go about enacting her revenge. She wants him to suffer, to die. But how? After all, nothing has gone right in her plan so far. With no where else to turn, Kyoko enlists the help of her boyfriend and fellow bandmate to lock Daniel in the basement. As she decides what to do next, everyone involved - immediately or distantly - comes to their own reckoning involving issues of race, feminist ideals, and immortality.
On the surface, the premise sounded alluring. I was so eager to read this book. Initially, the narration of story grabbed me in a way that made me think it would deliver; however, as the book splintered into its multiple POVs, the grip it had on my quickly loosened. One reason for this is, for me, the story and plot took a backseat to the depth of character study that takes place. The novel follows the viewpoints of several characters - none of which are in any way underdeveloped. Even background characters have a dynamism to them that gives the reader a feeling of being a purveying god over a different reality. I pictured the setting as a neon, cyberpunk style background, scored by stringed instruments playing haunting, classical pieces.
But the characters. For there to be so many, and all with so much depth and development, and exploration into their hearts and minds… at a certain point, the story lost its pace and reading felt more laborious than entertaining. There was so much to follow and learn and explore with each character. It was hard to read inn one sitting, yet hard to really absorb properly if read in bits and spurts.
Be prepared for a novel that requires you to process a lot of difficult topics, as well. Katherine Min is a phenomenal author in this regard. She handles the hard topics with incredible tact, skill, and even beauty. That being said, check the trigger warnings (e.g., mentions of suicide) and make sure you are in the right headspace before tackling this novel. Personally, I’m not sure if I’ll attempt a reread, just because I think I ruined my experience reading it the first time by not being prepared for the depth. Go in prepared, and you’re more than likely in for an incredibly insightful and creative time.
The things that would have made this book better for me are definitely reflective of my own preferences rather than an shortcomings on the author’s part. For example, I would have loved to have seen more detail and story devoted to Kyoko’s murder plan and final attempt to go through with Daniel’s murder. For me, it felt like the scene went by almost insignificantly, as internal/emotional reactions were emphasized over the pacing and movement of the plot. In the end, I was ultimately expecting something akin to Mona Awad, but this was very different. If my expectations were more level with the reality of the content/genre, I no doubt would have liked The Fetishist so much more. But it fell flat for me and I don’t know if I could redeem it with a reread at this point. My advice, go into this with open eyes and you are more than likely in for an excellent experience.
On the surface, the premise sounded alluring. I was so eager to read this book. Initially, the narration of story grabbed me in a way that made me think it would deliver; however, as the book splintered into its multiple POVs, the grip it had on my quickly loosened. One reason for this is, for me, the story and plot took a backseat to the depth of character study that takes place. The novel follows the viewpoints of several characters - none of which are in any way underdeveloped. Even background characters have a dynamism to them that gives the reader a feeling of being a purveying god over a different reality. I pictured the setting as a neon, cyberpunk style background, scored by stringed instruments playing haunting, classical pieces.
But the characters. For there to be so many, and all with so much depth and development, and exploration into their hearts and minds… at a certain point, the story lost its pace and reading felt more laborious than entertaining. There was so much to follow and learn and explore with each character. It was hard to read inn one sitting, yet hard to really absorb properly if read in bits and spurts.
Be prepared for a novel that requires you to process a lot of difficult topics, as well. Katherine Min is a phenomenal author in this regard. She handles the hard topics with incredible tact, skill, and even beauty. That being said, check the trigger warnings (e.g., mentions of suicide) and make sure you are in the right headspace before tackling this novel. Personally, I’m not sure if I’ll attempt a reread, just because I think I ruined my experience reading it the first time by not being prepared for the depth. Go in prepared, and you’re more than likely in for an incredibly insightful and creative time.
The things that would have made this book better for me are definitely reflective of my own preferences rather than an shortcomings on the author’s part. For example, I would have loved to have seen more detail and story devoted to Kyoko’s murder plan and final attempt to go through with Daniel’s murder. For me, it felt like the scene went by almost insignificantly, as internal/emotional reactions were emphasized over the pacing and movement of the plot. In the end, I was ultimately expecting something akin to Mona Awad, but this was very different. If my expectations were more level with the reality of the content/genre, I no doubt would have liked The Fetishist so much more. But it fell flat for me and I don’t know if I could redeem it with a reread at this point. My advice, go into this with open eyes and you are more than likely in for an excellent experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Xenophobia, Grief, Racism, and Death of parent