A review by clarke
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim

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

5.0

Hell hath no fury like the daughter of a woman scorned.

The Eyes Are the Best Part follows Ji-won, the eldest daughter trapped in the forlorn reality of her Appa's infidelity and subsequent abandonment. With Umma inconsolable, her younger sister, Ji-hyun, looks to her for help. After months of waiting despondently by the door, in hopes Appa will return to her, Umma turns to regularly eating fish eyes in her desperation - “Fish eyes are good luck. If I eat one, maybe it will bring your father back”. Eventually, tired of this new routine, Ji-won appeases her and eats a fish eye too. She becomes more and more enticed, compounded by horrifying yet alluring dreams of moreish blue eyes. Umma quickly falls for George, a white man with a fetish for Asian women and girls, blinded by finally being wanted again and a naive belief that "white men [are] the best...have you ever heard of a white man treating his girlfriend or wife badly? Because I haven’t!”. Their relationship gets more serious, as does Ji-won's hunger and rage, with a pile of bodies to show for it.

This book was fantastic. I'm always a fan of female rage, and this book really delivers on that. There's a slow but steady build as Ji-won mental state descends. It's easy to see why; every man in this book is the worst, showcasing a range of misogyny, racism, and entitlement. You may think them caricatures but I assure you I have met each and every one of them. A Mansplaining "feminist" who appears to be a great friend but girlfriend zones you and is a dick about it when you don't feel the same; multiple men with Asian fetishes, including Asian girls; a father who walks out on his wife and children for his mistress, etc. *Spoilers ahead:* I loved the descent into murder, with her obsession overcoming her, though I was willing her to kill George from the off. It was immersive, incredibly descriptive of every disgusting detail. There was just enough gore without risking it becoming repetitive, 

I was disappointed when it turned out Ji-won had a brain tumour. It felt like a lazy excuse for her desire to kill men and eat their eyeballs. Though I am glad that she continued to get her revenge. I thought the fish eyes would be some kind of monkeys paw type magic, giving you your desires with undesirable consequences: it gave Umma a "good" white man, who was cheating on her, using her, and noncey with her kids; it gave Ji-won multiple people who cared for her when she was so alone, but not selflessly, and it gave her an outlet for her taste for revenge and eyeballs. Maybe it had some influence, but I hoped that would've been explored more.

The familial relationships were relatable: she had a good relationship with her sister, and I've read countless tales of parents dating someone awful but ignoring their kid in favour of their own rose-tinted happiness. I wish Umma grew a backbone or could see George for who he is, but it was a realistic portrayal of someone in her situation. Appa's absence was glaring and I'm glad he won't be let off the hook. The friendships were again relatively realistic, and Ji-won is desperate not to be left again that she sabotages her relationships, which is probably most evident with her school friends.

This book is brimming with anger; an anger that is very familiar and is pervasive in our lives and in society, building and building until we boil over. I loved to see Ji-won's development, not just into a killer, but in every aspect of their lives. The two sisters symbolise a new generation of girls who won't tolerate intolerance; girls who will fight back. They’re tired and they’re not going to stand for it anymore, in stark contrast to Umma and the history she represents. You could really root for them, especially Ji-won, even without her dreams and the voice urging her towards violence, you could absolutely understand her indulgence (and yes, I was also urging her on). I love a tale of vengeance, especially combined with female rage, chanting 'as she should!' in support, because god it's about time we had stories were we fight back. Not today, men. Today, we have a knife.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc. I do not wish to discuss the colour of my eyes.
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