What is it, in summary?: A novel about a young Korean-American woman falling apart in the wake of her parents' failed marriage and her mother's relationship with her new (white) boyfriend. Dreams of eyes escalate to her killing men and eating their eyes.
What do you love about it?: As the blurb says, "Ji-won's hunger and her rage deserve to be sated." I love how the book blurs the lines between Ji-won's dreams and her reality. I love how she starts out preferring to run from conflict and ends the book taking control of everything she can. I love her obsession with eyeballs.
What sort of things are you likely to request for it?: The duality of man: I would love grisly horror where she takes revenge on [redacted], as she plans to at the end of the novel, or more reality-bending dreams. But I would also enjoy fluffy shipfic with her and Alexis, the classmate she has a crush on. But also? If Alexis could be convinced to join in the violence, or has dark secrets of her own, and they can kill people together? I'd love that for them.
Content warnings: Graphic murder, dismemberment, and cannibalism (specifically of eyes). Anti-Asian racism and misogyny. Ji-won's mom's new boyfriend makes eyes at Ji-won and her underage sister and makes a comment about the sister. Stalking and harassment. One character's backstory involves children facing malnutrition.
The Eyes Are the Best Part - Monika Kim
Media: Novel
Approx length: 278 pages
Where to find it: bookstores, libraries?
What is it, in summary?: A novel about a young Korean-American woman falling apart in the wake of her parents' failed marriage and her mother's relationship with her new (white) boyfriend. Dreams of eyes escalate to her killing men and eating their eyes.
What do you love about it?: As the blurb says, "Ji-won's hunger and her rage deserve to be sated." I love how the book blurs the lines between Ji-won's dreams and her reality. I love how she starts out preferring to run from conflict and ends the book taking control of everything she can. I love her obsession with eyeballs.
What sort of things are you likely to request for it?: The duality of man: I would love grisly horror where she takes revenge on [redacted], as she plans to at the end of the novel, or more reality-bending dreams. But I would also enjoy fluffy shipfic with her and Alexis, the classmate she has a crush on. But also? If Alexis could be convinced to join in the violence, or has dark secrets of her own, and they can kill people together? I'd love that for them.
Content warnings: Graphic murder, dismemberment, and cannibalism (specifically of eyes). Anti-Asian racism and misogyny. Ji-won's mom's new boyfriend makes eyes at Ji-won and her underage sister and makes a comment about the sister. Stalking and harassment. One character's backstory involves children facing malnutrition.