2024 the best. review

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(as of Dec 09, 2024 13:22:09 UTC - Details)

“Violent, smart, gruesome and wildly original, this novel pulls readers into a horrific world of murder and cannibalism while also critiquing misogyny, exploring Asian fetishization and stereotypes, sharing what it’s like to navigate two cultures and telling a touching story of a family in turmoil.”  —New York Times Book Review

A TIME MAGAZINE 100 MUST-READ BOOKS OF 2024

Crying in H-Mart meets My Sister, the Serial Killer in this feminist psychological horror about the making of a female serial killer from a Korean-American perspective.

Ji-won’s life tumbles into disarray in the wake of her Appa’s extramarital affair and subsequent departure. Her mother, distraught. Her younger sister, hurt and confused. Her college freshman grades, failing. Her dreams, horrifying . . . yet enticing. 

In them, Ji-won walks through bloody rooms full of eyes. Succulent blue eyes. Salivatingly blue eyes. Eyes the same shape and shade as George’s, who is Umma’s obnoxious new boyfriend. George has already overstayed his welcome in her family’s claustrophobic apartment. He brags about his puffed-up consulting job, ogles Asian waitresses while dining out, and acts condescending toward Ji-won and her sister as if he deserves all of Umma’s fawning adoration. No, George doesn’t deserve anything from her family. Ji-won will make sure of that. 

For no matter how many victims accumulate around her campus or how many people she must deceive and manipulate, Ji-won’s hunger and her rage deserve to be sated. 

A brilliantly inventive, subversive novel about a young woman unraveling, Monika Kim’s The Eyes Are the Best Part is a story of a family falling apart and trying to find their way back to each other, marking a bold new voice in horror that will leave readers mesmerized and craving more.

From the Publisher

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CK5BQ7G7
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Erewhon Books (June 25, 2024)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 25, 2024
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 816 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 284 pages
Reviewer: under the radar dot com
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Are they really?
Review: THE EYES ARE THE BEST PARTMonika KimI’ve got a horror stunner for you today. I read it in early summer, and it might have been the highlight of my trip.Let’s talk about it.Usually, a divorce means separating from the spouse and not the children but when Ji-won’s dad left his wife he left everyone else. And in his place, in his wake a hole formed so deep and so wide no one else could fill it. And in that hole things started to fall in and become part of the darkness and the vastness of it.Grief manifests in Ji-won as an obsession with the eyes. How they look, how they smell, the way they taste and feel between her teeth and going down her throat. Seeing everything they pass, somehow consuming all the while being consumed.THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART is about what it means when someone could so easily up and leave you. How it affects the way you see yourself. The more Ji-won starts to feel herself disappearing the more she becomes obsessed with being seen.THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART is the ultimate psychological horror book. Rarely do horror books come this polished with no confusion or meandering. It was straightforward and fantastic.Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books | Erewhon Books for the advanced copy and the opportunity to provide feedback!THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART…⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reviewer: McKinley
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: excellent read
Review: This was a very interesting at times disturbing read. I felt like there were lots of good themes and excellent prose. I like the twist at the end and the vigilante aspect of it

Reviewer: Amanda Fischer
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: not bad. wouldn’t read again
Review: It was decent and had a good story just wasn’t my cup of tea I guess but it was a quick read

Reviewer: babygirl
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: spookyyy
Review: This book keeps you on the edge of your seat, making you question what’s real until the first pivotal moment occurs. Initially, it may seem surreal, but most of the events are grounded in reality. I appreciated the protagonist's resilience as she stands up to those who attempt to harm her, from her mother’s new boyfriend’s inappropriate behavior to the stalker who poses a threat. The story skillfully explores themes of vulnerability and strength in the face of adversity, especially reflecting on the effects of her father's abandonment of her and her sister. I genuinely enjoyed this book and look forward to exploring more works by this author.

Reviewer: Jasmine
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Stunning
Review: I love love loved this book! Absolutely stunning writing. Love when a woman goes insane and then acts accordingly. Such complex characters and themes, such a clear vision. It deals with racism and misogyny in such a fresh way that was so insightful. Big TW for gore and body horror but it’s SO well done. I still can’t eat grape tomatoes or popping boba even though I read this a few months back lol

Reviewer: Samantha
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Psychological Trip
Review: When I started The Eyes Are The Best Part I was not sure what to expect, and I was not prepared for the complexity of the story being told. I opted to accompany this reading the the audio which I believe for me what the right choice, had I not I probably would not have finished the book, not because I disliked the book but because it was not in my norm of reading and it was hard for me to adjust to the change in pace.It begins with Ji-Won and her family dealing with the the fact that her father abandoned her family to be with someone else. Ji-Won is put in the position to be the emotional caregiver for her mother and sister until her mother introduces George into her life. George is a white man whose interest in Asian women and their culture is concerning to Ji-Won and her sister, while her mother who is desperation for a connection overlooks.While the story progresses the reader slowly descends into a sense of unease as Ji-Won begins to unravel. Ji-Won is faced with the reality of not only being a women, but being an Asian women in a society where the Asian culture is often fetishized. Ji-Won is angry and she begins to change from a devoted daughter who is well mannered into something more cold and calculating.Monkia Kim does a wonderful job addressing the themes of racism and sexism, and how these can effect someone in such a psychologically damaging manner that a monster is created. While you will not find any jump scares you will find your self uncomfortable and on edge. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers then this book is for you.

Reviewer: Angela B
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: WOW
Review: Great book!!! I didn’t want it to end!! So good, twisted and revolting without going too far. I found a new favorite author.

Reviewer: Caly D.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great twist
Review: Bizarre, but well written, with an excellent ending I didn't see coming. I can definitely recommend it, but be prepared..

Reviewer: Shreoshree Ghosh
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Very good book.. The paper quality is nice and the prints are readable..

Reviewer: N. P
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I smashed through this book quicker than any I have in a while... I've not read any "horror" in a long time and this was a good intro.Some very interesting topics I'd never even considered (eg racial fetishism) and I will enjoy discussing the lingering thoughts with friends I bully into reading it!Will happily read more from the author for sure. Some really interesting themes

Reviewer: David
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I read this book in it's entirety on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I can't recall a time where I've finished a novel in the span of 4-5 hours. I don't want to repeat anything that has been already said, but if you are a fan of horror of any sort, I'd highly recommend.

Reviewer: Mellisa
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The prose is wonderful and I was on the edge of my seat after every chapter. Regardless of race, I feel that Ji-won's experiences with Geoffrey mirrors a lot of young girl's experiences with men. I also know that many WOC can empathize with the ignorance of a white man pursuing them (think: chopsticks). I deeply empathize with having a mother who has tied her worth to men, and has an inability to learn how to be happy without them. The consequent wedge that's ultimately driven due to the need to be accompanied by a male can unintentionally ruin a families already perilous situation. Despite the grotesque nature of the protagonists' actions, I found myself empathizing and sympathizing with her.If there was one thing I think I would have liked to see explored, it would be if Ji-won would act upon her feelings for you-know-who. I could see the crush develop from a mile away and I thought it was very cute, however, I do understand why the author didn't include it. I think I just wanted to see Ji-won experience an untainted kind of love.Overall, this was a great debut novel, and I'm curious to see what else the author has in store!

Reviewer: tomjudesmith
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I read a lot. It's my main hobby. I've read all of the Booker longlist this year. I've read the Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist. Why hasn't this sexy, clever, modern and political book had more attention? I read it because it was on a list of books to look out for back in the Spring and I'm so glad I did. Five star writing.