Daijah

i really wanted to love this book because the concept is so interesting and i love the exploration of sleep disorders, specifically insomnia in this book. but on the other hand this kinda fell flat. reading this was enjoyable but it has no real depth to the plot line or characters. its similar to like scooby doo episode for adults, which i still love even now as an adult myself but it had way less action and suspense than the children's show. overall it was okay and i would recommend checking it out if you're interested but it wasn't anything to write home about for me personally.

this book genuienly was so weird and fun. i really just had such a good time reading this book. not only is this just like a weird fun book, but it also has something to say. it deals with power and greed and even just a woman who is willing to do anything for her husband who has gotten a tragic diagnosis.

this is by no means a perfect book. i do think some of the representation and language in here is questionable from a psychological standpoint but this book dives into the female experience including the frustration, the longing, and the masks we wear. it explores the performance of femininity, the constant craving for more, and the urge to break free from the limits of what's expected. the way these topics were handled and explored was done extremely well and i just adored it. just like how the main character in the book savors her food, i had to savor this book to truly get the full experience. this isn't a book you fly through, it's one you really sit with and digest.

read for the swoon sisters' bookclub: first quarter 2024 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9K5I...)

honestly i didn't like anything in this book besides the radio show element. the mc was absolutely unsufferable plus her and almost all the plot points in this story felt juvenile and immature like for high school, not the university. it was so meh.

read for summerween 2024: vlog coming soon

the eyes are the best part by monika kim is a brilliantly inventive and subversive feminist psychological horror novel that delves deep into the making of a female serial killer from a korean-american perspective. this book is not just about the grisly and thrilling elements of ji-won’s transformation, but it also profoundly explores the daily struggles and horrors faced by women of color, making it a truly compelling read.

one of the most captivating aspects of this novel is its exploration of the unique challenges that women of color encounter every day. the true horror of the story lies in the societal pressures, microaggressions, and blatant discrimination that ji-won faces, which are hauntingly relatable and powerfully depicted. monika kim masterfully intertwines these themes with the story of an unhinged woman seeking revenge, creating a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

at its core, this novel is about a young woman discovering the harsh realities of how the world treats her. ji-won feels overlooked and ignored by everyone, from her family to society at large. this sense of invisibility and the accompanying rage are palpable throughout the book, and i found myself deeply relating to her struggles. as a college student navigating a tumultuous life, i saw reflections of my own experiences in ji-won’s journey, despite the extremity of her actions.

the depiction of ji-won’s unraveling is both mesmerizing and chilling. her dreams, filled with horrifyingly vivid imagery of bloody rooms and succulent blue eyes, add an eerie and surreal layer to the story. the character of george, her mother's obnoxious new boyfriend, serves as a perfect catalyst for ji-won’s descent into madness, making her actions, though extreme, understandable in the context of her suffering and rage.

this book is a must-read for fans of unhinged women and revenge stories. monika kim’s writing is gripping, and her ability to weave together themes of familial disintegration, societal neglect, and personal vengeance is nothing short of genius. the eyes are the best part will undoubtedly be added to my list of go-to recommendations for unhinged women revenge stories. it is a powerful, evocative, and unforgettable read that will leave you craving more.

this book is very mixed for me. i appreciate a lot of what it was trying to say but i was soooooo bored. like at first this concept was cool and i adore the concept. but it got extremely repetitive. i know it was to make a point but that doesn't lessen the fact, it bored me. i also felt like while we spent so much time with the main character, we still never really got to know her. i feel like i could read the most boring, repetitive book in the world, but as long as it has a character i find interesting in it, i'll love it. but this lacked that. the main character was never really flushed out. i will say i did really enjoy the ending of the book a lot but besides that and the concept, this was really a slog to get through.

the final chapter june 2024 bookclub pick: https://www.patreon.com/daijahsbookworld

i enjoyed this one a lot and the audiobook is really good. i just wish we had a lil more gore and it was more showing and not telling but with it being told completely through interviews, that's kinda just the nature of it.