Book Report #1
Notes on what I read last week
The Eyes Are the Best Part, by Monika Kim 🎧
Genre: Horror, Suspense
What’s it about: Ji-Won’s father has left her family behind for another woman. Her mother is despairing, her little sister is upset, and Ji-Won is starting to unravel. Her friendships are falling apart, her grades are dropping, and she’s having disturbing dreams.
When her mom starts dating George - a condescending boor who fetishizes Asian culture - Ji-Won’s growing rage leads her to decide she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her family.
Was it any good: When I finished, I thought “hell yeah.” This is a villain origin story. It was vicious and scary and simmering with rage. The way Kim tells the story - weaving together the instances in Ji-Won’s life and relationships that lead her to bloody actions - is really effective; I felt like I really understood her. And I was rooting for her.
Highlights:
A cool, mean female character
Genuinely disturbing
The eyes!
It’s pretty gay
The Wolf at the Door, by Charlie Adhara 🎧
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Thriller
What’s it about: Agent Cooper Dayton (lol) works for a secret section of the FBI called the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI, lolol) that investigates Werewolf crimes. As part of a new initiative to improve relations between humans and wolves, Cooper is assigned a new partner: A sexy and mysterious werewolf (yayy!) named Oliver Park. They head to a small town to investigate a string of murders, and while they don’t trust each other, they struggle to resist their growing attraction to one another.
Was it any good: Listen when I tell you: Yes. It was tender 🥹, kind of sexy, and honestly I am embarrassed to say I gasped out loud at the reveal on a very quiet plane.
Highlights:
Everyone is in their feelings
There’s a small town with fun characters
There is political intrigue
Gay
Check it out. (Ok so I did a little research here and I think this is only available as an audiobook, which may be for the best as it was a very fun to listen to while playing Balatro on a plane.)
Last Night at the Telegraph Club, by Malinda Lo 📖
Genre: Historical, Romance, YA
What’s it about: This is a coming of age story set in 1954 San Francisco, when fear of a rise in communism was an excuse to discriminate against marginalized identities. Lily Hu, a 17-year-old growing up in Chinatown, is starting to question her identity, and learns about the Telegraph Club, a lesbian bar with male impersonators. Lily befriends Katherine, the only other girl in her math class, and together they go to check out the Telegraph Club. Despite the risks, Lily and Kath fall in love.
Was it any good: Yes. It was well-written and very rich with context, and is the kind of book I wish I’d gotten to read as a teenager. I read this in a tent by a lake in Oregon, and I didn’t notice how cold I was until I was finished. Lily is so sweet and curious, and the love she has for her family and community was moving. I did find some of the historical interjections tedious - there’s so much going on in this book - and it felt like it ended somewhat abruptly. Despite that, I still felt good and edified after reading.
Highlights:
Very good food descriptions
Sweet sibling relationships
I learned new things
& another thing I read: The Last Rave, by Emily Witt, made me cry.