The Book Slump

Tag: Horror

  • Our Wives Under The Sea

    Our Wives Under The Sea

    By Julia Armfield

    SPOILER-FREE

    Released 2022, 232 pages.

    Miri thinks she has got her wife back, when Leah finally returns after a deep-sea mission that ended in catastrophe. It soon becomes clear, though, that Leah may have come back wrong. Whatever happened in that vessel, whatever it was they were supposed to be studying before they were stranded on the ocean floor, Leah has carried part of it with her, onto dry land and into their home.

    To have the woman she loves back should mean a return to normal life, but Miri can feel Leah slipping from her grasp. Memories of what they had before – the jokes they shared, the films they watched, all the small things that made Leah hers – only remind Miri of what she stands to lose. Living in the same space but suddenly separate, Miri comes to realize that the life that they had might be gone.

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: HORROR, LGBTQIA+, DARK, EMOTIONAL, FAST-PACED.

    Whilst it is accurate to describe this book as ‘horror’, it is not in the way you would think – as it is nothing like the horror books I have read prior. The best way I can describe it, is that it is ‘symbolic horror’, which I am pretty sure I just made up.

    Armfield’s storytelling was exceptional, I have never been more captivated by an author’s style of writing before. She has such a relatable way of conveying points. It felt conversational. I caught myself (frequently) thinking, ‘I have noticed that before as well’.

    The juxtaposition between Miri and Leah’s point of view was jarring. It makes it hard for the reader to decide who to sympathize with more. I enjoy this as it provides an accurate depiction of what the characters in the book would be experiencing.

    The biggest takeaway I got from this story is to treasure the relationship you have with your loved ones, and not to take it for granted.

    I would recommend this to someone who is trying to get into horror as it is a tame gateway book. Though, I would recommend anyone give this book a go, as Armfield’s writing style is very charming and fresh.

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

    LINK TO STORYGRAPH PROFILE

  • The Eyes are the Best Part

    The Eyes are the Best Part

    By Monika Kim

    SPOILERS

    Released 2024, 277 Pages

    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.

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: HORROR, DARK, TENSE, FAST-PACED.

    The Eyes Are The Best Part is a story that follows Ji-Won as she experiences the trials and tribulations of what it is to be a Korean woman growing up in a western country (America). After her mother gets a new boyfriend, she starts to notice the striking blue in his eyes. It slowly becomes an obsession, that leads to something far more sinister.

    This is my favourite horror so far – I am someone who likes horror books that have a purpose, and this one delivered.

    Protagonist (in my eyes) Ji-won is driven to rage due to the racial fetishization and performative feminism created by men.

    Kim touches on subjects that are typically overlooked and brushed off – she came for blood, and I loved it. Was it a bit unrealistic… yes but it was a very real scenario many women can relate to, and boy was it satisfying to read.

    The satisfaction I felt when Ji-won started driving George insane was unmatched. I, for one have met so many Jeffrey’s in my life and to see it written on paper was so validating- performative feminism is joked about but not spoken about, Kim did a great job of encapsulating this behaviour and pointing out the signs.

    There switch from sane to insane was quick, that’s for sure. The eye-eating takes a minute to stomach (pun intended), and the ending was a bit unrealistic as said above, but I do not think the point was to be realistic it was to be enjoyable – in real life she would have been arrested but I am glad she did not.

    I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, but I think women would love it -especially Asian women as it touches on Asian fetishization.

    And it’s her first book, how incredible.

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

    LINK TO STORYGRAPH PROFILE

  • The Vegetarian

    The Vegetarian

    By Han Kang

    SPOILERS

    Released 2007, 188 pages.

    Before the nightmares began, Yeong-hye and her husband lived an ordinary, controlled life. But the dreams–invasive images of blood and brutality–torture her, driving Yeong-hye to purge her mind and renounce eating meat altogether. It’s a small act of independence, but it interrupts her marriage and sets into motion an increasingly grotesque chain of events at home. As her husband, her brother-in-law and sister each fight to reassert their control, Yeong-hye obsessively defends the choice that’s become sacred to her. Soon their attempts turn desperate, subjecting first her mind, and then her body, to ever more intrusive and perverse violations, sending Yeong-hye spiraling into a dangerous, bizarre estrangement, not only from those closest to her, but also from herself.

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: DARK, SAD, TENSE, FAST-PACED.

    One of the first horror/psychological fictions I have read, and it was an experience.

    It is interesting reading a book where the main character does not speak (barely). Whilst the book is about a woman named Yeong-hye, it is actually told from the perspective of the people around her.

    Mr Cheong (husband) was disgusting and violent, I hate that he represents a percentage of men who treat their wives like commodities, ugh! he was so entitled.

    I found the second segment (brother-in-law) the most fascinating part of the book because it brings the question of ‘consent’ into play. It enters a grey area, where you have to decide whether Yeong-hye is being taken advantage of by her brother-in-law. She ‘consented’ and was even insistent at times, but she was also in a dormant state of mind. The brother-in-law was also a bit eccentric, which adds another layer – was there some harmony with them both finding peace in each other’s mania?

    The ending was tense and somber. It reminds me of when you step on/break off a butterfly’s wing, they can no longer fly and have lost their purpose – but killing them will weigh on you conscious, so you keep them alive, just for them to suffer.

    Kang was able to find good middle ground for the ‘horror’ element, I am someone who does not like – what I like to call it – mania horror, where you do not know what is real and what is not. Kang was able to leave some aspects to the imagination but not enough to leave you utterly confused.

    The storyline built up steadily to an interesting climax and the character POV switch was intriguing and refreshing.

    It is a good horror; however, I have read better – It would not be the first horror book I would recommend but I would not dissuade someone from reading this.

    The more I look back and review the book, the more I like it.

    Fair warning: it is very gory and there is sexual violence, if this is something that upsets you should not read this book!

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

    LINK TO STORYGRAPH PROFILE

  • The Eyes are the Best Part

    The Eyes are the Best Part

    By Monika Kim

    SPOILER-FREE

    Released 2024, 277 Pages.

    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.

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: HORROR, DARK, TENSE, FAST-PACED.

    The Eyes Are The Best Part is a story that follows Ji-Won as she experiences the trials and tribulations of what it is to be a Korean woman growing up in a western country (America). After her mother gets a new boyfriend, she starts to notice the striking blue in his eyes. It slowly becomes an obsession, that leads to something far more sinister.

    This is my favourite horror so far – I am someone who likes horror books that have a purpose, and this one delivered.

    Protagonist (in my eyes) Ji-won is driven to rage due to the racial fetishization and performative feminism created by men.

    Kim touches on subjects that are typically overlooked and brushed off – she came for blood, and I loved it. Was it a bit unrealistic… yes but it was a very real scenario many women can relate to, and boy was it satisfying to read.

    I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, but I think women would love it – especially women of an Asian background as it touches on the fetishization of Asian women.

    And it’s her first book, how incredible.

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

    LINK TO STORYGRAPH PROFILE