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sgpapagikos's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
katherine_books's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
aurorasandsadprose_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
floatwiththesticks's review against another edition
5.0
I'm actually a little heartbroken to leave these women and this city behind. I was captivated by the first chapter and wish they'd been a hundred more.
Frances Cha, you better be writing more books (and yes, this is a threat).
Frances Cha, you better be writing more books (and yes, this is a threat).
ba6a's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
we're following a handful of different character perspectives and while i enjoyed them all only one of their arcs felt completed/well-rounded.. wish it was longer so we could spend more time with the other characters and have their stories feel more complete
we're following a handful of different character perspectives and while i enjoyed them all only one of their arcs felt completed/well-rounded.. wish it was longer so we could spend more time with the other characters and have their stories feel more complete
ciddi1004's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
belle2022's review against another edition
3.0
I just need to accept the fact that non-fiction is not for me. I appreciated this story of the different girls and how their lives came to be. Everyone is different but similar in their own ways.
I’m glad to have read this because it was interesting to read about the beauty standards in SK, how common surgery is and isn’t seen as too much for a taboo thing for the people. However for Idols it seemed more of a taboo thing. They’re definitely infatuated with beauty and status.
Learning about Room Salon girls was a major thing for me. I knew that this occurred in almost every country but it was interesting to read about it in SK. Especially about the types of men that went there.
I’m glad that these girls lives were given attention as there are actual women who live like this.
I enjoyed all the topics discussed such as : sexism, prostitution, unfair standards in the work place, Korean beauty standards and classicism. These are all important topics that I’m glad we got to see in the book and to see how it can be in SK.
It’s only a 3.5 stars for me as I did find it slow but also just a lot of information jammed into a book that is less than 300 pages. I felt like the writing was basic and could have been more developed to give it a realistic vibe.
I’m glad to have read this because it was interesting to read about the beauty standards in SK, how common surgery is and isn’t seen as too much for a taboo thing for the people. However for Idols it seemed more of a taboo thing. They’re definitely infatuated with beauty and status.
Learning about Room Salon girls was a major thing for me. I knew that this occurred in almost every country but it was interesting to read about it in SK. Especially about the types of men that went there.
I’m glad that these girls lives were given attention as there are actual women who live like this.
I enjoyed all the topics discussed such as : sexism, prostitution, unfair standards in the work place, Korean beauty standards and classicism. These are all important topics that I’m glad we got to see in the book and to see how it can be in SK.
It’s only a 3.5 stars for me as I did find it slow but also just a lot of information jammed into a book that is less than 300 pages. I felt like the writing was basic and could have been more developed to give it a realistic vibe.
kutreen's review against another edition
dark
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Usually I don't like books that switch between various perspectives but I loved that all of the characters were friends or knew each other in various capacities and that their lives intersected often. I liked learning about pressures related to beauty, marriage, and women's careers in Korea, as well as about class differences, from women whose difficult childhoods have left them to learn to fend for themselves and make unlikely connections to survive.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Infertility, and Abandonment
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Sexual content
hello_divine's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I really liked the concept and learned a lot about Korean culture this way. Stylistically, however, the plot was not yet fully developed. I had trouble sympathizing with the characters, remembering their stories and connecting them to each other.