Michael Barnes
This is one of my most page turning novels I have read so far this year. I have been a fan of Kylie Lee Baker and this novel only adds to my desire to read more of her work.
Be aware this is a COVID pandemic novel and does not shy away from the fear and horrific culture of racism against Asians (like racist arsehats distinguish between Chinese and other Asians minorities) during this period (which still hasn't ended).
Cora Zeng is a biracial Chinese American crime scene cleaner. Some reviewer describe her as a germaphobe, I describe her as someone who is taking perfectly reasonable precautions. Cora grew up with her half-sister Delilah. Delilah's mother is Chinese and she grew up speaking several dialects. Cora struggles with Mandarin, as her mother is white. So already we know Cora struggles with her identity. Fair warning the book begins where her sister is pushed by a racist white man shoving her off a rail platform and Delilah’s head meets a train and this will not be the only horrifically described gory scene in the book. Cora Zeng now works as a crime scene cleaner, and she and her coworkers (who are also of Asian heritage) have noticed a scary pattern of Asian American women being brutally murdered and having bats left at the crime scene.
Oh and Cora thinks her sister is now a hungry ghost.
I also appreciated the well craft twist and the misdirection's that lead up to this twist. So much so I went back a reread the novel to see how well these details had been crafted.
But perhaps Bat Eater’s most remarkable achievement is its seamless weaving of horror with incisive social commentary. It's full of uncomfortable truths: the fetishisation of Asian women. The book includes Cora's observation "Everyone wants Asian girls to look pretty. No one wants them to talk.” The sharp sting of systemic racism, racially motivated hate crimes, police brutality, media manipulation and copaganda. Baker handles these topics with both sensitivity and brutality, crafting a narrative that is as unsettling as it is necessary.
Needless to say much of this is confronting and reflecting the horrible racist culture we have in our culture and I can understand why some might not want to read this book. Like Monika Kim's "The eyes are the best part' this is a remarkable book giving a window into the impact our B.S cultural narratives have on Asian minorities that a lot of non-Asians (like me) would benefit in being forced to confront.
This is one of my most page turning novels I have read so far this year. I have been a fan of Kylie Lee Baker and this novel only adds to my desire to read more of her work.
Be aware this is a COVID pandemic novel and does not shy away from the fear and horrific culture of racism against Asians (like racist arsehats distinguish between Chinese and other Asians minorities) during this period (which still hasn't ended).
Cora Zeng is a biracial Chinese American crime scene cleaner. Some reviewer describe her as a germaphobe, I describe her as someone who is taking perfectly reasonable precautions. Cora grew up with her half-sister Delilah. Delilah's mother is Chinese and she grew up speaking several dialects. Cora struggles with Mandarin, as her mother is white. So already we know Cora struggles with her identity. Fair warning the book begins where her sister is pushed by a racist white man shoving her off a rail platform and Delilah’s head meets a train and this will not be the only horrifically described gory scene in the book. Cora Zeng now works as a crime scene cleaner, and she and her coworkers (who are also of Asian heritage) have noticed a scary pattern of Asian American women being brutally murdered and having bats left at the crime scene.
Oh and Cora thinks her sister is now a hungry ghost.
I also appreciated the well craft twist and the misdirection's that lead up to this twist. So much so I went back a reread the novel to see how well these details had been crafted.
But perhaps Bat Eater’s most remarkable achievement is its seamless weaving of horror with incisive social commentary. It's full of uncomfortable truths: the fetishisation of Asian women. The book includes Cora's observation "Everyone wants Asian girls to look pretty. No one wants them to talk.” The sharp sting of systemic racism, racially motivated hate crimes, police brutality, media manipulation and copaganda. Baker handles these topics with both sensitivity and brutality, crafting a narrative that is as unsettling as it is necessary.
Needless to say much of this is confronting and reflecting the horrible racist culture we have in our culture and I can understand why some might not want to read this book. Like Monika Kim's "The eyes are the best part' this is a remarkable book giving a window into the impact our B.S cultural narratives have on Asian minorities that a lot of non-Asians (like me) would benefit in being forced to confront.