BEAUTIFUL STORY! I loved Kyoko and Alma with my whole heart and really felt Kyoko's grief. so great!!!

Full transparency, this book was a bit hard to get into but I'm glad I stuck it out because it was a really beautiful story.

.I am not going to say I liked this book. If I was the type of personality who was able , this would probably have been a DNF for me. Having said that, the pace did pick up towards the end. This story forces the protagonist to face his past and how his actions, however minor to him, affected all the people in his life. He tries to justify and make some reparations in the end. In my opinion however, he was forgiven much to easily. He was definitely not a likeable person.

I really didn't know if I would like this book going in -- it doesn't really fit the bill for books I normally enjoy. However, I ended up DEVOURING it. I loved Kyoko and Alma with my whole heart and really felt Kyoko's grief. This book is a creative and enthralling take on power, sexism and racism.

This is the story of two Asian women, Alma and Kyoko, and one Caucasian man, Daniel. Alma and Daniel were lovers and it is she who half jokingly said in post coital talk "Once Asian never again Caucasian" Daniel it would seem, adopted that as his motto and until marrying his now ex-wife Sigrid, stayed true to it According to Alma, Caucasian men pursue Asian women out of their their set ideas of who Asian women are and consequently reduce them to a sexual/racial stereotype, hence the title. Daniel and Alma have never gotten over each other.

At bottom, this book is driven by overlapping themes of love and death. All three main characters are musicians. Kyoto is at the beginning of her career. Playing her guitar, she screeches out tunes and lyrics about the nature of being Japanese. Her first big hit on Youtube is Sepuku or ritual suicide. Alma was a talented cellist who, because she has MS, has had to stop her career. Daniel, since splitting with Alma, has plateaued and spends his time teaching and playing in a string quartet who specialize in playing for people about to die. Both Daniel and Alma decide to end their lives and independently decide to end their lives on the same night but are saved at the last minute.

It is Kyoto and her boyfriend Kornell who save Daniel in order to kidnap him and kill him. Really. They stash him in their basement where Daniel is able to suss out, through the detritus around him, who Kyoto is and why she loathes him so. Her mother loved Daniel and ended her marriage because of this. Her love is not returned and in despair she eventually kills herself. The solitude of his stay gives Daniel time to begin to look at himself and his life for the first time, examining the love he lost and the damage to others he did. He discovers the will to live (although he could do without the steady diet of processed meat and white bread fed him).

This is a book filled with irony and black humor. It is also packed with wonderful, lyrical writing. It took me a while to get through it because I wanted to savor every page. Its depiction of Florence alone is reason enough to buy the book. It is, in the end, a fine meditation on the nature of love and desire. Thank you to Putnam Books and Netgalley for this ARC

This was a quick read for me, and I found myself quickly absorbed into the world of music and grief and longing that these characters inhabited. What began as a revenge fantasy blossomed into so much more, and each character's unique voice and perspective made their stories feel true and lived-in.

I wish the road trip component that opens section 3 was a little longer... I liked the idea of these particular people traveling the country together and navigating their new dynamic. I also flipped the last page not realizing the book had ended. It didn't feel like a natural stopping place.... more like the SECOND to last paragraph, and then they forgot the final paragraph or something.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was very different from anything I’ve read recently which I think is a great thing. The story follows a few different characters, and it explores the fetishization of Asian women but it does so in a way that surprised me. I didn’t expect the book to end the way it did, but I won’t go into detail as I don’t want to spoil the story. This book was published posthumously by the authors daughter which is great. I think it was an engaging story and it made me care about what happened to all the characters. I’m not 100% sure about how I felt about the ending but I think I enjoyed it nonetheless. I don’t think the book is really as it is described on Goodreads (akin to killing eve) due to how the story unfolds but I believe it was a story worth reading nonetheless. The story was engaging and the characters all had unique point of views and stories. Thank you to NetGalley for providing this Arc as I truly did enjoy it.

This book was an unexpected jolt, a startling "zjzjzjzzttt" metal fork to the socket of my reader's soul. I had no idea what it was meant to be about other than a philandering Asian fetishist of a mediocre white man--but really, that's just dumb Daniel, and that's not even the whole of him, and he's not even the half of it. There's dazzling, dizzyingly passionate, and talented Alma, the love of his life, but whose orbit he felt eclipsed by; brittle desperate Emi whose affections he spurned; and furious, grief-stricken Kyoko--Emi's daughter, hell-bent on vengeance, for she is convinced her mother died by suicide after Daniel ended their affair. Tackling themes of classism, racism, colonialism, and exploitation, as well as of regret, revenge, and redemption, and motifs of art and music and beauty, and language and imagery that is at turns bleak and playful (a passage in which comatose Alma, her coma toes, coma tossed comes to mind, hee!) these characters are full of surprises and The Fetishist is a singular and extraordinary book.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing is gorgeous and some really complex relationship dynamics are handled with humor and grace.

“The Fetishist” is a tale of misguided revenge and age-old regrets woven together via the telling of several characters’ stories and experiences. It is both relatable and foreign, deeply moving and vastly uncomfortable, and at times I wanted to stop reading because I was feeling too much empathy toward specific characters and it unsettled me.

The complexity of human emotions and relationships is explored well in the book and I often found myself connecting to characters’ expressions of their feelings, even when they perhaps did not fully understand them. Daniel’s attempts at self-awareness were frustrating and enticing, and the juxtaposition between his personality and Alma’s was my favorite aspect of the overarching story.

However, some of the language (particularly in the first handful of pages, but also sprinkled throughout) felt a little juvenile to me, and sometimes attempts at jokes (?) or clever wordplay (?) left me cringing. This was often the case in sex scenes (e.g., a female character’s genitalia being compared to the inside of a purse) but appeared in other places — “comatose Alma (comma) coma-tossed, knows, in her coma-toes” — and pulled me abruptly out of the story.

Overall, I recommend “The Fetishist” as something a little different from typical narratives, but if you’re very picky about your metaphors, you may want to proceed with a bit of caution.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC!

*Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy"

If you are looking for a novel that requires you to be introspective, you have yourself in the right place. The Fetishist is a microcosm for the world at large, the way races and cultures are made to a male's sexual preference. Daniel is a representation of Angelo-Saxon of the male variety, viewing those of Asian decent as singular, none having their own characteristics. Alma, Kyoko, and even Emi where versions of their true selves, dealing with a world that uses them as an object of pleasure rather than the human beings they are.

The idea of loss is the most poignant message of the story. The loss of love, individualism, ownership, time, and even ones own life. Each of the these characters have to come face to face with their own flaws and the impact those have on more than just themselves. Despite the theoretical growth Daniel experiences by the end of the book, flashbacks show how rooted these feelings can be, undercurrents that can run deeper than ever known.

I loved this. I will be thinking about these characters and those that they represent for long after I finish it. It brings me so much joy that stories such as these are being written. The interlocking stories, importance of each player, and the bigger picture this journey represents is an intriguing analysis of fetishism. Please take the time appreciate this lyrical masterpiece.

This is not a “happy” book. The three main characters are dealing with heavy issues, from chronic illness to depression to immense anger and grief. At first, it is hard to feel sympathetic towards a couple of the characters. While you eventually see the redemption of one character, it is hard to read another character destroy one life after another with little care other than his own selfish needs.

What this book is is beautifully written. The writing kept me reading even when I wasn’t so sure I wanted to continue on with these characters. It is character driven, so don’t expect a lot of action like a thriller. The ending felt a bit rushed and I wish it had been drawn out a bit more. That being said, Katherine Min was an excellent writer and I appreciate her daughter fighting to get this novel published posthumously.

I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a piece of fiction that has a different plot and tackles issues that aren’t normally seen in your more popular books.

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book. The book will be published on January 30, 2024.

The Fetishist is a novel by Katherine Min, a Korean American author who passed away in 2019. The book, which will be published posthumously in 2024, tells the story of Kyoko, a young woman who seeks revenge on Daniel, a violinist who had an affair with her mother, Emi, and allegedly caused her suicide. Kyoko's plan goes wrong from the start, and she finds herself in a twisted relationship with Daniel, who has a fetish for Asian women. The novel is a dark comedy that explores the themes of race, gender, identity, and fetishization with humor and sharp insight.

The Fetishist is a provocative and poignant work that challenges the stereotypes and power dynamics that shape Asian femininity and anti-Asian racism. It is also a testament to Min's talent and vision as a writer who was able to craft a compelling and timely story before her untimely death. The Fetishist is a book that will make you laugh, cry, and think.

Min portrays Kyoko as a complex and conflicted character, who struggles with her Asian American identity and her resentment towards Daniel, who represents the white male gaze that objectifies and exoticizes Asian women. Kyoko also has a fetish for violins, which symbolizes her connection to her mother and her desire for artistic expression. Daniel, on the other hand, is a pathetic and oblivious figure, who fails to recognize his own privilege and prejudice. Alma, a woman who suffers from a terminal illness, is also a victim of Daniel's neglect and infidelity.

The novel is written with Min's signature style of sharp wit, vivid imagery, and poignant emotion. She captures the nuances of Kyoko's voice and perspective, as well as the dynamics of the relationships between the characters. She also injects humor and irony into the narrative, which balances the dark and tragic aspects of the story. The novel is a testament to Min's talent and vision, which sadly was cut short by her death in 2019. The Fetishist is a brilliant and timely work that challenges the stereotypes and power dynamics that shape Asian femininity and anti-Asian racism.

To illustrate some of the novel's themes and insights, here are some quotes from the book:

**Daniel experienced the peculiar brand of despair that comes from getting what you wanted the second you realize you don’t want it anymore, and worse, he realized that he had never really wanted it in the first place, and that he hadn’t wanted the same thing the last time either…

**It made Kyoko furious that this was the moment that kept returning to her, that the memory of her mother dead had become more vivid for her than any memory of her alive.

**(Daniel) had always loved music more than anything else in the world. More than his wife, more than his daughter, more than himself. Music was his escape, his salvation, his addiction.

**Rickey’s thoughts on Alma: …most beautiful things could seem freakish, even ugly, from certain angles, because beauty was strange and singular and often unsettling.

**Daniel’s thoughts on Alma: …Alma’s beauty seemed apiece with the music she made, as ravishing as any work of art Daniel had encountered in Florence – any Madonna, Venus, or Magdalene. More than any musician he knew, Alma could seduce you,tease you into rapt attention, and beyond, to an ardent, prolonged arousal.

**But in spite of her cuteness, her size (5’ 3”, 103 lbs) and her age (23), Kyoko’s life had been deformed by grief, in turn, twisted to hate, hate hammered to anger, until the anger, the hate, and the grief had been grotesquely fused. Kyoko believed that violence would alleviate all three. In fact, she had bet on it.

I found this novel to be captivating and thought-provoking. It was easy to be drawn into Kyoko's journey of revenge and self-discovery, as well as the other characters' struggles and secrets. I admired Min's skillful storytelling and powerful language, which made me laugh, cry, and reflect. I also appreciated how she addressed the issues of racism and sexism that affect Asian women in particular, and how she challenged the stereotypes and expectations that society imposes on them. I was very impressed with the author’s use of uncommon vocabulary and the intimate knowledge of classical music and the singular people who wield their instruments. This novel is an important and timely contribution to contemporary literature, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark comedy, complex characters, and social commentary.

This novel blends together different perspectives and timelines and creates a captivating tale of revenge, love and music, The story centers around the way Asian women are frequently fetishisized.
This book really did pull me in and had me questioning, how far is too far when it comes to revenge for a loved one. Parts of this book had my heart pounding while i flipped (or swiped) through the pages to see what was going to happen next.
You should all pick up this book on January 30, 2024.
This read was exciting and Katherine Min's writing style will make you keep going to find out what would be revealed next.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Dnfed this one halfway through because it was just not my cup of tea. I do think it's written well and is worth a shot if it sounds interesting to you, just not my kind of thing.

pretty funny given the subject matter. alma is one of the best characters I've seen this year- so fully drawn, funny, passionate. the backdrop of florence and classical music were really beautifully done and added to the dreamlike quality of this book. many many beautifully written passages. I'm glad we have this work by Katherine Min, but mourning the fact that she isn't around to see it.

A shocking and stunning story with a perfect blend of intrigue, The Fetishist is an absolute force that hooked me from the start.

It begins with musicians and a mysterious revenge murder plot. Following a few characters and the windows into their various interconnected pasts, if you enjoy stories with multiple perspectives this one is a unique treat. The most prevalent theme throughout is the pervasive fetishization of Asian women (in this case, in the music industry.) And Katherine Min doesn't hold back. The way Min writes anger is especially remarkable - it completely drew me in. The anger explodes from the page, and it's so beautifully realized that I had to pause and let it sit. She balances this force with humor and charm. I was particularly enamored with Alma, the love interest of the character the book is named for, and the true main character in my opinion.

Through the fetishization of the character of Alma, Katherine Min confronts self worth and personal value. By showing multiple angles of self confrontation, she creates a conversation that allows different facets of pain to flourish. It's a perfect blend of literary fiction and thrills, which is a favorite combo of mine. Despite what I've mentioned here, this book is also about love. Love for music, for places, for people. It is being published posthumously by Min's daughter - but the care and love that made that a reality is obvious too.

I can't think of novels I can compare it to, but if you gravitate towards dramatic stories with humor and introspection this is not one to be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

This story takes place from 4 perspectives: Kyoko, the daughter of a victim of suicide. Kornell, Kyoko's devoted boyfriend and bandmate. Alma, an MS-riddled former musician. Finally, we have Daniel, who has affected the lives of each of these people in various ways.

I think that the book was strong in it's characterization. I loved Alma and Kornell the most by far. I thought Alma was slightly tortured and bull-headed but Kornell was so steadfast in his sweetness and devotion to Kyoko. Obviously did not care for Daniel at all, but I don't think we're supposed to. We're really seeing the relationships between these people and what made them get to the places we find them at within the first chapters of the book. I liked the dialogue because it felt real, and the characters felt like they had actual personalities. Even Daniel wasn't an unfeeling idiot the <i>whole</i> time.

While a say that, I also think that the timeline of storytelling was a little too all over the place for me. We get stories all over the place and at times I could not keep my head on straight. I would have preferred that the story was told chronologically with smaller vignettes to Alma/Daniel's pasts. Either that, or the entire story is solely focused on Kyoko and Kornell. I thought we were going to get a murder/thriller, but alas we did not.

I think I would recommend this to someone who was looking for some straight up fiction. Not a thriller as I expected, but it was still a pretty good read nonetheless.

The Fetishist by Katherine Min was a complete stunner!
It’s sad to hear of her passing. But I hope she somehow knows what a remarkable last story she has created. I’m very pleased with the entire book.
Her writing was beautifully done here. The characters are so well portrayed.
And this story….. well just read it! Because this multiple POV read touches home with real life struggles.
A funny, thought-provoking and well written story.
Min you should be very proud!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Crazy, smart, fresh and so readable. A true gem, brilliantly written, with so much depth and nuance. Recommended to everyone.