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I have just finished Jessica Jung’s “Shine” and I want to express my thoughts & feelings about it. I try my best not to spoil the plot points, but nevertheless it may affect your expectation about the book. So consider this a spoiler warning?
Anyway, a thread.
Anyway, a thread.
I think, in the end, this book asks only one thing: what are you willing to sacrifice to debut?
I was reeling when I closed the book because Jessica is really, Really Angry. I could feel her anger oozing out of the pages.
I was reeling when I closed the book because Jessica is really, Really Angry. I could feel her anger oozing out of the pages.
I admit that I had my doubts. Like a lot of people, I wanted to read this book mostly for the tea, about K-pop in general, SNSD & SM in particular. The book started slow & I didn’t like that the antagonists were mean & jealous girls. It’s such a cliche.
But I read on for her insights regarding a K-pop trainee. Sure, we may not be able to distinguish which one’s fact or fiction, one can only guess, but I could read about how the main character, Rachel, feels about it.
Before I knew it, I was absorbed. Suddenly the story gets too real as Rachel faces paralyzing anxiety, corporate conspiracies, sexism, internalized misogyny, to xenophobia. And I felt like screaming reading it cos the story may be fiction, but the issues are too real.
And then I remember that Rachel has been a trainee since she was 11. She’s 17 now, still a child. These trainees are children; and I’m shaking reading what they have to go through; from the borderline child abuse to roofies and cyber crime & bullying.
It’s something I see a lot as a fan; but it’s also something else entirely scary reading it through the words of a K-pop idol herself. And Jessica is Angry about it. So angry, I didn’t realize the story is not a comedy, but a tragedy instead (in the Greek sense).
What are you willing to sacrifice to debut?
I’m still reeling from the book & I don’t know how many stars I should give it on GR. I have a lot of respect for Jessica for getting her say through this fiction. That alone’s made me want to give it 5
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I’m still reeling from the book & I don’t know how many stars I should give it on GR. I have a lot of respect for Jessica for getting her say through this fiction. That alone’s made me want to give it 5
On the other hand, I’m also concerned about the parade of mean girls she chose to show in the book. But if you see it as a satire & tragedy that it (maybe) is, I understand. So at this point, I’m assuming the best out of Jessica, cos it’s inspired by her own experience after all.
It’s fiction, I know. But as a long time K-pop fan, I’m glad this book exists. I don’t know if we’ll ever get more books like this.
