Natural Beauty: A Novel by Ling Ling Huang
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Web ID: 15419211Wild and dark
Our nameless narrator is a Chinese American woman, daughter of two Chinese pianists who immigrated to US during the Cultural Revolution. When her parents suffer a tragic accident, she gives up on being a classic musician (pianist) to work in a high-end beauty and wellness company, Holistik. However, its unique procedures and 'miraculous' results come at a high price. One of the compelling aspects of this book is Huang's use of satire to make a sharp critique on beauty industry and capitalism - the impossible beauty standards, obsession over women's bodies regarding beauty and youth; and extreme wellness treatments, shaping a toxic and unhealthy society. As music and beauty are both about attention direction, I personally love how Huang approaches the music world. Piano is part of the main character's blood and the sections about piano unlocked memories of my childhood. The themes of family, race and belonging while tackling on immigrant experience resonated with me. Our narrator's love (and guilt) for her parents felt heartfelt and added an emotional tone to the narrative. With captivating writing, even though the events unfold in an unsteady way (more towards the end), the balanced pacing allowed me to read this book in one sitting. Disturbing and wild, the dark horror isn't for everyone. NATURAL BEAUTY shares unfold pattern similar to BAD FRUIT by Ella King; and its shocking elements remind one of TENDER IS THE FLESH by Agustina Bazterrica. This is a bold and impressive debut and I am looking forward to seeing what Huang writes next (also excited for the TV adaptation). cw: body horror
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A cryptic tale about the beauty industry
Natural Beauty exceeded my expectations. It is horror turned social commentary on our society’s insidious beauty industry. It illustrates how our “ideal image” is always just out of reach, causing us to endure modification after modification until we are unrecognizable to ourselves. It reminds us how easy it is to lose ourselves in consumerism, and in doing so, lose our identities because of the pressure to be just like if not better than everyone else. It is an ode to women who spend their lives being told that their beauty is irrelevant unless it’s “perfect.” Thank you Ling Ling Huang, Dutton, and Netgalley for advance access to this title!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A Sinister side to the Beauty Culture
A family tragedy forces a talented young pianist to leave the music world. The serious injuries suffered by her parents mean she needs money for treatment. Holistik, a high-end beauty company, offers not only the chance to make a lot of money, but also a chance to belong and find out who she is. At first all goes well. Helen, the niece of the owner, becomes close to her. As the friendship deepens, she is drawn further into the world of products to shape your body and increase your attractiveness. At first all seems well, she is experiencing belonging and thinks she is beginning to know who she is. However, the atmosphere darkens. The novel is compelling starting as the story of a young girl finding herself and gradually veering into another dimension. I thought the author treated the underlying cultural ideas well. The book looks at race, body shaming, and the dictatorial nature of beauty standards. However, I found the transition to the sinister underpinnings of Holistik more frightening that I was prepared for. I received this book from Dutton for this review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Body horror with a side of social commentary
Natural Beauty is sneaky: a meditation on identity and belonging that gradually shifts into something darker before blooming into full-blown body horror. I read the last half of the novel in something close to a panic. But like, a fun panic. The novel follows a narrator who eventually takes the name Anna—her Chinese name erased along with her other “imperfections” by her employer at Holistik, a natural health and beauty empire. As a child, Anna was an incredible pianist, eventually ascending to the top of her class before a family tragedy forced her to quit music entirely. Huang, a musician herself, is deeply interested in undermining the idea of natural talent and natural beauty by exposing the labor and sacrifice required to maintain them. Anna’s commitment to her craft prepares her for the obsessive dedication to beauty required by Holistik, a dedication exploited by those in power at the company. No spoilers: the vibes are bad immediately. I didn’t always love the narrative style of Natural Beauty, but it addresses big ideas about race, class, and the beauty industry in some interesting ways. Be warned that things get quite dark, and gross. Recommended to those who like their horror short with a side of social commentary.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com