The Fetishist

By: Katherine Min

Narrated by: Eunice Wong, Kayla Min Andrews

An Indie Next Pick

In this hilariously savage, poignant novel by acclaimed author Katherine Min, a grieving daughter’s revenge on the man who caused her mother’s death sets off a series of unexpected reckonings.

On a cold, gloomy night, twenty-three-year-old Kyoko stands in the rain with a knife in her hoodie’s pocket. Her target is Daniel, who seduced Kyoko’s mother then callously dropped her, leading to her death. But tonight, there will be repercussions. Following the unsuspecting Daniel home, Kyoko manages to get a rash kidnapping plot off the ground . . . and then nothing goes as planned.

The Fetishist is the story of three people—Kyoko, a Japanese American punk-rock singer full of rage and grief; Daniel, a philandering violinist forced to confront the wreckage of his past; and Alma, the love of Daniel’s life, a Korean American cello prodigy long adored for her beauty, passion, and talent, but who spends her final days examining if she was ever, truly, loved.

An exuberant, provocative story that confronts race, complicity, visibility, and ideals of femininity, The Fetishist was written before the celebrated author’s untimely death in 2019. Startlingly prescient, as wise and powerful as it is utterly delightful, this novel cements Katherine Min’s legacy as a writer with a singular voice for our times.

Story Telling at it’s highest level

So hard to describe. Unique women, Asian women, stereotypes, abusive men, caring men. Rich language.

Unpredictable.

I was excited to read this book and it was better than I imagined. The words and story are beautifully written. It is funny and raw. The afterward made me sad but hopeful that Katherine's children still feel her with them.

Well done!

Thank you for publishing Katherine's last novel. And what a novel it is! Kudos to all involved!

Meh

Sooooo cannot finish this. I tried. Less than half way through I have to abandon. Maybe it’s just not for me.