My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital ARC of The Fetishist! I don’t believe I’ve read many posthumously published works but I’ve read three so far in 2024. The Fetishist does what it says on the tin - explores one white man’s fetishisation of Asian women - but it does so with impeccable wit and warmth. I loved spending time with these characters (okay, not Daniel), especially Kyoko and Kornell.

.

Obviously the whole novel is a pushback against the stereotypical views of Asian and Asian-American women, but Kyoko was just the embodiment of this pushback. She’s infused with so much love and depth, the author and her intent are clear as day - but not in a ‘beat you over the head with a stick’ kind of way. I’m explaining this badly, but basically we love Kyoko and fuck the stereotype of the meek, pliable Asian/Asian-American woman.

.

I won’t give too much away of the plot, but the cover is SO good. The sections we spend in Daniel’s head are tough to read but so important. It’s like I said before, Daniel’s fetishisation is clear as day but also subtle. His ‘preferences’ are all the more harmful because he genuinely doesn’t see himself as one of those guys blatantly chasing after Asian women. He *does* love Alma (another great character I haven’t even mentioned yet!) but Min doesn’t shy away from plumbing the seedier depths of his desires, prejudices and the power dynamics of such a relationship.

.

And Alma! Her sections was amazing and heartbreaking. She’s a classical musician with MS, dealing with the subsequent loss of a huge part of her life. I loved her relationship with her neighbour (although I forget his name, oops), and her strength.

.

I did find the timelines a little bit confusing. Usually I don’t have trouble jumping back and forth in time in books, but for some reason it took me a while to get acclimated to each new section.

.

A taut, dark, funny read which makes me so sad that Katherine Min passed away before we could see more of her talent. She does have another book from 2006 though!