This book is quite large consisting of A4 size pages - 434 to be exact. It certainly takes up quite a lot of space but I rather liked the large format myself and the beautiful front cover.
The Korean Palace of Honolulu tells the tale of bargirls Mina, Jana, Suki, Naiomi, Mimi, Tina and Cathy momma. It is the 1980s - these girls live a life of money, passion, greed and desire. There is lots of action that takes place within the pages, really too much to cover.
The opening chapter talks about 19-year-old Mina. Already at such a young age she is a mother and a wife who is estranged from her husband. She has been sent on a long journey to America in search of making money. She hopes it will be easy to make some quick cash as long as she puts her mind to it. She had heard many tales of how “so and so” went to the US to make their fortune. Could she be one of these lucky people?
Next is Cathy momma who has developed a living entity of KP Enterprise and yet there is a price to pay. It seems everyone wants something from her and so it begs the question of trust. Are they who they seem? Can she trust her friends?
This is the world of a ruthless business where dog eats dog. If you are the weaker of the clan, you are simply no good.
Throughout this fabulous book there is plenty of dialogue, much of it consisting of the Korean language. I personally think this helps to set a better feel of the characters but it is also of course written in English too so you don’t have to worry about not understanding this tongue.
Drugs really do play a big part as do smoky clubs with their loud beat music and “pimps”.
It is very hard-hitting stuff but makes for compulsive reading.
It includes violence too but you have to consider that in the world these young girls were living is it really any wonder?
Only gripe I have is the bad English and missed punctuation where necessary.
Yet this is still a wonderfully observant book with lines like “ the evening was beautiful. The air was refreshing and quite comfortably cool. The silver blue Mercedes convertible gleamed and flashed as they passed by under the streetlights. Every car that passed, stared them down with beaming eyes of envy and with or without glinting smiles on their faces.” Stunning.
I loved the way this book was written and shall treasure it along side other girlie novels. Only one problem - can I fit it on the shelf?
The above review was contributed by: Jessica Roberts:Jessica is a book reviewer for a local newspaper and has reviewed for a national women's magazine too. She has had various articles published in magazines and has now completed her novel. Jessica currently lives in West Yorkshire and enjoys walking in the dales and woodlands as part of her hobby as well as, of course, reviewing books. To read more of Jessica's reviews CLICK HERE
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