I was convinced this would be an all-time favorite, but the book felt disjointed and I quickly DNF'ed.

probably THEEE most unbearable writing i’ve had to read in a while. the narrator attempts a self aware pretentiousness thats supposed to be fun (think dorothy from “a certain hunger” now THATS fun and pretentious) as if the reader is sharing an inside joke w her but it comes across as that one guy at a party telling a “funny” story wherein u spend the whole time contemplating who invited his irritating ass to the function..like i truly cannot emphasize enough how fucking awful the writing is to get through. its a drag in every sense of the word. AND chockful of pompous details to explain simple concepts. 

this book is the equivalent of a smarmy blowhard bastard. and i don’t even mean that in a mean way, i mean objectively if this book was a person they would have a head filled with hot air and performative philosophy + psychology references with just enough pop culture knowledge to exert their supposed intellectual dominance over you. like if i wanted to feel like killing myself specifically to spite a person and change the trajectory of their life, i would go out, find a man who’s never been told to shut up in his life and ask him his thoughts on anything! not pick up a novel! 

when we hit around chapter 6/7 it gets a little less pretentious, because we have covered enough vague + annoying backstory to get into the story itself and instead you get wordy and complex metaphors for ridiculously simple things. at one point, our mc is making sure someone currently sleeping is still alive and not dead, since it’s been a while, and raises her hand in front of his mouth to check if she can feel his breath (normal thing to do!) THIS is how she describes the act btw:

“From the reflection in the wall-length mirrors doubling as closet doors, it looks like I am attempting a miracle that involves the laying on of hands in a post-#MeToo era where pastors are only allowed to pretend to touch congregants while desperately urging Father God to do his thing, pronto, please, thank you, Jesus. In this fantasy Hallmark Christmas movie, Duri is Lazarus, wrapped up in dressing, sashaying with death, about to be risen so he can die another day or hitch a ride to the hereafter some way that involves less heartbreak and fewer women crying. He seems to be breathing, I think? My palm detects air circulation, but I am no prophet” …..my brother in christ WHAT THE FUCK is this combination of words you made me read. is there some unknown word count you’re trying to hit?? are you playing reference bingo with your editor??? whatever your deal is why am i subject to it? this is how the entire novel is like btw. imagine this for every single action she does as a normal human who lives an average life. for two hundred pages.

and as an asian in america, as someone with depression, and as what some people would call a kpop fan. this COULD have been so good. there’s some meat on these loquacious bones!!! specifically in regards to the dark side of the kpop industry!!! but the writing being unbearable truly killed any discussion that could have been had because my god! who could talk about the nuance of these topics when they have to sift through the footnotes to even vaguely understand what the FUCK the author is going on about! on top of that soooo many topics have been bastardized for the sake of being Pretentious ^TM. like chap 15 starts with pages upon PAGES musing on christianity but through celebrities and pastors and sin and as someone who’s def not into christianity like that i considered if the bible could not be this bad of a read compared to the words im consuming rn !!!!!!!!!! 

 i had to convince myself at every chapter that i was so close to being done. i have never read a novel thats only 200 pages (which is 25 pages eight times. or 10 pages 20 times. or 17 chapters. or any other way i tried getting through this) any slower.  

and the thing is. THE THING IS. i did enjoy like some of the writing. a broken clock is right twice a day and real recognizes real when it comes to the venn diagram of critical thinking haterism versus intellectualistic pretentiousness. there were some lines that i did enjoy! and the intentional vagueness and details mentioned in the beginning did culminate to a crazy reveal at the end that made me go woagh okayyy. the citations and psychology concepts brought up were also beautiful. but overall. i can’t tell you the merit of this plot. unhappy woman in marriage gets into kind of an emotional affair? #reallife. the only difference is the guy is part of a kpop band, some pretty crazy shit happens at the very end, and there IS some interesting commentary on being asian in america, depression, psychology, the perils of being a kpop star, and being asian american hidden in the depths of seemingly high brow references and convoluted metaphors… 

the consensus: perhaps literary fiction is not for me…..

Sharp, satirical, and wonderfully strange. This novel skewers pop culture with intelligence and flair. It won’t be for everyone, but I loved its boldness and how it played with celebrity and obsession. An ambitious, genre-blurring read.

DNF - I attempted to start this book and it just did not hold my interest. This may be a book I come back to in the future.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

This one took a bot for me to get into - and I ended up getting the audiobook from my library to finish reading it. It feels like an almost exposé of the world behind celebrity,

I couldn’t even finish this. I really couldn’t stand the way this was written. It is executed so poorly. I was confused because the synopsis did not match the book. I thought I was sent the wrong book at first. I DNF’d about 25% in. It was terrible

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

If you are someone that loves K-Pop and celebrity culture, this book is for you. You are exposed to the darker side of the K-Pop world and shown what I would be like to be one of the beloved members of a K-Pop band.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into it. While the concepts were great, the writing did not capture me and made me feel sluggish to get through the novel. I must also admit I am not a K-Pop fan, so this may have missed the mark for me because of that. There were also some parts that were a little hard to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the copy of this book.

So over my head! I don’t know enough about K-Pop or pop culture in general to have any grasp of this. I also have never understood to desire for fame so I probably should have skipped this read. The storyline is quite engaging and funny so I enjoyed it, I just felt that I missed a lot by not being more educated about the world of K-Pop and current icons.
Personally, I didn’t feel the plot and characters were well developed. That could also be a function of my lack of enthusiasm and interest in the topic. Where normally I would fall down a Wiki rabbit hole for unknown terms and references, I just couldn’t muster that energy for this book.
Fun writing style and I would definitely read more of Ma-Kellams writing on different topics!

The Band: A Novel by Christine Ma-Kellams is a thought-provoking and engaging read that delves into the dark underbelly of the K-pop industry. The story follows Sang Duri, the eldest member of a popular boy band, as he navigates the pressures of fame, mental health struggles, and a scandal that threatens to derail his career.

Ma-Kellams' writing is sharp and insightful, expertly weaving together themes of celebrity, obsession, and the complexities of human relationships. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each grappling with their own demons and insecurities. The book also offers a scathing commentary on the toxic culture of fandom and the lengths fans will go to protect their idols.

One of the most compelling aspects of The Band is its exploration of mental health. Duri's struggles with anxiety and depression are portrayed with sensitivity and nuance, shedding light on the often-hidden struggles of celebrities. The book also raises important questions about the role of therapy and medication in managing mental health conditions.

Overall, The Band is a complex and ambitious novel that will resonate with fans of K-pop and those interested in exploring the darker side of celebrity culture. It is a timely and important read that sheds light on the pressures and challenges faced by celebrities in today's world.

I think the concept of this story was just too out there for me. I get that it's a satire of K-bands and the heavy lingering worries of cancel culture. But that's about all I could get from the story.

The run-on sentences without much emotion other than throwing out pop culture references made the plot difficult to understand.

While I enjoyed the pop-culture references, they also got on my nerves.

I'm middle-age and I didn't understand if the story was about the plight of the middle-aged women (I could relate to some of this, maybe?) or if it's more about young people finding their way. Maybe both?

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an e-copy of THE BAND to review.

I rate THE BAND two out of five stars.

DNF at 11%
2 stars for the interesting premise.

Unfortunately this book has a very clinical feel to it that I did not enjoy. I know that I DNF’d very early on but I didn’t feel like the start was promising enough to continue. I didn’t like the clinical feel, the overall vagueness, the writing style, or the characterization. I wish I could have continued but I just did not connect to this story at all. Maybe I’ll pick it up again in the future?

I did not finish this book. I wanted to read it because it was marketed to fans of K-pop and I’m a BTS fan. I’m sure that if I had read the whole thing, it probably had some really important and insightful things to say about K-pop and celebrity culture. But to be honest, her descriptions of the group and their rise to fame at the beginning felt like a pretty clear BTS reference, and I just am not interested in reading a critical, biting, dark take on a group that brings me joy and comfort.

I wanted to like this book. I really really wanted to like it because it reminded me of "Almost Famous" in the description but it really was nothing like it. I was expecting a little more behind the scenes,

Thank you NetGalley!

The Band was a very interesting read. I loved the exploration of fandom and the character study was great. I'd read more from this author.

The Band by Christine Ma-Kellams is everything! 🎸💖 It’s a super gripping read about a rock band’s dramatic ups and downs, with intense friendships, jaw-dropping secrets, and a touch of romance. 😍✨ If you love backstage drama and sizzling chemistry, this book is totally your next obsession!

This one was just okay for me. The cover attracted it to me first and for most. It’s an okay book, but didn’t hold my attention very well.

Christine Ma-Kellams’s debut novel, THE BAND, takes readers on a journey through the music industry, cancel culture, and the complexities of fame. At the center of the story is Sang Duri, the eldest member of a K-Pop boy band at the peak of global superstardom. When the lyrics of his latest single ignite tensions between Korea, China, and Japan, Duri seeks refuge in the home of a Chinese-American psychologist, and it is through this nameless narrator that the story is told.

Ma-Kellams weaves a satirical tapestry, exposing the dark underbelly of fandom and the industry’s indifference to mental health. The footnotes—ranging from plastic surgery explanations to H Mart trivia—add clever layers, even if they occasionally distract from the main plot. The novel’s exploration of blurred lines between fame and vulnerability keeps readers engaged.

Duri and the psychologist form an unlikely bond, their complicated relationship unfolding against a backdrop of intrigue. Duri’s disappearance from the spotlight sets off a shocking chain of events, revealing the high stakes of fame. While the characters lack depth at times, their interactions remain intriguing.

Balancing tension and humor, the fast-paced narrative leaves readers both entertained and contemplative. Whether you’re a K-Pop aficionado or a curious observer, THE BAND offers a fresh perspective on stardom and the consequences of fame with biting satire, memorable characters, and a thought-provoking narrative.

An unnamed psychiatrist meets Sang Duri, a disgraced K-Pop artist who is in hiding after he writes a problematic song, at H-Mart. She casually offers that he come over to her house so he could help her cook some Tteokbokki. When she finally places who he is, she tries to help Duri process his current state of affairs.

I enjoy k-pop (and think I’m as well-versed as I can be) so I thought I would enjoy this book. While parts were definitely interesting, I didn’t like the jumping around and the writing style felt too YA for me.

Overall, a solid read and I would recommend it if you are semi-versed in k-pop or are interested in the critique of hyper-stan // celebrity culture.