The Best Girls Audiobook By Min Jin Lee cover art

The Best Girls

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The Best Girls

By: Min Jin Lee
Narrated by: Greta Jung
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Inspired by a true event, this powerful short story from the author of National Book Award finalist Pachinko explores the meaning of patriarchy and the cost of female silence through the eyes of a dutiful young girl.

An excellent student from a poor, traditional family in Seoul, the narrator has absorbed the same message her whole life: Only a boy can provide the family with dignity and wealth. Not her. Not her three sisters. Receiving approval only for uncomplaining sacrifice, she has resolved to take on her family’s troubles. She is a good girl. And she knows what good girls must do.

The Best Girls is part of Disorder, a collection of six short stories of living nightmares, chilling visions, and uncanny imagination that explore a world losing its balance in terrifying ways. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single disorienting sitting.

©2019 Min Jin Lee (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Coming of Age Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological United States World Literature Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Scary Korean Culture

Critic reviews

“Listeners will be shattered by this short gut punch of an audiobook, narrated with tender precision by Greta Jung.... Jung’s deliberate tone, warming as the girl’s personality unfolds, perfectly matches Lee’s spare prose and heightens the sense of isolate that sets the girl apart.” --AudioFile
Powerful Storytelling • Emotional Impact • Stellar Narration • Vivid Imagery
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For most of this brief story, the narration lulled along, reminding me a bit of "A Thousand Pieces of Gold", telling the all-too-common story of a bright girl growing up in a culture which does not value girls. Her achievements were seen as blocking some boys' chances, rather than anything to be celebrated.

Then the ending hit. And hit hard.

Sad, Relatable Story Ending with a Gut Punch

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Although the story is sad, it is a good short story. I'd recommend it for a quick listen.

Sad...so very sad

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Great story. I don't really feel like it was finished though. I'm hoping that what I'm taking from the ending isn't accurate!

Touchingly Distubring

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I enjoyed this as much as one could be expected too with such a pensive and sorrow-filled ending...but I appreciated the ending very much because it seemed like the exact finale that made the most sense to me, although it was unexpected.

Beautifully heartbreaking

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I enjoyed this short story, even though it was sad and somewhat depressing. I actually prefer uplifting stories.

a sad story

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Hard to put it down and I think this was partly because the narrator was so good. I am usually not into short stories but I was riveted by this one.

Couldn't stop listening!

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the ending. holy shit the ending. this book is really good. the ending is so out of nowhere and so good at the same time

the ending. holy shit the ending. this book reall

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Min Jin Lee was able to grab my heart and crush it, in less than 37 minutes in her short story “The Best Girls”. Jin Lee explores the patriarchal ideals in South Korea. This story was inspired by true events, making this even more harrowing.

I listed to the Audible audio, narrated superbly by Greta Jung. “The Best Girls” is part of the Disorder Collection which explores a world losing its balance in terrifying ways.

This one broke my heart

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Min Jin Lee is a talented author who tells Korean family stories exceptionally well. Read this fabulous short story. You will not forget it.

The parables

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Tight construction. Lean prose. Well written. I can feel the hopelessness of poverty and of being a throw away girl. We learn we are different when we see how other parents praise and take joy in their child’s success. Then we know what it means to be “less than”.

Brings back sadness and hurt

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