The Best Girls

Disorder collection

By: Min Jin Lee

Narrated by: Greta Jung

Length: 37 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

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

Sad, Relatable Story Ending with a Gut Punch

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.

Beautifully heartbreaking

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.

Sad...so very sad

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

Touchingly Distubring

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!

Brings back sadness and hurt

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”.

Recommendable, but short.

A depressing end that was fairly well foreshadowed. A subtle disaster.

Recommendable, but short. Good audiobook narration.

Unexpected and Memorable

The narration is slow and stoic, which matches the story. This touched on some key pain points prevalant in South Korean culture, present even to this day. I enjoyed this dark tale.

What?

I never saw that ending coming! No spoiler alerts here. You gotta read this tale to find out what I mean.

Diverted to my headphones.

My heart almost stopped at the end. Breathless and utterly captivated is how I felt after hearing the ending...

a sad story

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