THE BAND
“Brief, thoughtful…a roving, time- and perspective-jumping story that links K-pop with classic psychological research.”
— New York Times
“K-pop fans and readers who haven't yet fallen in with the phenomenon will both love this darkly funny novel about a troubled K-pop idol who disappears after he finds himself at the center of controversy, the discontented Chinese American woman who rescues him and the price of manufactured fame.”
- People Magazine
“This could very well be the first great K-Pop literary phenomenon. Expect a stylized, pop culture romp.”
“...A gripping exploration of the complexities that accompany fame...This darkly humorous novel explores the more sinister aspects of celebrity and the profound impact it can have...This timely book provides a different perspective on societal pressures associated with fame and the dangerous toll they can take...”
“...A scathing indictment of...the way the industry often turns a blind eye to the mental health of its stars...A satirical examination of the stars and fans of the music industry.”
“…An unflinching condemnation of the music industry and toxic parasocial relationships in this debut incisive thriller.”
— WBUR Boston
“The Band begins with the cancellation of K-pop star Sang Duri, in the wake of his downfall. On its surface, the writer’s slim debut novel chronicles Duri’s attempt to escape the public eye by approaching a woman in an H Mart and offering to cook tteokbokki in her home, a McMansion on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Ma-Kellams uses this unlikely setup to unleash a barrage of questions about international fan culture, young fame, mental health, and the nature of human relationships—all of which refuse easy answers...Ma-Kellams extends this level of depth to all corners of The Band...That the novel manages to maintain a rapid-fire pace as it excavates the particulars of its characters and their moral dilemmas feels like a sleight of hand.”
A Kpop boy bander at the apex of global dominion suddenly finds himself cancelled after a viral song drudges up old ethnic rivalries between East Asia’s three superpowers, but when he escapes by hiding in the McMansion of an unhappily married therapist with a Savior complex, the solution is as disruptive as the problem.
