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winterwoodbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Violence, War, Rape, Sexual assault, Addiction, Murder, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Antisemitism, Body shaming, Biphobia, Bullying, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, and Sexism
callmeplushies's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Cultural appropriation, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
spookylettuce's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Xenophobia, Alcohol, Death, Cultural appropriation, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Alcoholism
Minor: Racial slurs, War, Death of parent, and Suicide
percys_panda_pillow_pet's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I think I read an interview somewhere, where Kuang talked about her inspiration for Yellowface. and how part of it came about because she was worried she was like June, stealing something she wasn't meant to have. As I read the book, I saw Kuang's anxieties reflected in both Athena and June's characters. With Athena, it's easy to see how she might relate to the sudden push into stardom at a young age, as well as being tokenized for her identity as a Chinese American. While June may represent Kuang's imposter syndrome, of feeling like a fake as she gains all this attention for her work while other Asian American authors perhaps struggle to gain recognition. This novel is definitely the most personal of hers out of what I've read.
As for the meat of the book, I cannot believe how well the characters were done. Especially June and Athena. June is fantastic as a villain protagonist and Kuang does a great job at lulling the reader into feeling sympathy for her even as the next sentence will make you revile her. So much of this book really felt inspiring as a writer, because there is so much that you imagine could've happened, instead of what did happen. As the reader, I constantly was questioning June's choices and thoughts, why did she do what she did? Why does she feel the need to continue this lie? June's character really makes you question the world around you and your own feelings and choices. What is your own personal motivation for the things that you do and say?
As for Athena, I was wondering so much who Athena was behind the person that June thought she was. All we get is a little bit of her in the beginning, from June's perspective of course, but the rest of her is pieced together from all the other characters in this world. I really enjoyed though, how neither character was perfect. Theoretically, Athena was the hero to June's villain, but Athena wasn't a perfect human being. She had flaws, she made mistakes. How much of her flaws were real and not just formed from people who didn't really know her, who knows? But Athena was human like the rest of us and it was amazing how Kuang could shape a character that only technically existed in the first act.
I will say, as much as I loved this book, I will not be giving it 5 stars. I can't really articulate why. Perhaps I just wasn't that satisfied with the ending, or a few of the more modern references were awkward and didn't fit the way Kuang thought they would. It's still a fantastic book, don't get me wrong. I think a lot of people should read it, even if they know nothing about publishing. It just isn't a 5-star for me. In any case, this review is getting too long so please, check out this book! Especially if you may not have liked Kuang's books in the past, this may finally be the book for you. I am definitely interested in what Kuang will explore in her next book!
Graphic: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Death, Alcoholism, Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Bullying, Grief, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Classism, Stalking, War, Death of parent, Homophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Vomit
Minor: Suicide and Abandonment
There is a Major Knives Out spoiler on page 186 in the middle of the last paragraph, just so others know!mads_jpg's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Nah but for real, this was a great read and helped get me out of my reading slump. The commentary on the publishing industry and 'cancel culture' and cultur l appropriation was super interesting. My only issue was that the ending felt a bit rushed/cliche. I also found that pretty much every character was unlikable in some way, I'm sure this was to add nuance and show that there's 'bad people on both sides' but it just frustrated me.
Graphic: Death, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Vomit, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Cursing, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, and War
iforgotilivedhere's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Classism, Islamophobia, Alcoholism, Grief, Violence, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence