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kelly_e'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
2.75
Author: R.F. Kuang
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: May 25, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Icky • Juicy • Insightful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Athena Liu is a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories by basic white girls anyway?
But now Athena is dead. And June has her unfinished manuscript...
💭 T H O U G H T S
I'd added Yellowface to my list of possible 2023 releases to explore after attending an online event with the author. The premise had me apprehensive, yet the author did a fantastic job selling me, so when it became available as a 'quick read' through my library I scooped it up.
The fact satirical stories are not my thing is something I knew going in, and yet I picked it up anyways. Another thing I don't care for are stories centered around social media and cancel culture, both of which are central here. So it's clear this novel was not meant for me.
With that said, Kuang's writing is incredible. She delivers a no holds barred account of the ins and outs of the publishing industry - a bold move that paid off. While not for me, I understand all of the love it is receiving. What this book does really well is give readers lots to think about, making it a fantastic book club selection, sure to spark interesting and engaging discussion.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers looking for something fast-paced
• fans of the unlikeable narrator
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Writing is the closest thing we have to real magic."
"Reading lets us live in someone else’s shoes. Literature builds bridges; it makes our world larger, not smaller."
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexism, Misogyny, Racism, Racial slurs, Death, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual violence, Cursing, Mental illness, Rape, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, Classism, and Islamophobia
jackbifrost'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
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, War, Death, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Islamophobia, Vomit, and Blood
rieriereads's review against another edition
- 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
Writing is the closest thing we have to real magic. Writing is creating something out of nothing, is opening doors to other lands. Writing gives you power to shape your own world when the real one hurts too much.
This is my first R.F. Kuang book, and I really get why she is hyped, beloved, and famous.
Yellowface was, overall, a good read. It started off strong and fast-paced. From the start, you can see June's characteristics, and I love how she was both unreliable and unlikable. Most of the characters were.
From the first pages, it sucks you in so easily. It's a satire of the publishing industry and companies. And it includes so many themes, such as xenophobia, cancel culture, racism, white and pretty privilege, and more.
What I loved the most was June's personality and thoughts. I loved how she fought and tried to show us through her thoughts the "good" part of what she did. It makes us readers cringe, maybe be gaslighted, yet also feel included more, if you get what I mean. I see that how she defended herself was a very human thing to do. Something, not all but most likely, some of us will do when we are in a similar situation.
I also loved reading about her anxious thoughts and her point of view on how she struggled, rose to fame, was hated, and much more. There was no hero in this story; everyone was a villain and a victim in their own way.
I am on 50-50 of how it ended, though. If it continued, I knew the book would be longer and go on like an unending circle. Overall, I liked the story, and I would definitely recommend it, especially to those who are curious to try this and love an unlikable character.
I can't wait to read more of Kuang's work. I have a bright feeling that she'll be one of my favorite authors.
📚 | 46
⭐ | 4
•••
My Rating System
5 🌟 - Life changing, a new favorite read
4 ⭐ - I loved it
3 ⭐ - I liked it
2 ⭐ - It was okay
1 ⭐ - I hated it but decided to not dnf
Graphic: Gaslighting, Deadnaming, Death, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Rape, Grief, and Islamophobia
Minor: Death of parent
stevienotnicks'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
5.0
Kuang’s heavy handed literary commentary on tokenism and the culture wars is unlike anything I’ve ever read. She is anything but subtle with depictions of racism, both quiet and overt, you can’t help but wonder if it’s slightly autobiographical in nature, with her taking on the role of Athena, or even perhaps a Diana or Candice.
It’s our nature as readers to want to root for the narrator and Kuang makes this utterly impossible in the best way. You’ll love to hate June, but cannot stop watching the chaos unfold.
This book was perfection in every way and has easily jumped up to my favorite read of 2023.
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Cultural appropriation, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Violence, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
aoifwlsh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Death, and Racism
Moderate: War, Rape, and Violence
Minor: Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, and Islamophobia
vanessa_reads_a_lot'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
3.5
Graphic: Racism and Misogyny
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Islamophobia, War, and Stalking
tashtasher's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Stalking, Gaslighting, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol, Islamophobia, and Death of parent
hannahcstocks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Stalking, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, Slavery, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Islamophobia, Colonisation, and Violence
valreadsallnight'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Toxic friendship, Cultural appropriation, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Cursing
Minor: Islamophobia, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts
Sexual Assault - Is not described. Is referenced throughout the story. Misogyny - Not blatant, but it's mentioned one character refutes that misogyny is still a thing in the publishing industry. Many insults towards the characters are rooted in misogyny. Islamaphobia - Is only mentioned once. Note: There is a scene where the main character cruely and publicly humiliates one of their students, a minor.lprice618's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Minor: War, Rape, Cultural appropriation, and Islamophobia