Reviews tagging 'War'

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

199 reviews

good_names_dont_exist's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and War

sarahrob's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was mesmerizing. I couldn’t look away. It was an absolutely wild ride. At the start this books seems to be a satirical, albeit cutting look into authorship, racism and the publishing industry at large. However, as it progresses the author investigates both female rivalry and its impact on feminism in addition to a look into isolation and mental health. 

I found some of the twitter-verse bits to be a bit tedious, but I think it was purposefully done and helped readers be able to better understand June, even while disagreeing with her and her choices. It helps build the manic energy that carries that back half of the novel. 

 June is both unreliable and unlikable as a narrator, which at times made this hard to read, because she was just so frustrating, however, I think it speaks to the author’s talent. That she is able to keep readers turning pages despite not being able to stand the main character. Just when I thought I couldn’t read any more because I just wasn’t able to stand June and her privileged and entitled attitude, Kuang takes the book in an entirely new direction to recapture the excitement. The last 70 pages were enthralling and I couldn’t stop reading. 

I found the ending very satisfying, despite other’s criticism… I honestly couldn’t see this story playing out any other way. June is in fact completely blinded by her perception of reality and I don’t think she would ever really change. 

Five stars from me because I liked that this book was both thought-provoking with discussion on weighty topics in a unique way, but also thrilling and dark in the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, War, Rape, and Violence

katjayorke's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Whirlwind of a book, with a slower paced start and faster paced finish. A fun story/read. It invited me into a world and made me want to be an author too!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Rape, Gaslighting, Death, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and War

dsalazar's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I expected this book to be really good and all my expectations were met. Kuang’s story telling and writing style were compelling and brilliant. For most of the story, I couldn’t put the book down, especially at the start. 

This reminded me of The Curse on Hulu with Nathan Fielder, Ben Sadfie, and Emma Stone, where everyone (including the audience) is in on the joke except the main characters. I especially liked that the whole plot revolved around the writing/publishing industry and how vicious it can make a writer. It felt like I was reading a fictional story but also questioning which parts came from Kuang’s lived experiences. This added depth and intrigue as I learned more about a failed v. successful novelist’s journey. 

Aside from the language and pacing, diving into Junie’s psyche felt like watching that recent Golden Globes host flop horrendously. It’s as if I simultaneously hated her, needed to understand her more, wanted to stop reading cause of the overwhelming cringe, and pitied her. 

Plot-wise, it was enough of a glimpse into Junie’s life, family, and background to move the story along but not so deep that I would get bored or lost in the details. There was just enough to bring me into the story and Junie’s head, which made this a fairly easy read. I do think the ending was a bit predictable but only insofar as (I think) Kuang intended. Any readers will enjoy this even more if they are super online and have used Twitter. Iykyk 

Anyway, I loved it and everyone should read it!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and War

Minor: Alcohol, Misogyny, Blood, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content

nabs_co's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Gaslighting, and Violence

Minor: War

jasecordova's review against another edition

medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, War, and Death

Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape

erikabites's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Racism, Violence, Death, and War

moonisav's review against another edition

mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I can't get June's voice out of my head. Now, every time I watch or read something, her snide remarks pointing out the clichés and predictability of it all block out any happy thoughts I may be having. She thinks everything is bad and sappy, even if she also thinks it's good, which makes it really hard to take any media I consume seriously. I listened to the audiobook, which was well cast and highly entertaining. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced, anxiety-inducing, dramatic read with a ridiculously unhinged and hysterical MC. Also anyone interested in the social world of publishing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, War, and Rape

brigg_sy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and Cultural appropriation

Minor: Sexual assault and War

toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This knocked my fucking socks off. Yellowface is as funny as it is horrific with a "protagonist" at the center who is truly foul in every sense. As awful as June Hayward is, her perspective never becomes tiring or less baffling to read. R.F. Kuang is so brilliant to have brought something like this to the table and I can't wait to make everyone in my life who hasn't read it yet move it to the top of their lists.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, War, Alcohol, Colonisation, Stalking, Rape, Xenophobia, Vomit, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Child death, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, Gaslighting, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual content

Minor: Murder, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent