Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

42 reviews

ribbenkast's review against another edition

dark funny informative inspiring 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

4.0

This review is edited after I sat with the book a little while and read some other litterary analyses of the book. Initially I gave it 5/5 now it's 4/5 stars. 

Reading this book was like pulling teeth, i finished it in 1 sitting.

The book is from the perspective of Juniper who steals her deceased friend's manuscript and passes it off as her own. Juniper throughout the book is completely delusional, self centered, and intentionally oblivious to the harm she's doing. She's so dislikable, it often made this book hard to read, which is a good thing. Juniper is unfortunately, a very realistic depiction of a white woman who thinks she can't be racist because she voted for biden.

This book is a great call out to the publishing industry and It's racist practises. It also makes you reflect on your own prejudice when it comes to asian authors and stories and aks a lot of questions about race and story telling.

Edit to add:
My one criticism is with R.F. Kuang herself. It's clear that Athena is a stand in for herself. A lot of the criticism Athena gets is criticism Kuang herself has gotten. Such as Racist/insensitive depictions of Taiwanese people in her work, having a very priveleged upbringing which made it easier to focus on writting and not acknowledging that etc. By having these (often valid) criticisms be voiced by Juniper, they are voiced by a jealous hater, and therefore Kuang sets out to invalidate and deflect the criticism of herself. Just something to keep in mind while reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Stalking, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, and Hate crime

Minor: Sexual assault, Eating disorder, and Suicidal thoughts

deetabz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Murder, Gaslighting, Grief, Violence, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Self harm

Minor: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Hate crime, and Sexism

iforgotilivedhere's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• 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

Some parts were iffy but all in all it was a fun read 

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Content Warnings

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

mattyyreadsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Gaslighting, Rape, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Hate crime, Death, and Cultural appropriation

auliarach's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Hate crime, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism

nicolepaul_ine's review against another edition

medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Cultural appropriation, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Rape

lexihworth's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

Absolute insanity. Every plot point was just adding up to a nightmarish train wreck that got worse and worse as the story went on, but in the best way possible. I️ absolutely couldn’t look away. Written beautifully and perfectly by Kuang. No surprise for those who are familiar with her work. She’s not one to half ass anything. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Death, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Violence, Racism, Gaslighting, Cursing, Blood, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic friendship

anahisa's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

2.75

I am asking RF Kuang to never put me in the headspace of another lunatic white woman again, thank you 🤠

Secondly, if I have to hear the term twitterati again, I’m gonna lose it!!!! 

Finally, this is fine for what it is. This satire dragged and it just wasn’t for me. Looking forward to Kuang’s next project 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Racism, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, and Death

wordwych's review against another edition

challenging dark funny informative reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Death, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Bullying, Grief, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Violence, Alcohol, Classism, and Cultural appropriation

Minor: Death of parent and Hate crime

lexi17d's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Hate crime, Racism, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Death, Cultural appropriation, and Bullying