Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

80 reviews

yolie's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted mysterious 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

5.0

We use the term “unhinged” a lot in recent times, but meet a protagonist who truly is. 

June Hayward, is unlikeable and very unapologetic about it - matter of fact according to her, everyone else owes her an apology. 

I really enjoyed this book, and I think it stirred up thoughts about not only representation but also who is allowed to tell a story and who we give a platform to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Death

Moderate: Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual violence

Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Colonisation

mirandaschnoor's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Colonisation and Sexual violence

nyi_ju's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, and Panic attacks/disorders

krisfailedtosubmit's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective 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

5.0

Yikes 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Colonisation, Death, Toxic friendship, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Rape, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Ableism, Bullying, Hate crime, Medical content, Racial slurs, Classism, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Fatphobia, and Homophobia

stephtoriz's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I would say in general I did like the book. Overall I enjoyed the criticism of the literary world and of  “clueless” racism. I was surprised by the horror twist in the end. I also felt like when will the resolution happen ? And I kind of hated junie until the very end

when she finally embraces being a villain

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Bullying, Death, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Stalking, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

leogl's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Mental illness, Death, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Grief, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death of parent

philosophicellie's review against another edition

dark funny 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: Death

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Racism, Rape, Toxic friendship, and Sexual violence

lizzieberry's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

Wow, a powerful tale with a deeply flawed, unlikeable, and recognizable main character. Commentary on the insidiousness of racism and white women's societal pass by claiming victimization and maintaining denial of wrongdoing. A dive into power, privilege, perspective, and fear of cancel culture and the desire to avoid it at all costs - minus real change or responsibility.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Suicidal thoughts, and Death

Racism throughout Sexual violence in chapter 15 and 22 Physical violence/assault in chapter 23

meaghanslibrary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

I’m between a 3.75 and a 4. Then beginning and middle of the book I thought were so good. The quips and short sentences were very engaging to read. The plot was very creative.

The back end of the middle started to drag. The end felt rushed and fell a bit flat, I guess I was hoping for more, but not sure what I would have preferred instead.

I think this book would lead to good discussions in book clubs about authorship, representation, and race. Hmm I guess for the beginning part of the book and convos I’ll give it a 4. I think if you asked me to rate it early on it was a heavy contender for a 5, but the ending really just lacked. To some extent I did feel like the authors other work Babel had a bit of a rushed ending. But in that book I thought the beginning and middle dragged and the end saved it. 

I give props to the author for branching out well into different genres.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape

abi_g_mac's review against another edition

dark 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

3.75

Ambitious metafiction that looks at issues of racism and cultural appropriation in publishing. To reinforce the message the plot can come across as a little contrived, but it is clear and effective, if a bit too obvious - subtlety can be just as powerful and can be more interesting for a reader.
June as an unreliable narrator is really unlikeable and her racism and lack of self awareness makes for uncomfortable reading (enjoyable, if like me you appreciate unlikeable characters).
Overall, good but I expected more which is probably the fault of all the hype.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual violence