Reviews tagging 'Cultural appropriation'

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

1298 reviews

hibie's review against another edition

4.0

mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I really really enjoyed this actually - very fun and easy read and the way you can literally see the obtuse stubborn blindness the protag has to her own prejudice and harmful behaviours was frustrating but so engaging. Pretty bleak outlook on publishing though. Rest in peace to my dreams of writing </3

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Cultural appropriation

jenna36's review against another edition

4.5

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I had heard that this book had mixed reviews, but I was absolutely riveted. It was so profoundly disturbing to be inside this person's head, but even more disturbing that I found myself believing that this was a person who could (and probably does) actually exist. R.F. Kuang's writing always hits for me, and this book is no exception. She is a diabolically brilliant author, especially when crafting the main character in this novel. Being in the villain's head and seeing all of her excuses and explanations was fascinating. 

Funnily enough, I also saw the seeds of Kuang's recent novel Babel in this book, and I feel like a lot of the themes found in this book recur there in a different way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation

Minor: Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship

kryptoniantree's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Cultural appropriation

shushkeepitdown's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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A book about a very unreliable narrator and how she basically doesn't learn anything. Honestly a very tough read in my opinion because of how often I would cringe at the things that what June does, her bad decisions just kept piling up and even at the end it seems like she never does learn her lesson. It's a very complex story about how fame can drive you to loneliness because you end up having the mindset that everyone is your competition. The book goes into deep about fake friendships and obsession and how it can negatively effect you. 
But the concept of wanting to be someone to the point where you want to wear their skin is so on point. Honestly an incredible read.
The book is written in first person and the main character is very morally grey.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, War

dakotajade's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting

dreaming_jay's review against another edition

3.5

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation

haileyyrxse's review against another edition

4.25

dark funny 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcohol

Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, War

ellegg's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Certifiably diabolical. This book made me feel sick from cover to cover in a way that challenged my biases and perceptions. Written from the perspective of a white woman, this novel examines race, gender, and ethic dynamics from many angles. I learned a lot about myself and my discomfort in confronting racial bias and white privilege while reading this book and am grateful for the opportunity to grow.
I appreciated the use of an unreliable narrator and the first person perspective to drive home the complexities of this story. Beautifully, brutally, bluntly written. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Classism

Minor: Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Medical trauma

smetrick's review against another edition

5.0

challenging funny reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Disturbing and genius

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Cultural appropriation

shaleen64's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Classism

Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Murder

Minor: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Medical content, War