Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

289 reviews

marina_michelle's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny tense fast-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

4.5


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corabookworm's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense 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

4.0

This book was absolutely sickening in the best way. The actions and inner-monologue of the main character, paired with the building stakes, create constant discomfort and anxiety for the reader.

I skimmed some reviews for this book after reading it, and while I understand the mixed feelings, if you go in expecting a very meta dark satire book with a very unlikable main character and just roll with it, you'll be able to appreciate the story a lot more. If references to real-world companies and social media sites bug you, I don't recommend Yellowface—the author references these companies, platforms, and cultures to weave in commentary on the modern publishing industry. She addresses many aspects of it: "cancel culture," the racism of "token diversity," and the loneliness of the job, to name a few. (The last one there felt very exaggerated for the point of this book; that, or the real world is just very depressing.) If you do enjoy that "meta-ness", or if you're willing to accept it as part of the satire and social commentary (like me), then this book is pretty damn good. R.F. Kuang never disappoints.

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emmagreenwood's review against another edition

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dark 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

3.0


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joensign's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-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

5.0


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rnbhargava's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad 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? Yes

4.25

This is a narrative about personal jealousy, racism in publishing and interrogating race politics 

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esv_'s review against another edition

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emotional 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? No

3.75


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angeldevoursliterature's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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te_ss_i's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

4.5


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charlotteturt's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0


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kproc381's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-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

4.25

I have to give it up for the author and her writing style. I was very engaged throughout this book. She knows how to write a complex character. Even more so, she knows how to write an AWFUL character. We read this book through the unreliable narrator that is June Hayward. June is completely and utterly devoid of any accountability or even acknowledgment that she is frankly… the worst. She makes her actions the fault of everyone else and begins to believe her own lies. I found myself getting angry at the book because of how much I truly hated June - but that speaks to how well the book is written.  

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