Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

226 reviews

maiahhtratchh's review against another edition

reflective 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

This book gave me the same feeling I had when I was in high school and reading the Kite Runner for the first time. It was the perfect amount of discomfort and intrigue that I would get upset or emotional and throw the book across the room and then immediately run to pick it up and keep reading without wasting too much time. RF Kuang has been able to tackle so many themes in the pages of this book with criticisms on publishing culture, white saviourism, social isolation, the harms of Twitter and social media, morality and copywrite, among so many others. She spins a web upon web of deceit and lies that it becomes so hard to understand what the actual truth is. It really becomes a psychological horror book as June devolves into madness under the pressures of her own guilt. The most painful part of this being that it could have all been avoided had she asked Athena’s mother if she could work on the manuscript instead of stealing it. Considering she was asked to speak at the funeral, I doubt her mother would have many objections. Even then, however, how she acts toward Athena in the writing process is terrible and colonial. All that is wrong with the book is Athenas and all that is right is hers. It also drove me crazy how she stole the first paragraph for Mother Witch, it’s crazy that she couldn’t just change it.. it would have been so simple. I have so many things to say but finally with the ending,

although she did not get what she deserved (or kind of did? It’s complicated) it really hammered home the themes of this novel and how, throughout the entirety of it, June has victimized herself to the point where she will do anything to hold onto that title no matter the cost.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Racism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Racial slurs, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

latashman's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

I recommend reading some of RF Kuang's other work before reading this book. I think it increases the enjoyment of the book. 

This has to be one of the most unhinged main characters that I've ever read. I had to stop reading several times due to cringing from what she said/thought and some of the things happening. This book had me feeling anxious throughout. 

I probably would have rated higher because the writing was great, but I don't like when modern things like Twitter are referenced in books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Toxic friendship, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Stalking

limabean21's review against another edition

dark informative tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Racism, Death, Cultural appropriation, and Stalking

zadsavage's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Self harm, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Racial slurs, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Rape, Grief, Classism, Murder, Sexual content, Colonisation, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Racism, Blood, Islamophobia, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

r_kennedy's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual harassment, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Stalking, Racism, and Racial slurs

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

bubblybelle's review

dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective 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

4.5

i have never loved to hate a main character so much. i listened to the audiobook of this, which was fantastic. the twists and turns of this story left me always wanting more, and i loved getting a glimpse into the world of publishing. overall, a brilliant and cynical masterpiece. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Death, and Racism

Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Rape, Stalking, and Panic attacks/disorders

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

aj_langley's review

challenging dark funny sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cultural appropriation

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, War, Sexual assault, Violence, and Xenophobia

bibliobrittish's review

dark mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, and Bullying

Minor: Death of parent