Reviews tagging 'Death'

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

1193 reviews

erickauribe's review against another edition

dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation and Death

roxiehrt's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

5.0

Wow. At first I wasn’t sure if this book was going to be my cup of tea. I usually am a thriller/horror reader, but man this book had me TENSE. From the conversations on racism/appropriation, second hand embarrassment, and tension throughout to the desperation of the main character to try to dig herself out of a hole unscathed, I found it utterly gripping. The last 4th of the book even had some very creepy imagery which veered into ghost story territory. I think that this novel spins you in so many directions, you’ll feel like you have whiplash by the end. I’ve never felt such intensity from a novel that wasn’t straight horror. It did more than most thriller/horror books I’ve read this year with weaving such a complex page-turning narrative. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

kkpines's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

4.25

A masterful depiction of how guilt can drive a person to self-destruction, a descent as grotesque as it is addictive—I just couldn't look away.

I found myself itching at June to quit – as she pushed on, trapped in a performance, unable to differentiate between where her skin ends and Athena’s begins. 

The suspense escalates beautifully, only to fizzle at the end. June escapes relatively unscathed, raising questions about accountability – a detail that resonates as a commentary on her white privilege and the publishing industry's neglect of minority voices. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and War

Moderate: Alcohol and Gaslighting

Minor: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

literary_liv's review against another edition

dark funny tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism

Moderate: Grief and Gaslighting

Minor: Cultural appropriation, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, Stalking, and Injury/Injury detail

fory0ursake's review against another edition

emotional funny informative reflective tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, Sexism, and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

jay_0's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.75

When I was reading the book I thought I was enjoying it. However, when it ended all I could think was ‘what did I just read?’

The whole book was about plagiarism and an author who felt guilt, success, deserving, anxious, fearful and basically every emotion after doing what she did. However, the story hardly went anywhere and I don’t know if I liked the book or want to like the book.

Additionally, I don’t know if I completely dislike the main character or not, all I know is that she was having a hard time and to be honest just needed therapy. 

This book was agitating to say the least.

But all that being said, I did understand this book highlights the struggles within the publishing industry especially for those within the ethnic minorities and how the publishing industry can be toxic and hard to navigate and Kaung did show this pretty well by using an extremely unlikely situation.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death

danieladas8's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I was so annoyed and disgusted with the main character that more than once I wanted to punch her or through the book across the room, and for that I know I love the story and its characters. 

They are so well constructed, they’re raw, emotional, flawed and even when you hate them, you get them and pity them.

The story in itself is so unique and well thought out, I’m glad I had the chance to cleansed my reader palette with something so different. Its writing is messy, confusing and at the same time well paced and transparent. It’s a reflection of its protagonist complexities and state of mind. Which, I believe, also showcases, and I’m not sure how accurately, the mischievous and derogating publishing industry and world we live in. 

Thank you, R. Kuang, for such an interesting and exciting narrative. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Bullying, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death

Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Rape, and War

Minor: Suicide, Dementia, Sexual violence, and Self harm

amysdr's review against another edition

funny informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gaslighting, Murder, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and War

Minor: Islamophobia, Stalking, Abortion, Body horror, Bullying, and Medical content

courtneys_reading's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The writing style of this one had me hooked from the get-go but honestly by the end I just wanted it to be over lol
I think I was expecting something more from it but not sure what to be honest. I think it was interesting to know more about the publishing industry and on some level I relate to the main character and how she feels about writing but yeah overall I think the story was fine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Racism

Moderate: Rape and Toxic friendship

Minor: Grief, Stalking, and War

emilyjean917201999's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Death, Vomit, and Cultural appropriation

Minor: Colonisation, Classism, Racial slurs, Suicide, Blood, War, and Violence