Reviews tagging 'Death'

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

1353 reviews

kristenterhune's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Racism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

issymaae'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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and War

clairiewairie'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Racism

Moderate: Sexual assault

chrysanthxmum's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

mimlleigh's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.5

This book was so stressful from the very beginning, but I couldn’t stop reading it. It was like not being able to tear your eyes away from a train wreck that you don’t think can get any worse, but then does keep getting worse.  The premise was very unique, and I was captivated through the whole story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

helloitsjonesie's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Racism

Minor: Rape and War

okaychanly's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective 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

3.75

Overall, I liked it more than I disliked it. I understand June is written as a narrator to be hated, as she's very obviously prejudiced against Asian people (specifically Chinese). It was so satisfying seeing her squirm and get justice at various points in the story. I understand why this book captured so many people's attentions: R.F. Kuang is a talented author, and it was interesting to get a glimpse into the publishing world through this almost subversive lens. Yet at the same time, I had a hard time actually "liking" the book because of the narrator and the lack of likable characters in general. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and War

jessismoore's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racism, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Minor: Bullying, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Stalking

It was hard to tell what was meant to be satire or not and especially what the author wanted you to believe or not when you’re done with this book. The main parts I felt were exaggerated were the narrator’s rationale behind her decisions but otherwise it felt believable and genuine but I know it’s a satire so that threw me off several times. Other than refusing the sensitivity reader, and then later refusing to add Athena to the credits of the book were her two main mistakes. To me this made the line of “what’s ok to say by whom” when talking about history or someone else’s story in general, more blurred, definitely not any clearer. It was certainly a critique of the publishing industry and kind of surprising that was allowed and the book wasn’t blocked or a refusal to advertise for it after release. Overall I’d recommend it as something a little different and harder to define to a genre (other than fiction).

mereho's review against another edition

dark informative reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Cultural appropriation

marim139's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.75

I overall enjoyed this book. It was a very interesting way to talk about race, cultural appropriation, and the literary world. However, I was let down by the ending. It felt like it all came tumbling out so quickly. I feel like there are typically more clues that gradually build on each other and you can start to see the pieces come together right before the crescendo at the end of the story… but this didn’t happen in this book. I wouldn’t read this book again, but I am glad I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Rape, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship