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A review by lynseyreads_
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
4.0
Not quite a 4 for me… 3.75, 3.5? (Omg Goodreads, when can we get in-between ratings?!) Also, very stream of consciousness review incoming….
Ultimately, this book is a not-so-satirical look into the drama and injustices of the publishing world. It’s about who has power to tell and push specific stories and who doesn’t. Pretty much every character is unlikable, unreliable, and flawed which is part of what makes the story dynamic. Most impressive to me is how alive the character of Athena is even though she died in chapter one. Actually, the most engaging parts of the novel for me are any parts where Athena is present. Second most engaging are the moments when June interacts with others via book visits or teaching. Third most engaging are the moments she is in conversation with editors and publishers. The parts where June is grappling with her choices and obsessed with Twitter are by far the least interesting, and probably take up about half of the book’s real estate.
My critiques of this book aren’t the same as other reviewers—that the book is lacking subtlety, that it’s too much of Kuang’s voice beating you over the head. I can see why others feel that way, but I think this story has enough nuances that I’m okay with it.
The thing that actually makes this a mid-range rated book for me is the arc of the story. There were enough bread crumbs that this book could have pretty much been a “choose your own adventure” book. (And to this I am wondering if this is Kuang playing with satire and tropes, or if the red herrings were simply just distractions.) I actually think the climax could have been more interesting with any one of the other red herrings. I don’t read too many thrillers, and I don’t often have the foresight to predict endings, but this one I did (not completely, but enough). So while the ending best speaks to the overall theme of Yellowface, the other breadcrumbs are then just left at best as unfinished, ~slightly~ useful plot pushers, and at worst, not fully developed and tbh annoying that they even existed in the first place!
I’m also reflecting on my own understanding of “satire,” and how maybe I could have read this (especially the ending) with a different lens. In interviews, Kuang mentions that much of Yellowface is drawn from real experiences. I feel like the best satire is just one deep lunge away from being real, and muddles the boundaries of reality, but Yellowface is a quieter sort of satire, most of it being real with some threads of exaggeration. It’s like the satire-to-reality ratio is flipped and stretched. Like the satire strength equivalent to a La Croix. (Okay.. I’m laughing about this… I hope someone out there is too.)
I was able to see Kuang on her Yellowface tour and she is equal parts hilarious, quirky, and academic. I loved the moments in Yellowface when her sense of humor come through, and I wish there was more of it. Although I don’t believe that satire requires humor, I enjoyed the quirkier moments of this book.
Anyways, this book has made me think a lot, so maybe it deserves a higher star rating, but my enjoyability-level-gut check after reading isn’t wanting to scream about this book. BUT the things I would’ve liked to have seen in the plot just aren’t what this book’s purpose is, so here we are. You should probably just read it tbh.
Ultimately, this book is a not-so-satirical look into the drama and injustices of the publishing world. It’s about who has power to tell and push specific stories and who doesn’t. Pretty much every character is unlikable, unreliable, and flawed which is part of what makes the story dynamic. Most impressive to me is how alive the character of Athena is even though she died in chapter one. Actually, the most engaging parts of the novel for me are any parts where Athena is present. Second most engaging are the moments when June interacts with others via book visits or teaching. Third most engaging are the moments she is in conversation with editors and publishers. The parts where June is grappling with her choices and obsessed with Twitter are by far the least interesting, and probably take up about half of the book’s real estate.
My critiques of this book aren’t the same as other reviewers—that the book is lacking subtlety, that it’s too much of Kuang’s voice beating you over the head. I can see why others feel that way, but I think this story has enough nuances that I’m okay with it.
The thing that actually makes this a mid-range rated book for me is the arc of the story. There were enough bread crumbs that this book could have pretty much been a “choose your own adventure” book. (And to this I am wondering if this is Kuang playing with satire and tropes, or if the red herrings were simply just distractions.) I actually think the climax could have been more interesting with any one of the other red herrings. I don’t read too many thrillers, and I don’t often have the foresight to predict endings, but this one I did (not completely, but enough). So while the ending best speaks to the overall theme of Yellowface, the other breadcrumbs are then just left at best as unfinished, ~slightly~ useful plot pushers, and at worst, not fully developed and tbh annoying that they even existed in the first place!
I’m also reflecting on my own understanding of “satire,” and how maybe I could have read this (especially the ending) with a different lens. In interviews, Kuang mentions that much of Yellowface is drawn from real experiences. I feel like the best satire is just one deep lunge away from being real, and muddles the boundaries of reality, but Yellowface is a quieter sort of satire, most of it being real with some threads of exaggeration. It’s like the satire-to-reality ratio is flipped and stretched. Like the satire strength equivalent to a La Croix. (Okay.. I’m laughing about this… I hope someone out there is too.)
I was able to see Kuang on her Yellowface tour and she is equal parts hilarious, quirky, and academic. I loved the moments in Yellowface when her sense of humor come through, and I wish there was more of it. Although I don’t believe that satire requires humor, I enjoyed the quirkier moments of this book.
Anyways, this book has made me think a lot, so maybe it deserves a higher star rating, but my enjoyability-level-gut check after reading isn’t wanting to scream about this book. BUT the things I would’ve liked to have seen in the plot just aren’t what this book’s purpose is, so here we are. You should probably just read it tbh.