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A review by annamariesreads
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
3.75
I've just finished Yellowface. I started on Thursday so I read it in 3 days.
I was unsure whether to rate 3.75 or 3.5, for me it lies somewhere in the middle, but I am going to go with the higher option, just because I was fully engaged and finished it quickly.
This book's greatest strength was its narrative voice. The character of June was so unabashedly repulsive at times and yet, Kuang would keep you on the edge with a hint of unreliable narrator, so you knew you'd need to keep reading. Shout-out to Helen Laser and all her voices on the audiobook, they were amazing. June being so sure of things and then being made to question them really had me on edge the entire book, wondering if there was something I fundamentally misunderstood about her journey due to her unreliable narration.
I also think the way it explores the theme of plagiarism, and the way such a simple deceit can cause lifelong damage is super interesting. Planning to keep this review spoiler free so I'll leave it there.
I think honestly, this book definitely bites. I think it has a lot to say and it packs a punch when it does it. Every chapter was blunt and frank in a way that was refreshing. Unfortunately, where this novel fell short is that I sometimes feel like sometimes, it failed to add nuance to these biting points and I am left at the end, wondering what the moral of the story is. For a book that seemed to have a lot to say, I will probably spend a few days wondering what that is. I guess some would call that the beauty of reading a book, but I feel slightly empty coming away from it.
Nevertheless, I am just a June Hayward and the Athena Lius of the world do not owe me their story. And that is something I did learn.
Overall I enjoyed it, but it just falls short of a four star.
I was unsure whether to rate 3.75 or 3.5, for me it lies somewhere in the middle, but I am going to go with the higher option, just because I was fully engaged and finished it quickly.
This book's greatest strength was its narrative voice. The character of June was so unabashedly repulsive at times and yet, Kuang would keep you on the edge with a hint of unreliable narrator, so you knew you'd need to keep reading. Shout-out to Helen Laser and all her voices on the audiobook, they were amazing. June being so sure of things and then being made to question them really had me on edge the entire book, wondering if there was something I fundamentally misunderstood about her journey due to her unreliable narration.
I also think the way it explores the theme of plagiarism, and the way such a simple deceit can cause lifelong damage is super interesting. Planning to keep this review spoiler free so I'll leave it there.
I think honestly, this book definitely bites. I think it has a lot to say and it packs a punch when it does it. Every chapter was blunt and frank in a way that was refreshing. Unfortunately, where this novel fell short is that I sometimes feel like sometimes, it failed to add nuance to these biting points and I am left at the end, wondering what the moral of the story is. For a book that seemed to have a lot to say, I will probably spend a few days wondering what that is. I guess some would call that the beauty of reading a book, but I feel slightly empty coming away from it.
Nevertheless, I am just a June Hayward and the Athena Lius of the world do not owe me their story. And that is something I did learn.
Overall I enjoyed it, but it just falls short of a four star.