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cozymo 's review for:
Yellowface
by R.F. Kuang
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow. Wow. Wow. Where to begin…
This was my first Kuang read, but it won’t be my last, given my 5-star rating here. And what an introduction this read was to such a talented / witty / authoritative author.
I don’t know what I was expecting from Yellowface, but it certainly delivered on its promise of a twisted, micro aggression boasting, blatantly racist, unreliable narrator. Its glimpse into the publishing industry was unabashed and unrelenting, providing a peek into the often grotesque echo chamber behind the books on our shelves.
Won’t give too much away here, but I was enthralled by Juniper’s narcissistic voice, which often reminded me of Joe Goldberg’s panicked—often manic—self righteous pursuit of self preservation.
I couldn’t put this book down, eating up all of Juniper’s fucked up notions of her place in the world, of her fears of being forgotten to the consumption machine we all bow down to in the Internet age. Exactly what she could only hope for, I’m sure.
As I said in a Buddy Read:
I think it’s the fear of most creators / artists in the age of the Internet.
Something you spend hours, days, months, or even years on can be consumed in a manner of seconds or in just one sitting.
Then what?
The consumption machine demands more. More coal for the engine to eat. So, creators supply more, more, more. If they don’t, they will in a way float off into irrelevance.
For the consumer, it’s onto the next thing to “eat.” If you’re not the one slapping food on the plate, who even are you? Just a name people can barely remember?
This was my first Kuang read, but it won’t be my last, given my 5-star rating here. And what an introduction this read was to such a talented / witty / authoritative author.
I don’t know what I was expecting from Yellowface, but it certainly delivered on its promise of a twisted, micro aggression boasting, blatantly racist, unreliable narrator. Its glimpse into the publishing industry was unabashed and unrelenting, providing a peek into the often grotesque echo chamber behind the books on our shelves.
Won’t give too much away here, but I was enthralled by Juniper’s narcissistic voice, which often reminded me of Joe Goldberg’s panicked—often manic—self righteous pursuit of self preservation.
I couldn’t put this book down, eating up all of Juniper’s fucked up notions of her place in the world, of her fears of being forgotten to the consumption machine we all bow down to in the Internet age. Exactly what she could only hope for, I’m sure.
As I said in a Buddy Read:
I think it’s the fear of most creators / artists in the age of the Internet.
Something you spend hours, days, months, or even years on can be consumed in a manner of seconds or in just one sitting.
Then what?
The consumption machine demands more. More coal for the engine to eat. So, creators supply more, more, more. If they don’t, they will in a way float off into irrelevance.
For the consumer, it’s onto the next thing to “eat.” If you’re not the one slapping food on the plate, who even are you? Just a name people can barely remember?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Toxic friendship
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Murder, War