A review by lilacs_book_bower
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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

3.0

I am really torn on this one.  I did not enjoy reading the book.  I have discovered I really don't care for books with unlikeable protagonists (maybe I am a shallow and unsophisticated reader, but whatever).  And June, our protagonist is UNLIKEABLE.  She is a racist, manipulative, selfish, petty thief.  The fact is no one in this book is even remotely likable, aside from Athena's mother who is in all of two scenes.  Kuang does some nice subtle work portraying June's ignorant (and occasionally hateful) racism, but overall, when it comes to themes, Kuang is about as subtle as a sledgehammer (I felt the same way about Babel).  In one paragraph, I am admiring the way Kuang portrays the character's microagression, and then the next I am rolling my eyes at how over the top the next statement is.  But unfortunately, in real life, there are people that obviously racist, who have no awareness of their behavior, so Kuang is making real points here, and racism does need called out.   Important points being made to be sure, but I don't think I enjoyed the reading experience (the plot itself feels very unbelievable and the ending is cartoonish).  But Kuang is entitled to deal with her personal experiences of racism as she sees fit, AND reading about racism SHOULD make us uncomfortable.  
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