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A review by kimmiereadsalot
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
5.0
Wow. What an utter ride this was! In many ways, this was not my cuppa. I tend to be a HEA, happy-go-lucky kind of girl. I also read a lot of fantasy and mysteries. Basically, this checked none of my go-to boxes. But I can’t rate it any less than 5 stars.
RF is just too good. This is my second book by her. And while I liked Babel, this was something special. Both books heavily portray systemic racism and injustices. She gets it in a way many don’t/can’t. I’m not articulate enough to really explain what I mean, but reading her depictions…idk…I just see it. She touches on heavy issues in a way that presents many sides of nuanced issues.
As for specific notes regarding Yellowface…well June sucks. But at the same time, as a white woman myself, I feel called out. I’d like to think I’m doing the work to be anti racist, to be an ally. But I know that’s a long road of listening and not getting offended when someone takes the time to educate me.
This book literally had my stomach churning at times. And it has nothing to do with the portrayal of systemic racism in publishing and everything to do with the giant elephant in the room if you will. The lie. The lie that carried through the entirety of the book. June’s delusions were grander and grander as the book went on. Her choices were often painful.
Idk. I’m rambling. I have too many thoughts. And as I mentioned above, I’m not articulate enough to share them in a way that gets across everything I want to say about this book. So I’ll just leave it at this: read it with an open mind. Appreciate the education. Believe the issues. Know there is nuance to these tough issues and they probably won’t every go away fully but hopefully will get better over time. I do think that has to happen at the top though. It can’t just be performative diversification.
RF is just too good. This is my second book by her. And while I liked Babel, this was something special. Both books heavily portray systemic racism and injustices. She gets it in a way many don’t/can’t. I’m not articulate enough to really explain what I mean, but reading her depictions…idk…I just see it. She touches on heavy issues in a way that presents many sides of nuanced issues.
As for specific notes regarding Yellowface…well June sucks. But at the same time, as a white woman myself, I feel called out. I’d like to think I’m doing the work to be anti racist, to be an ally. But I know that’s a long road of listening and not getting offended when someone takes the time to educate me.
This book literally had my stomach churning at times. And it has nothing to do with the portrayal of systemic racism in publishing and everything to do with the giant elephant in the room if you will. The lie. The lie that carried through the entirety of the book. June’s delusions were grander and grander as the book went on. Her choices were often painful.
Idk. I’m rambling. I have too many thoughts. And as I mentioned above, I’m not articulate enough to share them in a way that gets across everything I want to say about this book. So I’ll just leave it at this: read it with an open mind. Appreciate the education. Believe the issues. Know there is nuance to these tough issues and they probably won’t every go away fully but hopefully will get better over time. I do think that has to happen at the top though. It can’t just be performative diversification.