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A review by shansometimes
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sure, it got a ton of hype, but YELLOWFACE was worth every bit of it to me. It's a brilliant satirical novel from the perspective of June Hayward, a white author who steals her Asian friend, Athena's, manuscript after she dies and presents Athena's book as her own.
It's one of the funniest, cringiest, most jaw-dropping books I've ever read, and after reading it, I went after more racial satire books in an attempt to have that experience again. There's subtle but clever commentary on cultural appropriation, social media and cancel culture, and the dynamics of race in general. The book also has a keen point of view on the troublesome interworkings of the publishing industry (including its own racism and bias), and this perspective is woven into it in such a sharp way.
Truly a page-turner, YELLOWFACE is a wild ride that is smart and well done. I thoroughly enjoyed the reading journey and appreciated the direction R.F. Kuang so cunningly chose to take the book.
It's one of the funniest, cringiest, most jaw-dropping books I've ever read, and after reading it, I went after more racial satire books in an attempt to have that experience again. There's subtle but clever commentary on cultural appropriation, social media and cancel culture, and the dynamics of race in general. The book also has a keen point of view on the troublesome interworkings of the publishing industry (including its own racism and bias), and this perspective is woven into it in such a sharp way.
Truly a page-turner, YELLOWFACE is a wild ride that is smart and well done. I thoroughly enjoyed the reading journey and appreciated the direction R.F. Kuang so cunningly chose to take the book.