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A review by vacanthungarian
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
funny
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
What a story! I am generally in the habit of avoiding books that gain a great deal of sudden popularity as they often turn out to be a disappointment. This one however was really good!
From start to finish, our protagonist and all other main characters were awful people, but this seems to be a depiction of the culture in publishing/literature. At first I really thought it was a first class chunk of reverse racism where the perfect, overachieving Chinese girl is wronged by the terrible, boring white girl who is now going to be in big trouble for the next 200 pages until the author is satisfied that she is in her place. But it seems that despite there being a main theme of race, the author chose to take an impartial route, choosing to not stoop. It also seems that one of the important points it makes is that there is entirely too much emphasis on race and marginalised people. The storyline moves at a good place and the author remains focused and centred throughout, seemingly never sidetracked by small details. I think I died several times at the horror of the events that unfold around the protagonist. Took a fraction of a mark off for the ending as it felt like the author just kind of stuck it down with a bit of tape, rather than tying it up into a neat little bow.
It was very informative of the struggles of publishing for many authors. It made me a little sad actually as it reflects society in general now.
From start to finish, our protagonist and all other main characters were awful people, but this seems to be a depiction of the culture in publishing/literature. At first I really thought it was a first class chunk of reverse racism where the perfect, overachieving Chinese girl is wronged by the terrible, boring white girl who is now going to be in big trouble for the next 200 pages until the author is satisfied that she is in her place. But it seems that despite there being a main theme of race, the author chose to take an impartial route, choosing to not stoop. It also seems that one of the important points it makes is that there is entirely too much emphasis on race and marginalised people. The storyline moves at a good place and the author remains focused and centred throughout, seemingly never sidetracked by small details. I think I died several times at the horror of the events that unfold around the protagonist. Took a fraction of a mark off for the ending as it felt like the author just kind of stuck it down with a bit of tape, rather than tying it up into a neat little bow.
It was very informative of the struggles of publishing for many authors. It made me a little sad actually as it reflects society in general now.