Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

54 reviews

kinreadsbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Impressive and thought provoking story telling. I hated the main character and found myself talking at her through the whole book but I also couldn't put it down. Also created lots of questions when disagreeing with the main character but also disagreeing with ending antagonist too. Really well done, got all the emotions going. loved to hate it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

ellacostello's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

As a whole I loved the book 
Unsure about the ending I would have liked to see more into the possibilities of this new published book and the outcomes of the drama… although I’m sure the rounds of both good and bad would have been the same as throughout the book 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Cultural appropriation

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

soph_mills's review

challenging reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

leechachatotheright's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I will say that this book was very thought provoking, a social commentary on racism, diversity, etc. I gave it a 3 as it was a good read in its writing itself and does tackle an interesting perspective but, I don't think I'd recommend this to a friend to read. The first two thirds of the book was very inticing, but the ending felt like

"This, really? Is that all? You haven't learned anything."

and honestly, that may be the point of it. I find the narrative very different from anything I've read before, but maybe that's also why it felt flat at the end. I don't mind endings not having the whole

character learns from their mistakes trope, if anything, it is kind of refreshing to see this perspective.

But alas, the ending did feel a bit inconclusive to me, though I understand the intention of it. I don't know if I'll read it again, but I'll definitely say it was a unique read and I didn't put the book down until I was finished. I basically wanted more from the ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship and War

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Minor: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

rachaelcandoit's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This was one of those books that I was nervous to get into because of how talked about it is. 

This book feels like a car crash I couldn't look away from. I deeply disliked many of the characters and was honestly fascinated at their story. 

I think it's incredibly admirable for Kaung to write at story like this showcasing such an antagonistic perspective. I loved seeing the internal workings of the publishing industry too. 

Honestly with how much this book is talked about it I was expecting to find it more controversial and didn't really. I do think that some ideas could've been expanded upon or made more introspective but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. 

My only super tiny gripe is that I don't love the narrator speaking directly to the reader. It took me a while to get into the story because of it. I also don't love the overt foreshadowing. These are my personal preferences and if they don't bother you then you won't find an issue here. 

Otherwise really loved the book and it's messaging.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Rape

Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Deportation

_ren's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Body shaming, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

katlinstirling_reads's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A bit disappointed with this one.. I wanted to enjoy it but I think it’s a BookTok book that is unfortunately overhyped, which is a shame because the story/plot is there. The genres are ‘thriller’ and in the acknowledgments ‘horror’ but this book is far from either, it’s more of a drama in my opinion. I actually really enjoyed the bookish aspect and although I’m not sure how true those parts were I did like to read about the publishing process and huddles authors have to face. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

malvika_k's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was really mind boggling. The crux of the story is incredibly interesting, it’s a unique plot. But the whole time I felt I was being brainwashed, which I think was the point, but also was frustrating. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

iordanmoore's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, and Gaslighting

Minor: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

vaykay's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Minor: Biphobia, Hate crime, Incest, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Colonisation