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hdkroon's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
richy_qu33r_readzz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Disliking the narrator is always makes for an uncomfortable read and R. F. Kuang uses this tool to its full advantage. Her writing is a psychological feat while also being witty and instructive. I Learned lots about the publishing & professional writers world, and how much I do not want to be a part of it. I Felt a bit queer-baited into this read, so let’s be clear; it’s not at all queer. There’s a few mentions but more a fact of life and one gross moment that follows t.a.t.u’s legacy.
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Minor: Bullying, Eating disorder, Genocide, Homophobia, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Vomit, Islamophobia, Medical content, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Murder, and Lesbophobia
imstephtacular's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Vomit, Islamophobia, and Stalking
percys_panda_pillow_pet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I think I read an interview somewhere, where Kuang talked about her inspiration for Yellowface. and how part of it came about because she was worried she was like June, stealing something she wasn't meant to have. As I read the book, I saw Kuang's anxieties reflected in both Athena and June's characters. With Athena, it's easy to see how she might relate to the sudden push into stardom at a young age, as well as being tokenized for her identity as a Chinese American. While June may represent Kuang's imposter syndrome, of feeling like a fake as she gains all this attention for her work while other Asian American authors perhaps struggle to gain recognition. This novel is definitely the most personal of hers out of what I've read.
As for the meat of the book, I cannot believe how well the characters were done. Especially June and Athena. June is fantastic as a villain protagonist and Kuang does a great job at lulling the reader into feeling sympathy for her even as the next sentence will make you revile her. So much of this book really felt inspiring as a writer, because there is so much that you imagine could've happened, instead of what did happen. As the reader, I constantly was questioning June's choices and thoughts, why did she do what she did? Why does she feel the need to continue this lie? June's character really makes you question the world around you and your own feelings and choices. What is your own personal motivation for the things that you do and say?
As for Athena, I was wondering so much who Athena was behind the person that June thought she was. All we get is a little bit of her in the beginning, from June's perspective of course, but the rest of her is pieced together from all the other characters in this world. I really enjoyed though, how neither character was perfect. Theoretically, Athena was the hero to June's villain, but Athena wasn't a perfect human being. She had flaws, she made mistakes. How much of her flaws were real and not just formed from people who didn't really know her, who knows? But Athena was human like the rest of us and it was amazing how Kuang could shape a character that only technically existed in the first act.
I will say, as much as I loved this book, I will not be giving it 5 stars. I can't really articulate why. Perhaps I just wasn't that satisfied with the ending, or a few of the more modern references were awkward and didn't fit the way Kuang thought they would. It's still a fantastic book, don't get me wrong. I think a lot of people should read it, even if they know nothing about publishing. It just isn't a 5-star for me. In any case, this review is getting too long so please, check out this book! Especially if you may not have liked Kuang's books in the past, this may finally be the book for you. I am definitely interested in what Kuang will explore in her next book!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Grief, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia, Vomit, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, and Classism
Minor: Suicide and Abandonment
There is a Major Knives Out spoiler on page 186 in the middle of the last paragraph, just so others know!hue's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I was, however, dissatisfied with the ending. It came too abruptly, almost hurriedly. I wished for a more "tying frayed ends together" sort of ending.
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol
krisfailedtosubmit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Lesbophobia
katndrsn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don’t want to say much more, but it’s my first 5* of the year with good reason - def worth the hype, a must read
Graphic: Death, Racism, Rape, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Homophobia, Suicide, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia
There is a scene of rape/sexual assault that features in the last quarter of the book. It is a necessary plot hook and doesn’t last too long but there is description of a drunken incident and recalling of eventsclairew97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
The main character is as insufferable and delusional as you would expect. Her justifications for her actions were wild to me, but I also believe that there are people out there who think like June does.
The exploration of racism within the publishing industry and the insight into the industry was incredibly interesting. Also, the exploration into the online world as a writer was an interesting take. The ending took me completely by surprise and I was hooked.
A completely satirical look into the publishing world and life as an author, I don’t think anyone else could have handled the premise of this book quite as well. A complete 180 from Babel, so if you’re looking for that type of book again this is definitely not it. I can’t wait to see where R F Kuang goes next.
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism