The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
peach_haze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Since I heard about The Poppy Wars, I’ve been looking forward to reading a R.F. Kuang novel and grabbed YELLOWFACE up the second I saw it in the store. The plot intrigued me but I had no idea just how much I would be entranced by the writing style and storyline. I’ve never particularly been a fan of contemporary works; a genre I go to only after fantasy, thriller, and/ or romance. Yet, the sheer audacity of the MC, followed by her constant deception and drive to self-righteousness made it difficult to pry myself away from the masterpiece. I scoffed, laughed, and snorted while reading. I loved hating the MC, watching her dumpster-fire of lies finally catch ablaze and being shocked again and again as she tried to put it out with a broken garden hose or adding gasoline - choosing whichever would give her the most clout. From start to finish, I was amazed at Kuang’s writing. I was able to see deeper into the horrors of publication and of cultural and racial insensitivities regularly practiced by people everyday.
I look forward to reading Babel next, and following that, the Poppy War trilogy.
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Racial slurs, Violence, War, Rape, Alcohol, and Death
catieohjoy'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
5.0
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Death, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, War, Rape, Toxic friendship, Grief, and Sexual violence
siwx_x's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
These girls are like mosquitoes; sucking dry those who experienced pain and injustice to nourish their own agendas. They are horrible people, but why is it that way? Is it the fault of the companies- who ignore all ethics to make the next big hit, is it the fault of the system, who puts writers against each other, is it the fault of the audience, who will eat whatever drama is dished out in front of them? Or does the fault lie within themselves? Everybody is chasing relevance, but nobody should ever stoop that low. Seems like a very hypocritical concept to me. I guess canonically we are not supposed to justify the actions of the characters, but to me I feel that it is more complicated than morally right or morally wrong. How can you blame the ghost for existing when you are the one who killed the person it once was?
Would I say there was any character development? No. However I still loooooved this book. The writing style is engaging- I have described it to many of my friends as reading a really long twitter thread, which, ironically, is what RF Kuang is criticising. The pacing is fast and condensed, it really is a gigantic shit storm and i'm all for it.Â
The external plots of this book is used to facilitate the exploration of June's train of thoughts: going into the book, June is plainly unlikeable- greedy, jealous, and a racist thief. At the end of the book, she is still just that, but we now know why she is the way she is. June is vengeful, she makes wrong decisions again and again after squashing any bit of guilt she feels because she is addicted to the validation and fame, she is addicted to feeling better than Athena. She has to be. And when she finally got to the top, she is brought back down to rock bottom by Candice- and the oh so bitter cycle will continue. It will continue and the audience will love it.Â
Very entertaining, very fucked up and so relevant to today's time. We love a delusional villain with a victim complex !
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism and Rape
Minor: War
kitfkat'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
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexism, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, Rape, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Racial slurs, and War
norwegianforestreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Body horror, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and War
butlerebecca's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
daisy2050's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Rape, Genocide, Grief, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: War
bookswithlauren's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Medical content, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
torismazarine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Xenophobia, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol and Vomit
Minor: Murder and War
swalk'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
4.25
Written as the internal monologue of June Hayward, it’s easy to see her thoughts at the beginning through as sympathetic lens, however as the book builds it is clear that June is a complete narcissist who has been hiding more and more of her outrageous opinions as it progresses. The story is at once hugely awkward and cringeworthy, but wholly compelling. The creeping nature of June’s actions escalate, as she lives an entirely insular existence and convinces herself that this behaviour is entirely normal and even warranted; it soon becomes apparent that June is unravelling mentally.
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This is an immersive first person narrative which is entertaining, shocking and funny, but also leads to a lot of self reflection. Why do we sympathise with the protagonist at times and where are the lines drawn?
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Minor: War