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
becca_w_'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
4.25
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Cursing, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use, Hate crime, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol and Blood
naturally'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
for the most part, kuang really nailed the satirical aspect of this novel, so much so that i couldn't help but chuckle. especially, the portrayal of book twitter.
i felt that the analysis of class was lacking though. june's obsession with and hatred of athena could have been made more nuanced by differences in socio economic backgrounds. however, i respect that perhaps that isn't the story kuang wanted to tell.
i've noticed other reviewers calling out the fact that the last front, the historical novel june stole from athena, wouldn't typically be selected for book boxes. whilst i agree, i interpreted this fictional marketing choice as kuang criticising how the publishing industry chooses to promote books about people of color's oppression, wherein stories about human atrocities are packaged as fun, foreign cute, little experiences for white readers to dabble in. real example: the barbed wire decorations at the american dirt party.
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Violence and Sexual assault
Minor: Misogyny
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
clovetra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, and Stalking
Minor: Alcohol
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
luxxltyd'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
2.5
Graphic: Death, Racism, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Violence and Rape
gritsgritsgrits'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
3.5
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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
auudrey'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
3.75
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide