A review by peach_haze
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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
This book was simply put, a phenomenal, racial satire.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Racial slurs, Violence, War, Rape, Alcohol, and Death