Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
Have you ever read a book that is so timely and effective in its message that you do not feel the slightest bit qualified to review it? That your thoughts on such a masterpiece are not even worthy of being put to paper, literally or figuratively, because they are trite, vapid, and banal in comparison to the quality of the text being discussed? That’s how I feel trying to put the proverbial pen to paper with my thoughts on Yellowface.
On my radar: Rebecca F Kuang’s cultural highlights
The appropriation of history, the historicization of the past, the narrativization of society, all of which give the novel its force, include the accumulation and differentiation of social space, space to be used for social purposes.’ BABEL Yeah, it's not one of those 'if you like this you'll like that' situations. This book is different in every aspect, if I hadn't known I wouldn't think it was written by the same person. BUT IT'S EQUALLY AS BRILLIANT. Doesn't that really picture the talent and originality of this writer? There are books with characters that have issues, and issue books that have characters. This is the former, so it totally worked for me.i’ve decided not to include any quotes from the book and talk in general terms with minor details to avoid spoilers (not anything that’s not in the premise, anyway), but i’m still talking about how i felt about different parts of the book, including the middle and end, even though I won’t be talking about what happens in them. so if you want to go in blind, beware. i know this runs the risk of me describing something one way, but then you going and reading it and interpreting a different way, but until it actually comes out and i can drop the ‘extended’ (and hopefully more sophisticated) review, this will have to do. with some personal favourites like ‘the plot,’ ‘a ladder to the sky,’ and ‘kill all your darlings,’ im no stranger to a plot about plagiarism. but what makes this book stand out from the others is its hard hitting commentary about the publishing world.
Yellowface, A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick by Rebecca Yellowface, A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick by Rebecca
Recommended Reads about Race, Racism, and Demarginalizing History - Necessary Non-fiction You Should Read for Life-changing Insights and Impact I also think this book does open up important conversations. Yes, at times it makes its point bluntly/crudely and in an obvious way, though through this satire Kuang raises deeper questions too, such as whether anyone can remain truly ethical or generous in a brutally capitalist publishing industry. I liked how Kuang didn’t make Athena a perfect character because by doing so, she highlights how people of color can engage in problematic and oppressive practices too. But, overall, this is absolutely worth your time. Please read this. It is a shining gem in the 2023 literary world. Overall, this was an average book, definitely not the riveting book, have to read in one sitting book that the world has lost its mind over.
Will you enjoy a single character? Categorically NO. But you will walk away with a greater understanding of the many failings of the publishing industry and how you might be unconsciously taking part in some of those failings. Writers June Hayward and Athena Liu met in their freshman year at Yale, and became kind-of friends because they were “always in the same place, doing the same things - so it was convenient to be friendly”. On graduating, their literary careers took vastly different trajectories, with Athena now in the enviable position of having “everything… At twenty-seven, she’s published three novels, each one a successively bigger hit. For Athena, the Netflix deal was not a life-changing event, just another feather in her cap”. She’s using the pen name Juniper Song to pretend to be Chinese American. She’s taken new author photos to look more tan and ethnic, but she’s as white as they come. June Hayward, you are a thief and a liar. You’ve stolen my legacy, and now you spit on my grave.”
Yellowface – HarperCollins Publishers UK
June was unhinged. The kind of unhinged that believes her own lies and thinks she is morally in the right. Girl took delulu to another level. A lot of you love The Poppy War. I like CC's take on why she doesn't. I've tried that series twice. I found it rather mediocre both times. This book truly blew my mind. I was unable to put it down, yet also needed to take breaks due to the chaotic and anxiety-inducing experience of living within Juniper's mind. The character evokes strong emotions, including frustration towards her misogyny, blind ambition, and obnoxious justifications for her actions. It all boils down to self-interest…If publishing is rigged, you might as well make sure it's rigged in your favor.’ Yellowface is about June Heyward who steals a manuscript from her best-selling author frenemy. After her friend dies in a bizarre accident, June polishes up the prose and sells the book as her own without crediting her friend.She explored every possible aspect or every question you might have, every side you could possibly take on this subject, doesn't leave much room for the reviewer, but I'm not complaining (I like my thoughts planted) I like to do my homework with films, especially Christopher Nolan’s films, as they so reward doing your homework. I read all the material that inspired Dunkirk before I saw it in 2017, and this time I had to read the Pulitzer prize-winning biography that inspired Oppenheimer. (My fiance and I also sat down to watch Tenet for the fourth time with graph paper and multicoloured pens so we could map out the various timelines, and I regret to admit that this was extremely fun.) American Prometheus adds rich context to many of the chance encounters, interpersonal relationships and courtroom drama scenes in Oppenheimer. 2. Fiction
Great Deal 
New Comment