Yellowface

"Now that I've read a second book by her (the first being Babel) I will officially call myself a fan of R. F. Kuang. The MC, June, is extremely unlikeable and if you've read the blurb you know that's completely intentional. What's so brilliant about it is how plausible her character is. From her opinions to actions to self-presentation, I can see June in different people I've met in my life (unfortunately). And the plot is built so well, it's an actual rollercoaster. 10/10 would recommend "

"5 ⭐️ Rf Kuang DID. THAT!"

"What a journey Kuang takes the reader on. Kuang is able to manipulate the reader's emotions and make them empathize with a protagonist that is so in the wrong and keeps making horrible decisions. The other layers add depth. Culture/history appropriation, who has the right to write about marginalized history, and then there are the machinations of the publishing industry laid bare. The thriller conclusion is a bit lacking for me maybe because I assumed who it was early on. The book's conclusion may disappoint some but this is still quite a ride of a read. "

"My unedited, rambling (but non-spoilery) notes that I kept having to pause to write down while having so much fun listening to this book:<br/><br/>I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook. The narrator captures RF Kuang’s characterization so perfectly. When the MC so nonchalantly and obliviously says some racist **** like “maybe that’s how all middle aged Asian women look.”—the narrator keeping her tone perfectly even, unconcerned, and casual kept catching me off guard, making me simultaneously laugh and cringe. The characterization is just SO spot on.<br/><br/>Ohmygoodness and how white people so skillfully practice twisting things to fit their narrative of themselves and cast themselves as the victims at every turn. OMG nobody needs me chiming in to say this book is spectacularly well written, but I can’t help myself but gush because WOW I enjoyed the accuracy of this portrayal so damn much.<br/><br/>This book is an excellent depiction of how oftentimes people of color understand white people so much better than white people ever will. I wonder how many white women either read this and just feel so called out and triggered by seeing themselves in the character or feel far superior to the MC simply because they don’t realize they’re just like her.<br/><br/>This honestly could serve as like a historical account of exactly how this kind of scenario would go down and is going down in real life in this era. How the MCs terrible actions not only don’t harm her career, but actually improve it because alt right and white folks want to champion any white person being attacked for racist behavior or sexual harassment.<br/><br/>Even when the MC knows and admits in large part how abhorrent her behavior is, she still in the next breath says how everything happening is reverse racism because she’s white. Lol it’s so accurate!!!<br/><br/>I just kept going OH MY GOD even though I’ve known and interacted with so many white people like the MC, I just can’t help GASPING at the continued AUDACITY.<br/><br/>And how she sees no irony in thinking that cis het white men can get away with almost anything. Of course since white men can get away with anything and marginalized, diverse folks have their own brand of “privilege” as she describes it, that leaves white women as the last standing victims of oppression in every scenario."

"Sooooo good! You dont really get a lot of books that are modern day humor, and this book did so well with it. I can say that June INFURIATED me though"

"I listened to this book. The first half was really hard and I wasn’t sure I’d finish. The second half was better in general. The plot did not appeal to me, but do need to give credit for excellent writing vocabulary."

"Juniper Song Hayward is THE inspo for my delusional girl summer."

"Masterful example of the unreliable narrator. June’s endless attempts to justify her literary fraud are at first laughable but gradually chilling as she appropriates a culture she does not fully understand. Her increasingly desperate self deceptions and victim complex (the REAL victims of racism are white “Karens” ) evoke a blend of pity and frustration. A razor sharp evisceration of the hypocrisies of the publishing industry.<br/>"

"Devoured this in one sitting."

"This is a book that needs to be discussed because it touches on so many subjects and presents so many view points to those subjects, all while being highly engrossing."