A few weeks ago, I was approved to read Yellowface by R.F Kuang on NetGalley. I was excited to get started due to the amount of hype surrounding Kuang's work and this books release, however, I actually started to feel a bit intimated and kept putting it off.
"Athena Liu is a literary darling and June Hayward is literally nobody. When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the ambiguous name Juniper Song."
I finally started Yellowface just a few days ago and I was hooked from the very first chapter. It's unlike anything I'd read before. It's a satirical thriller that explores the darker side of the publishing world.
The narrator, June, is delusional, increasingly unhinged and fundamentally racist. The way her mind works is fascinating. The way she can spin the narrative to place herself as the victim to justify her actions is almost an artform. June makes for one of the most dislikable and fascinating characters I've ever encountered....
...however, at times, she almost seems relatable. Did I just feel sorry for her? Am I problematic? Does reverse racism exist? Is cancel culture necessary to show support and defend marginalised people or is it performative, toxic and actually quite damaging to the original narrative?
Yellowface deals with some undoubtedly heavy, thought-provoking and dark themes, but it's surprisingly accessible. It's obviously littered with micro-aggressions and displays of white privilege that can make for an uncomfortable read. The dialogue is unbelievably sharp and witty. Yellowface is an immersive and entertaining read that will leave your head spinning.
Have you read any books recently that were out of your comfort zone? What was the last book that you read that was definitely worth the hype?
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