(Before I start my extended review of 'Yellowface', I wanted to say that there are so many themes and wider comments in this book that I haven't been able to mention them all; I have chosen to focus instead on the aspects of the narrative which resonated the most with me, or that I felt would fit best for this review. This post is not a complete analysis of 'Yellowface', just my thoughts on it!)
After falling in love with 'Babel' last year, I couldn't wait to dive into Rebecca F. Kuang's latest novel, the acclaimed satire 'Yellowface.' The narrative follows June Hayward, a literary nobody living in the shadow of literary star Athena Liu. A freak accident leads to Athena's death, and rival June uses the opportunity to steal Liu's unpublished manuscript and pass it off as her own under the name 'Juniper Song'. But evidence surfaces which threatens June's newfound success, as she discovers just how far she's willing to take things in order to stay at the top.
The unflinching discussion of the themes in this book felt just as haunting as Athena's ghost; I felt reflective, uncomfortable and angry throughout the novel. The way that Kuang played on horror tropes to explore the intersection of publishing and white privilege made for a visceral read- it felt like a call-to-arms against systemic oppression using the power of words, a message that I hope the publishing industry will actively listen to in order to fuel positive future change. The central debates around racism and why authentic storytelling matters were so powerful. Although I can't relate to the issues of racism discussed, as an autistic and queer young woman, being part of (an) under-represented group(s) who are consciously disempowered by others instead of having their voices amplified was an experience which really resonated with me.
I loved the feminist elements of the narrative too, especially surrounding the fear of anonymity and women's internalised misogyny when it comes to other successful women. I think this presentation of misogyny isn't given as much weight as the male hate directed at women- it felt really important that many of Athena's most ardent opposers were actually female, as I think that divides within oppressed groups can sometimes serve to further wider societal discrimination, a point that I was so glad Kuang acknowledged. I liked that Kuang also discussed the tendencies of the creative industries to pick one 'diverse' voice as a tokenistic gesture at 'inclusivity', yet the lived experiences of under-represented groups are so varied that only amplifying one voice will never lead to true inclusion, as only one story is being told, a point which I feel is often brushed under the carpet when it comes to creating truly inclusive spaces.
This book epitomised the human yearning of wanting to matter, and how through writing, we can gain validation; it sometimes feels difficult to explain to others outside of the writing world why authors/aspiring writers place so much value and emphasis on their craft as a core part of their identity, so I felt really happy seeing this explanation on the page!
The seemingly recent and 'fashionable' societal 'acceptance' of diversity was so interesting to read about. It felt like a much needed privilege check, as well as a warning about the dangers of tokenism and 'otherness' as a tick-box trend. It really got me thinking about where I have seen this in publishing (and in the wider world), and whether that would change how I felt about certain bestsellers with arbitrary and tokenistic contexts in mind.
Aside from the themes, June's 1st person voice as a central protagonist and unreliable narrator was one of the reasons this book worked so well for me. The lies she told herself and the reader were believable because they were so unbelievable; it felt like the words of the white population were being reflected back at the reader, making the overall messages of the book feel even stronger, which was such a poignant writing choice.
The style of writing retained the profound literary-fiction feel that I loved so much in 'Babel', yet the modern narrator gave it a darkly humourous levity that made the book a real page-turner.
The twists were surprising without trying to be too clever, for me they came at just the right points in the plot. Without giving anything away, on reading the final revelation in the book, I was unsure at first about whether or not it felt like an anti-climax, but on reflection, it felt very right in a way that encapsulated all of the novel's themes; it definitely didn't make me like the book any less.
I also loved the insights into Athena's writing process, which felt authentic and annoyingly admirable! The supernatural elements and the links to Chinese folklore added to the power of the book's themes and the complex relationship between the protagonists; this element probably wouldn't be for everyone, but personally, I thought that it actually made the narrative feel even more real, I think Kuang got the balance just right.
One of my favourite parts to read links back to my earlier comment about writing as part of identity. I loved June's childhood reminiscence about books as escapism, and writing to create her own safe havens which eventually made it her livelihood. It reminded me of why I fell in love with books and writing in the first place; it was so magical to read what felt like my own feelings in the pages of an actual book! The insights into the publishing process were also really exciting, it felt like such a bookish book, especially for me as a budding writer.
My only criticisms about 'Yellowface' would be that the psychological elements were so strongly detailed and evoked that the reading experience felt at times quite stressful, although I recognise that this was partly the point.
There was one aspect of the plot that I still feel unsure about, regarding Athena's theft from June at college. Although I can't speak from experience, and despite feeling that what was discussed was done well, it almost felt like this particular storyline had been added in purely as a plot point, and that there perhaps wasn't enough space within the narrative to explore it with the detail and time that it deserved.
Overall, reading 'Yellowface' felt like my eyes had been opened to a whole side of publishing that I had shamefully never fully considered before, a message which I will take forward with me. As well as being one of the most powerful narratives I think I have ever read, 'Yellowface' was a stunningly crafted thriller, with protagonists which I loved to hate, and a plot which evoked so many emotions. This book is hard to sum up in just a few sentences, it defies genre and explanation because of just how amazing it is! I couldn't stop thinking about 'Yellowface' even when I wasn't reading it, and it deserves every bit of praise that it has got. If you haven't already read it, 'Yellowface' will change the way you look at publishing, racism and success, whilst reminding you of all the things there are to love about writing. I can't recommend it enough!
If you want to read my thoughts on R.F. Kuang's 'Babel', you can do so here!
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