Hold onto your reading glasses, because R.F. Kuang's latest mind-bender, 'Yellowface,' flips the script on unreliable narrators in a page-turner that'll leave you amazed! The book is a rollercoaster of literary drama that'll have you questioning everything you thought you knew.
In this electrifying tale, a mysterious narrator beckons us into a maze of deception. The game is on, and you're invited. The book seems to whispers, "Keep your eyes peeled," hinting that hidden beneath the clever prose lies a dark truth begging to be exposed. But wait—Kuang's 'Yellowface' is about to knock your socks off with an ingenious twist.
Say hello to June Hayward, a late-twenties wordsmith trying to claw her way back from a literary fiasco. And then there's Athena Liu—captivating, charismatic, Asian American—and practically born with a golden quill.
She's got the fame, the fortune, and all the awards to match. These two are thicker than thieves, but hold onto your bookmarks because their friendship soon takes a wild turn.
Kuang's rollercoaster opens with a toast to Athena's TV triumph, leaving June scratching her head. You won't believe the depths that her thoughts take—imagining herself as Athena, with a twisted desire to peel off her friend's face like an orange rind.
As you dive deeper into the book, there is a feeling that fate's throwing a curveball! Athena meets her end in a shocking accident, and June swipes a secret manuscript.
Imagine a historical epic unveiling the hidden tales of the Chinese Corps in World War I. It's all there—love, labour, and layers of history. June grabs that script and spins a web of deception to make it her own. With a cunning hand, she molds it into her vision, smoothing out the wrinkles that could send a white audience running for cover.
Narrated with the speed of a runaway train, June's voice pulls you in like a guilty pleasure. Think of it as "The Hunger Games" on literary steroids, with a dash of reality TV drama. It's like joining her personal text convo, complete with emotional twists, sympathy ploys, and moments of pure madness
A literary showdown
But as the plot thickens, so does the drama! June's double-dealing takes centrestage, and suddenly she's juggling backlash from cultural appropriation critics and trying to keep her thievery under wraps. The stakes are higher than a towering TBR pile, and 'Yellowface' delivers a literary showdown like no other.
Kuang's 'Yellowface' isn't just a read—it's a wild ride. This is Kuang's break from the fantasy realm, and she's hitting us hard with a satirical thriller that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. The book will make you laugh, squirm, and maybe even second-guess the last work you read.
Narrated with the speed of a runaway train, June's voice pulls you in like a guilty pleasure. Think of it as "The Hunger Games" on literary steroids, with a dash of reality TV drama. It's like joining her personal text convo, complete with emotional twists, sympathy ploys, and moments of pure madness.
'Yellowface' is a deliciously addictive read, filled with laugh-out-loud moments that'll leave you questioning the creative world we thought we knew.
Did Juniper really pull off the ultimate literary heist, or has she expertly spun us into her web of deceit? Dive into this sizzling satire and hold on tight—it's a ride you won't forget!
Ahmad Nazir is a UAE based freelance writer
