[Subdue] Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, Love it, Hate it

[NancyJ]

This is going to be a terrible review because I'm really not sure what I think about this book. I love it and I hate it. My stomach feels like I just read a horror novel and I hate that feeling. The main character is pretty awful, but every time she was about to be caught, I worried for her - as we usually do for the protagonist - and then I felt guilty and complicit. Which of course as a white person I probably am.

The book is very smart and meta. the social commentary is both brilliant and cringeworthy. I loved all the publishing details, and the movie proposal made me laugh out loud. The social media quotes reminded me of why I left Twitter. The book also feels creepily self indulgent. The author manages to dramatically flatter and insult the character that she based on herself. It makes me wonder how many of the social media quotes were direct quotes of things that were actually said about her and her previous novels. It felt deeply revealing and defensive. I remember an author once described his work as leaving blood on the page. This felt like that.

Sorry I know most of this will only make sense to people who read the book, or maybe to no one at all. I hope I'm a little more coherent in my book club meeting tomorrow.

[Peacejanz]

Thanks - One of my book groups is doing this in a couple of months - I thought everyone had already read it except me. I appreciate your comments. I will read it - funny, some of us are eager for book group discussions to figure out what the book is about. or why it is important. Thanks for the review. peace, janz

[Joy D]

I understand. I had similar mixed feelings when I finished it. After thinking about it, I ended up on the more positive side even though the main character was a piece of work. I expected it to end up as a proverbial train wreck, but somehow, I was still fully engrossed in the story.

ETA - Please let me know how your discussion turns out.

[Sue]

I didn't enjoy this one. I looked back at my review which I started with "I wanted to like this book".

I found all the references to social media to be an interesting peek into how it might feel to have your work reviewed so publicly, which is unavoidable as an author.

She called out the main character's hurt feelings over reviews on Goodreads specifically. I honestly gave a little rating inflation (3 stars instead of 2) just thinking about not wanting to hurt the author's feelings.

[NancyJ]

Thanks everyone for commenting. I'll probably settle on 4 stars, because it was riveting and impactful. I didn't love it, but I'm sure a lot of what she said about the publishing industry will stick with me. (view spoiler)[I already knew that controversy sells, but the examples were really smart, and drove the point home in different and memorable ways. (hide spoiler)]

I sure won't want to eat pancakes anytime soon, but that's OK, they're not good for me.

Sue, that part made me feel glad that I'm not an author. It felt really uncomfortable to read all those comments. I couldn't handle it.

[Meli]

Wow, surprisingly your review makes me want to read it EVEN MORE!! Sounds kinda juicy, if in fact this is insightful into the author and some of her experiences as an Asian writer.

Great review!

@Sue - sometimes I think about the author seeing my review and it makes it impossible to be too critical.

Like @NancyJ said, I also could not write a book because I would be broken by negative comments. Too sensitive. And like most online criticism of, well, anything it can get real personal real quick.

[NancyJ]

Peacejanz wrote: "Thanks - One of my book groups is doing this in a couple of months - I thought everyone had already read it except me. I appreciate your comments. I will read it - funny, some of us are eager for b..."

I know, sometimes I really don't know what I *think* about a book until I start writing and talking about the book with other people. My initial ratings are often based on my emotional reaction. If it wasn't for reviews and bookclubs, I might stop there. lol I guess that was fine when I was reading as a "break" from thinking/working. Now I seem to demand more from books, and maybe more from myself.

[Peacejanz]

Good for you - that is the point of book clubs and discussion here - to make us think in different ways. I always told my students to think deeper - go down into that question and think different ways. One of my students later became a newspaper reporter and wrote about me - how I always pushed students to think in different ways. It's called learning. If we would think more before we jump into an argument or fight or war - we would be better people and have a better world. Sincerely, pollyanna

[Hannah]

NancyJ wrote: "This is going to be a terrible review because I'm really not sure what I think about this book. I love it and I hate it. My stomach feels like I just read a horror novel and I hate that feeling. Th..."

What you've written about not knowing whether to love or hate this book, together with the social commentary, is what made me really love it. I'm sure you will have an interesting discussion about it with your book group.