Yellowface by R F Kuang - BOTM Mar-Apr 2024

[Ahtims]

Dear friends,
Let us start reading this much anticipated (atleast by me) book.

It is the GR choice award winner for Fiction category for last year.

Blurb:
Athena Liu is a literary darling and June Hayward is literally nobody.

White lies
When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the ambiguous name Juniper Song.

Dark humour
But as evidence threatens June’s stolen success, she will discover exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

Deadly consequences…
What happens next is entirely everyone else’s fault.

With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.

[Ahtims]

I was waiting for the price to reduce, and finally got it for INR 250 from a whatsapp book sale, a month ago, and was keenly awaiting an apt opportunity to start.
Have always toyed with an alternative profession involving books, and am very interested when a fictional character also is involved with books.
So am eager to see what exactly happens here in this tale of jealousy and treachery, and what emotions are at play.

[Tarinee]

Will be joining for this one ..🙃 its been so long since I have read a book while also reading others perspective/take on the same ..used to make the experience more enjoyable

[Ahtims]

Great that you will be joining in, Tarinee. I will be starting from Sunday.

[Savita]

Planning to join this group read soon . The blurb is interesting. I wonder if the book is set in China or the US?

[Ahtims]

Welcome, Savita. I feel its the US, though its just a hunch. Will have to read and find out

[Savita]

Thanks , Ahtims ! I haven't read much of Chinese literature so I am excited to try out something new and contemporary.

[Shoa, @TheCupboardUnderTheStairs]

Will try to join in April!

[Ahtims]

Shoa, please do.

I started. It is set in NewYork and is going great, so far.
all about newbie struggle in publishing world, with Fortune favoring a few.
Seems like I am really there

[Savita]

Shoa wrote: "Will try to join in April!"

Since I am quite a slow reader, most probably I'll still be reading the book when you join , Shoa .

[Savita]

Ahtims wrote: "Shoa, please do.

I started. It is set in NewYork and is going great, so far.
all about newbie struggle in publishing world, with Fortune favoring a few.
Seems like I am really there"


I 'll be starting today hopefully.

[Ahtims]

In chapter 4
page 44

till now the questions I am pondering upon are

1. will I do what June did , if I were in her shoes?
2. June justifies herself, can we as impartial readers justify her actions
3. June and her editor cut dowm many parts of original manuscript . What about it?
the actual manuscript is made more palatable to avoid racial prejudices and to suit the palates of all classes of readers.
is what being done correct?

[Ahtims]

into chapter 7

I always wonder about the title of a book, why that particular title, what is the signficance ?

so far, I am unable to guess.

isnt yellowface another name for Chinese , in a derogatory manner?
or is it for jealousy? though I know it referred to as green eyed

[~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~]

Joining this discussion because I recently read the book and would love to hear all of your thoughts. :)

[~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~]

Ahtims wrote: "In chapter 4
page 44

till now the questions I am pondering upon are

1. will I do what June did , if I were in her shoes?
2. June justifies herself, can we as impartial readers justify her actions..."

1. I might have, but probably given equal credit to the original writer too.
2. June's feelings towards Athena are actually justifiable to a great extent. It unfolds more as the book progresses. I don't know if I would justify the direct plagiarism though.
3. When you write a historical fiction based on a particular ethnicity or a country, there are bound to be discrepancies. Especially if you are someone writing from a 3rd person's POV and haven't lived through that history, you'll probably take caution so as to not cause major disagreement with those who have actually lived through it. So I kind of understand their actions.
If Athena would have published this, she would have been more straightforward and brave, without much editing, because she probably lived through it or her ancestors did.

[~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~]

Another thing about June and Athena's relationship was (view spoiler)[ that June always thought that Athena never faced any problem in the publishing world, because she had a knack for it. Stardom came to her naturally. But if we think about it practically, for someone who was as successful as Athena was, there were bound to be haters and contradicting opinions as much as her fans and supporters.
June, however, mostly overlooked that. She exhibits this selective behaviour of only focussing on Athena's success to justify her actions, time and again.
(Something that we all would have done too, possibly)

It also may be because Athena always shared the good parts of her success stories and never the hurdles. Easy to overlook, for someone like June who has had a rocky career in comparison. (hide spoiler)]

Putting this in spoiler tags for those who haven't started the book or are at the very early half. Not really very spoilery though. :P

[Ahtims]

@Polo, at page 90- am goimg to give preference to this book over my other current reads.

what you say may be true
Most of us see the success of a person snd dont think much of the hard work that goes behind

[Savita]

Started the book yesterday but , as yet , only a few pages into chapter 1 . I am liking the author's writing style very much .... it's simple and holds the reader 's interest . Hope the story develops nicely further on .

@ Ahtims : yes ,I suppose yellow face could be a reference to the Chinese origin of an important character . The story is set in the US . Are either / both Athena and June from China ?
Or , as you've suggested, yellow face has the same significance as green eyes .

@ Poulomi : Although I have read only a few pages , I still opened your spoiler . I fully agree that it's easy see and envy a person's dazzling stardom . What should not be forgotten is the immense labor and the inevitable ( sometimes horribly discouraging) hurdles that the artist has to go through . Envy should , if possible , be replaced by constructive inspiration . To plagiarize an author 's work is quite a shameful deed , I think . I am not sure it should be too easily condoned . I hope I am not being too judgemental ?

[~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~]

Ahtims wrote: "@Polo, at page 90- am goimg to give preference to this book over my other current reads.

what you say may be true
Most of us see the success of a person snd dont think much of the hard work that g..."

Yeah precisely what I meant. No one's journey is a bed of roses, but after someone's recurrent success, the thorns are easy to overlook.

This book is definitely engaging. You'll finish it soon :D

[~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~]

Savita wrote: "Started the book yesterday but , as yet , only a few pages into chapter 1 . I am liking the author's writing style very much .... it's simple and holds the reader 's interest . Hope the story devel..."

No, no you aren't. What June did is definitely not right.
Even though I don't dislike her for feeling the way she did, I do not approve of her actions.

[Ahtims]

Savita, yes
plagiarism cannot be justified.
i feel she should have acknowledged Athena as originator of the story and herself as completer.
but then, she has given justification as to why she didnt do so, though it still doesnt exonerate what she did.

[Savita]

~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~ wrote: "Savita wrote: "Started the book yesterday but , as yet , only a few pages into chapter 1 . I am liking the author's writing style very much .... it's simple and holds the reader 's interest . Hope ..."

Your flexibility of judgment and willingness to at least consider June's point of view does have a point , Poulo . We cannot get too judgemental in life because most of us are not perfect ourselves. When we point one finger at someone else , three fingers do point right back to our own selves . On the subject of judgment and forgiveness, R . Emerson said something nice : Treat a man as he is , and he remains as he is . Treat a man as he could be, and he will become what he should be . .
Interested in seeing how I feel about June's actions as the story unfurls , and what the author feels . Also , does retribution come to June eventually ?

[Savita]

Ahtims wrote: "Savita, yes
plagiarism cannot be justified.
i feel she should have acknowledged Athena as originator of the story and herself as completer.
but then, she has given justification as to why she didnt..."

Yes , that would definitely have been the right thing to do - acknowledged Athena as the originator of the story and herself as the completer . I am still to read her justification.

[Ahtims]

Chapter 8 - many interesting things unfold

[Ahtims]

in Chapter 11
shocking revelations about Isaac Asimov and David Foster Wallace!
i am googling to find more.

[Savita]

Progressing in chapter 1 . Not feeling much inclined towards June but will comment after I finish chapter 1 . I am a little taken aback by the vehemence of her ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ ill feelings towards Athena . (hide spoiler)] ☆☆
June's surname is Hayward , so is she an American ? I don't think Hayward belongs to China . Athena is Chinese. Her middle name is Ling ...sounds Chinese .

[Ahtims]

June is white American.

[Savita]

Ahtims wrote: "June is white American."

Hmm .... I see . So if yellow face implies someone from China , it's not June . It could mean Athena.

[Ahtims]

Its more than that. By chapter 10, it is discussed ..

[Anulekha]

I am planning to join by March end.

[~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~]

@Ahtims and @Savita : How are you liking the twitter references and the social media response towards June?

It's so in sync with the kind of cancel culture brewing these days on social media. It can inevitably make or break a person and their career.

[Ahtims]

@Polo, I was thinking the same. The current environment is an intolerent one..
everything is distorted and words are just blown out of proportion.

It also reminded me of the previous Robert Galbraith book. ( not the most recent, the penultimate one)

[Savita]

Ahtims wrote: "Its more than that. By chapter 10, it is discussed .."

Hmm ... I see .

[Savita]

Anulekha wrote: "I am planning to join by March end."

Oh great !

[Savita]

~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~ wrote: "@Ahtims and @Savita : How are you liking the twitter references and the social media response towards June?

It's so in sync with the kind of cancel culture brewing these days on social media. It c..."


@ Poulo : still too early for me to comment .... I am only halfway through chapter 1 .

[Ahtims]

I am more than half way through and liking the small nuggets of gossip about real authors.

I am also wondering about the journey of R F Kuang as an author. As soon as I get some time I will look into her/his journey as an author.

I havent yet read her other books.

[~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~]

Ahtims wrote: "@Polo, I was thinking the same. The current environment is an intolerent one..
everything is distorted and words are just blown out of proportion.

It also reminded me of the previous Robert Galbra..."

Yeah true. It's such a mad world out there.
I keep thinking if the social media response would have been the same, had Athena released the book. But anyone can be the victim of social media cancel culture, especially those who are successful or famous.

Been a while since I read Galbraith! Will check the book you're referring to rightaway.

[~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~]

@Savita : Oh is it? I didn't know, sorry.. :')
Would love to hear you thoughts once you reach there!

[Savita]

~~Poulomi Sylphrena Tonk$~~ wrote: "@Savita : Oh is it? I didn't know, sorry.. :')
Would love to hear you thoughts once you reach there!"

Well , Poulo , my reading pace is slooow 😝 ! Especially if I am enjoying the story ( like am this one .... I am delighted to have come to know a good contemporary author ) I don't hurry my pace .... but rather savour the story as I go . Ahtims is a fast reader , so I can't hope to catch up with her anytime soon . But many of her remarks are not spoilers , so I can read them as well and get a good idea of what is coming .

[Ahtims]

@Savita, read on. Am enjoying this book. Glad to know you are liking too
Wish the mobile app had spoiler options. Thank God I havent given away spoilers for you and other readers. In future , I will be extra careful

[Savita]

Ahtims wrote: "@Savita, read on. Am enjoying this book. Glad to know you are liking too
Wish the mobile app had spoiler options. Thank God I havent given away spoilers for you and other readers. In future , I wil..."

Ahtims , none of your comments have any spoilers , so nothing to worry 😊 . Your comments are general. But , even if the mobile app does not have the spoilers option , and you wish to put in a spoiler comment , you could precede the comment by ' ☆☆Beware Spoilers ' , and follow the comment by ☆☆ to show where the spoiler has ended .

[Ahtims]

yes .. good idea. will.do that :)

[Tarinee]

Finished the first chapter … feels like a fast read ..the relationship between the two friends (don’t know what to call it otherwise ) was so believable and contemporary … the end of the chapter was so sudden …have an off day today ..so, will try to pace into the story … am craving for an easy good read .. last book was kind of meh after two great reads ..

Very excited after going through all the above discussions.:)

[Ahtims]

welcome, Tarinee
More, the merrier.

[Ahtims]

Finished the book.
will discuss the specific details once Savita and rest finish .
Two things that come to my mind now are :
the various plays on the title, yellow face
the obswssion June had towards Athena

[Ahtims]

As we discuss this book here, I see that Jay Shetty of "Think like a monk" is under some controversy and his books are selling like hot cakes ;)

[Savita]

Ahtims wrote: "Finished the book.
will discuss the specific details once Savita and rest finish .
Two things that come to my mind now are :
the various plays on the title, yellow face
the obswssion June had towar..."

Wow , you've finished the book already! You've given it 4 stars , so it must be a nice read .
I have finished chapter 1 and into chapter 2 . My reading will go faster now because I have finished A .Chekhov 's short story that I had been reading alongside . While the other book , Les Misérables , is a year long read , so I will be giving preference to Yellow face.
In chapter 1 , I am quite taken aback by the vehemence with which June hates ☆☆Beware Spoilers (view spoiler)[ Athena ! She does concede that Athena writes well . but she attributes all the dazzle and stardom to Athena 's gorgeous personality , to the fact that she is ' cool ' . She's burning with jealously , hatred and resentment! June is no well wisher . Her jealously almost seems pathological to me . Should Athena have allowed June to come so close ? It's said , If you can't find an equal , it is better to go it alone . And , Nitya Prakash says , Being with no one is better than being than being with the wrong one . .
I read a crime novel long ago where the protagonist ( story was written in the first person ) had a mental aberration and was actually committing the crimes himself ( ? Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde ) !! Has June recorded the events leading to Athena 's death correctly ? Is June innocent? (hide spoiler)] ☆☆

[Ahtims]

Read on..


SPOILER ALERT


I found Athena's death very opportunistic...

But then,

One can never say..

[Savita]

Ahtims wrote: "Read on..


SPOILER ALERT


I found Athena's death very opportunistic...

But then,

One can never say.."

Hmm .... your spoiler doesn't reveal much . I will have to read on 😀 .

[Ahtims]

he he.. I will put the real spoilers when I am on laptop.