Yellowface

by R. F. Kuang

I have mixed feelings about this novel. On the one hand, I find it fascinating because it is about the publishing industry, and my first book will be published next year. It’s about cultural appropriation, and the terrifying muscle of social media—two other topics that interest me. But if you’re not into those things, I’m not sure how absorbing you’ll find it. Some of the writing is skilled, especially the way Kuang puts us into the head, and (often distorted) logic, of the protagonist. In fact, the whole book is clever, and the plot builds and twists itself into a thrilling melodrama, but I never felt immersed. For me, this novel is a left-brain experience—fun but not ultimately satisfying.