Editor Annelies recommends Yellowface by RF Kuang

Yes, it’s time for a new FlairBookClub . Every month an editor recommends one of her must-reads. One of those books that you just can’t put down. Editor and diehard Bookworm Annelies (27) recommends ‘Yellowface’ by Rebecca F Kuang: ‘I want to read everything by this author now’.

What is ‘Yellowface’ about?
Athena Liu is an Asian woman with a lot of bestsellers and June Hayward is a white woman with a failed debut novel. When June accidentally witnesses Athena’s death, she realizes that this is her chance to become famous. Because what if she steals her friend’s just-completed manuscript, publishes it under her own name and also adopts a new, racially ambiguous identity? The lies pile up and a social media scandal threatens to expose June. How far will she go to protect her stolen success?

Favorite quote?

This is one of the strongest quotes in the book, because it reflects exactly how June views her situation. When more and more people start to suspect that June has stolen her deceased friend’s manuscript and is consciously pretending to be of Asian origin, the author has to deal with a heavy dose of internet hate. June continues to convince herself that this was an act of mercy and that if it is racist or wrong, there is an audience for that too.

Why should you read it?

I have been looking forward to the translation of this book for a long time, but was also somewhat hesitant. A novel with such great hype usually disappoints me. However, that was absolutely not the case with ‘Yellowface’. This is so far the most versatile, fascinating, controversial, addictive and literary strong novel I have read this year.

Rebecca F. Kuang takes on the role of her main character June by writing the entire story in the first person. As a reader you know everything that June thinks, does and considers. You are in her head while she steals the manuscript, consciously chooses an Asian-sounding surname and has an author’s photo taken in which she looks a bit Chinese. I found myself hanging over the pages several times with vicarious shame, an open mouth and pure frustration. I haven’t hated any character as much as June, but at the same time, no character has captivated me as much. And I can only add that feather to the author’s cap.

What I like about ‘Yellowface’ is the way it addresses a lot of very current themes. In this book you will deal with, among other things, plagiarism, racism, childhood trauma and… cancel culture. I am particularly impressed by the way in which Kuang develops the latter topic. She shows in a painfully confrontational way the dangers of internet hatred and canceling someone. It can bring innocent people down and give guilty people a reason to profile themselves as victims because ‘no one deserves to be hated like that’. Sound familiar, June?

So the main character is completely disillusioned, but at the same time very smart and cunning. This book is a literary tour de force that you won’t let go of. And as for Rebecca F. Kuang? She is an author whose books I now want to read.

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