The book every writer is talking about!
Book review of Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang
Yellowface is a thriller about two rival authors, set in the competitive world of publishing. It has been a runaway bestseller, so my crime fiction writers bookgroup were keen to read and discuss it.
It’s always interesting to get a take on why a particular book has become very popular. This one lifts the lid on the publishing industry and it’s not a pretty picture. Publishing does tend to have a veil of mystique over it. Readers can be curious about how it all works behind the scenes. What makes a bestseller for example? Well there is plenty in this book for anyone intrigued by these kinds of questions.
The story is of how a writer steals her friend’s work. Juniper and Athena have been friends with writing aspirations since college. Juniper’s writing career hardly made it out of the starting blocks. Athena got a huge advance, became a bestseller and the in-demand darling of the literary world – all the things Juniper would love, but somehow eluded her.
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Then something shocking happens to Athena after they have been discussing Athena’s first draft of her new novel. In the first step onto a slippery slope of revenge, literary fraud and self-deception, Juniper steals the only copy of the manuscript, and passes it off as her own – to huge acclaim.
What follows is a ‘will she be exposed’ thriller thread that is the main plot of the novel. But there is so much more here so I am sure many other bookgroups will be reading and will want a take on this.
Without getting into spoilers, the plot spirals through so many current publishing issues – where initial ideas might come from, what is truly original? How a story is shaped from first draft. What leads to the books that make it big - all decided by publishers well in advance of a book ever hitting the shelves? The hot topic of ‘own voices’ – who gets to tell what story? Should a writer from one culture write the history of another?
The plot takes on other current questions: how do you deal with receiving death threats daily into your inbox? Trial by social media as accusations, hints and slurs abound, without the worry of the burden of proof, as Juniper’s deception is suspected.
So much to discuss!
My bookgroup were their usual incisive selves. We all write crime fiction as well as read it, so like to read and discuss current crime fiction. So part of the discussion was also about whether this is a true thriller.
It is certainly an examination of the rights and wrongs and unexpected consequences of particular courses of action. We agreed it felt influenced by Macbeth, much about ethics of the original act, the growing isolation and guilt, and about the consequences of defending one flawed decision that mushrooms and there is no going back. Athena’s accusatory ghost (shades of Banquo?) even makes a troublesome appearance.
I would say if you are expecting a thriller, Yellowface doesn’t follow genre conventions. The second half definitely slows, rather than there being continually rising stakes all leading to an unstoppable and exciting ending. But it is very clever and entertaining, if an uncomfortable read.
The story is tense and engrossing, yet also develops into a portrayal of the isolation and loneliness that can come from being a rare success in such a cut-throat industry where so very many start out, but so very, very few rise to the top. And how the love of writing can be lost once you move into the business of publishing.
Yellowface is clever and entertaining and has certainly got people buzzing, so it was great to have my bookgroup’s take on it. We concluded it is best enjoyed as a brilliant satire of white privilege and publishing and the fleeting feelings of success. What starts as a wish to tell stories other people want to read, becomes a very cautionary tale as Juniper goes down a very desperate road.
There are so many layers to this story so it really does make a cracking bookgroup read. Yellowface throws up so many good points for debate. Particularly if you are at all connected to the publishing industry!
So, anyone else read it yet? What did you think?
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Nicki
(You can buy a copy of Yellowface for home delivery and support indie booksellers at the same time through my affiliate link here.)