The Page Turners February Meeting: Yellow Face by R. F. Kuang

We will be diving into Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, a gripping and thought-provoking novel that challenges our perceptions of identity, culture, and the complexities of authorship.

In this book, we follow the story of June Hayward, a struggling writer who steals the manuscript of her deceased friend, Athena Liu, an Asian American author, and passes it off as her own. This act of literary theft becomes the backbone of the narrative, exploring the consequences of cultural appropriation, the commodification of race, and the dark side of the publishing world. Yellowface not only tells a suspenseful and twist-filled story but also invites us to reflect on broader societal issues related to race and identity.

As we get into our discussion, let’s think about the themes of Yellowface—the ethics of writing, identity manipulation, and the characters’ motivations. What does this story say about the ways in which the publishing industry deals with race and representation? How does Kuang use the thriller genre to shine a light on uncomfortable truths?

Can’t wait to hear everyone’s thoughts!

Also, we will be selecting books for the next several months of meetings, so please bring your suggestions!

Upcoming books
March 27: James by Percival Everett. 303 pp.
April 24: TBD - Note we will no longer be discussing Breasts and Eggs
RSVP guidelines: If you attend a meeting, you will be automatically RSVP'd Yes for the following month's meeting. If you will be unable to attend, please let us know by changing your RSVP to No.