I love the cover design of this edition so much as well, and the writing is simply superb. Would recommend it to everyone who loves poetic prose. Yellowface is less lyrical, but it has a bit of a mystery vibe that makes you want to read on and since you've been getting into the thrillery/suspense genres lately I think you'll really like it!
I enjoyed Yellowface and agree on the ending being a bit rushed. Personally I love Cleopatra and Frankenstein. I listened to this on audible and have listened multiple times. I was a bit disappointed by blue sisters, but I know others rave about it!
I also need to take into account that this is Kuang's first literary fiction book which astonishes me, so I can kind of look past the abrupt ending. It was truly enjoyable and unputdownable overall.
I'm so happy you're gushing about Cleo and Frank! If something isn't for me, that doesn't mean someone else couldn't love it for all the right reasons.
Immediately added In Memoriam to my kindle! The school I teach at has a WWI poetry unit for our sophomores and we read Sassoon and Owen, two writers who many think were also in love.
Yellowface is next on my shelf - I just finished listening to Babel and couldn’t stop reading it. Kuang is a prolific writer!
Ah I hope you love it as much as I did! I looked up Sassoon and Owen and I could immediately picture a similar story, so I did a little digging and found out that Sassoon inspired the character of Ellwood and Gaunt is influenced by Robert Graves, who was Sassoon's commanding officer. Loved reading this article and I think you might too! https://inews.co.uk/culture/books/alice-winn-novel-in-memorium-queer-people-voices-first-world-war-2251772
And I'm really intrigued by Babel! It's higher up my list now for sure!
I loooved Yellowface but I listened on audiobook and I think that really helped. The narrator for it was so good at delivering the lines. My husband picked up the book after I wouldn’t shut up about it and it didn’t really back the same punch written. Which is the first time I’ve experienced that!
I keep eyeing Cleopatra and Frankenstein! I’ve heard so many mixed reviews but I agree, tackling that narration style especially in a debut is impressive. I wonder what it would have been like in first person
Astonishing when an audiobook trumps the physical! I still really enjoyed it myself, but I guess the casual tone of it lends itself to an audiobook really well. I also love that you get your husband to read what you read by simply being so enthousiastic <3
About Cleopatra and Frankenstein; I wondered that myself too, or if it simply focused on, say, four characters, what it would read like. But it really is just a case of personal taste
I devoured In Memoriam. Literally BAWLED my eyes out to it. I can't recommend it enough to my friends (but they don't listen 🔪).
I actually recommended it to someone today but they didn’t end up getting it either 🙃 what do we need to do to get them to listen???
In Memoriam is one I've heard great things about (and it's gorgeous!) I'm so torn on if I want to read Yellowface or not!!
I love the cover design of this edition so much as well, and the writing is simply superb. Would recommend it to everyone who loves poetic prose. Yellowface is less lyrical, but it has a bit of a mystery vibe that makes you want to read on and since you've been getting into the thrillery/suspense genres lately I think you'll really like it!
🩵🩵🩵
I enjoyed Yellowface and agree on the ending being a bit rushed. Personally I love Cleopatra and Frankenstein. I listened to this on audible and have listened multiple times. I was a bit disappointed by blue sisters, but I know others rave about it!
I also need to take into account that this is Kuang's first literary fiction book which astonishes me, so I can kind of look past the abrupt ending. It was truly enjoyable and unputdownable overall.
I'm so happy you're gushing about Cleo and Frank! If something isn't for me, that doesn't mean someone else couldn't love it for all the right reasons.
Immediately added In Memoriam to my kindle! The school I teach at has a WWI poetry unit for our sophomores and we read Sassoon and Owen, two writers who many think were also in love.
Yellowface is next on my shelf - I just finished listening to Babel and couldn’t stop reading it. Kuang is a prolific writer!
Ah I hope you love it as much as I did! I looked up Sassoon and Owen and I could immediately picture a similar story, so I did a little digging and found out that Sassoon inspired the character of Ellwood and Gaunt is influenced by Robert Graves, who was Sassoon's commanding officer. Loved reading this article and I think you might too! https://inews.co.uk/culture/books/alice-winn-novel-in-memorium-queer-people-voices-first-world-war-2251772
And I'm really intrigued by Babel! It's higher up my list now for sure!
Wow how crazy!!! Saving this article for my students!!!!!
I loved Yellowface so much, but hard agree with you on the ending.
Just when you think it's going one way, it makes a u-turn the other way
I loooved Yellowface but I listened on audiobook and I think that really helped. The narrator for it was so good at delivering the lines. My husband picked up the book after I wouldn’t shut up about it and it didn’t really back the same punch written. Which is the first time I’ve experienced that!
I keep eyeing Cleopatra and Frankenstein! I’ve heard so many mixed reviews but I agree, tackling that narration style especially in a debut is impressive. I wonder what it would have been like in first person
Astonishing when an audiobook trumps the physical! I still really enjoyed it myself, but I guess the casual tone of it lends itself to an audiobook really well. I also love that you get your husband to read what you read by simply being so enthousiastic <3
About Cleopatra and Frankenstein; I wondered that myself too, or if it simply focused on, say, four characters, what it would read like. But it really is just a case of personal taste
aww I know, I was actually surprised he did! We normally have such different taste!
Ah yes! I think that's very true about taste. It all becomes so subjective at a point
I loved Funny Story! It’s so precious 💕