Waterstones Podcast: Rebecca F. Kuang

There is no stopping Rebecca Kuang. With the Poppy War trilogy already under her belt and the fantastic success of Waterstones Book of the Year nominee Babel, she has reinvented herself once again this year with Yellowface, a literary thriller that satirises the very industry she’s involved in, publishing and bookselling. As someone who has worked in both of those industries myself, not to mention the world of social media for 15 years, I couldn’t wait to read this one and was even more excited to sit down and talk with Rebecca about her approach to writing, her insights from the industry, and where she might take readers next.
Yellowface: bit.ly/3o74utO
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[@KelwynSole-k5v]

A brilliant, courageous book. It's not often a writer who is starting to be noticed uses this to explore uncomfortable issues, rather than simply trying to further their own career by going along with the industry's less salubrious games.

[@emilylai9185]

Great interview!

[@dawnbeyers3496]

Such an articulate, and well thought interview. Truly intelligent and definitely smart beyond her years. I am a fan for sure. I have bought and enjoyed all of her literary works thus far. Anxiously awaiting future works and am quite sure they will be enjoyable and definitely a platform for good conversation. Thanks so very much.

[@rohanxdavis]

Jealousy and envy is definitely not a gendered thing, everyone has an idiosyncratic response to those feelings regardless of gender

[@Sleepyjasminetea]

True! I don’t think that’s what she was implying if that’s what you’re getting at

[@googleuser2609]

Outstanding interview!

[@Blackdecay]

This was a delight to listen to.

[@izba5747]

She's brilliant. I finished "Yellow face" in one sitting, it was so good.

[@Prasutagucaster]

The book is set on a loose shallow framework on which to hang her own political ill informed opinions and bias. It demonstrates her clear hatred of the British and Britain with distorted prejudices promoted under the banner of fiction. I’m sure there are books that have been banned with less hatred contained. The story, once you discard the superfluous prejudices and digressions, is very underwhelming. Time wasted but it does demonstrate that we should look at authors who promote propaganda under the guise of fiction to promote hatred. The hypocrisy of comments does make you laugh a little, especially given China’s past in tyranny and genocide and her own privilege gained from Uk education and global capitalism.

[@hindolbittern]

She’s American, was brought up and educated in the US, the book is set in America the characters are American and the fictional publishers are American. She did a couple of years post grad study in the UK but that’s it.
Have you read the book? 😂

[@googleuser2609]

Then why are you so interested to be here listening to what R. F. Kuang has to say on a podcast?

[@psora1]

You know chinese people have legitimate reason to hate Britain, right? Do you even know what Britain did to China along the 19th century and well into the 20th?