Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

This novel immediately grabs the reader with the sudden death of a young author as another author friend looks on. Athena Liu was a trending Asian author whose death gave June Hayward, aka Juniper Song, the opportunity to steal Liu's manuscript and embellish the story of the contributions of Chinese Laborers during World War I. 

June convinces her publisher and the reading world that she is the author of the book and assumes the persona of an Asian woman to make it more convincing. The book, The Last Front, becomes a NYT Best Seller and June reaps all the rewards of editing the book in which she skews the actions of the white people in the book to make them more sympathetic. She fears that if she tells the real story she may alienate those white readers on whom books depend for success. 

With the success of the book, attention is drawn to the origin of the manuscript. June finds herself defending her authorship as well as struggling with her inner sense of morality. She endures criticism from social media that haunts her, even as her publishers stand behind her. To thwart this she undertakes the publishing of another book, the premise of which also comes from Liu's notebooks.


The fact that she may be a white woman writing about the experiences of Asians is a platform for racism. Kuang's point comes across with satiric vitriol of the publishing world as she is an Asian writing a white woman's story. 

This was a gripping novel with depth beyond the stories of June and Juniper. The lecture by R.F. Kuang was erudite as she explained the role the publishing world has played in racism, diversity, and cultural appropriateness.

April 28, 2025  - R.F. Kuang

April 28, 2025  - R.F. Kuang

April 28, 2025  - R.F. Kuang signing my book

Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

In a very creative way, Charles Yu presents a very disturbing picture of the life of Asian Americans in the United States. This was an October feature of the Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures Ten Evenings. Written as a screenplay, the novel focuses on the life of Willis Wu, cast as Generic Asian Guy. It is told in 7 Acts and culminates in a dramatic court room scene. 

Willis Wu's ambition is rise to the role of Kung Fu Guy,  the best role to which an Asian male can aspire. He lands a role on a TV detective series, Black and White (Yu in his lecture likens it to Law and Order) where helps a decidedly racist detective, Turner, and pretty white detective, Green, investigate the disappearance of Older Brother. Willis proves to be invaluable in the search and leads them to the whereabouts of the criminal, during which time Willis is shot and killed. In TV protocol, because he died on screen, Willis must wait out 45 days before appearing in another show.

 In the novel, this provides a means for Yu to show what Wu's real life is like. His aging father has a PhD and is relegated to work at the Oriental Palace, the ground floor of the apartment his family occupies. His mother, is also educated and works evenings at the restaurant. There are also very illuminating listings of the immigration laws that governed the Chinese arrivals into the United States. Willis also falls in love with Karen, a mixed race beautiful woman, who has set her sights on getting herself out of Chinatown. They hastily get married because Karen finds out that she is pregnant. 

In a not so subtle turn of events, the novel reaches its climax in a courtroom with Wu on trial. Through his lawyer's arguments, Yu presents his viewpoint that Chinese-Americans will always be considered foreigners no matter how long or through how many generations they reside in the United States. This is so atrociously and disturbingly true as we have witnessed so many attacks on Asians during the pandemic.  

To be sure, Interior Chinatown also provides some humor and some poignant scenes. Often these are in conjunction with each other  - why else would an elderly Old Asian Man be singing karaoke? The novel explores complex and emotional issues, while providing an entertaining read. It's hard to excel at both and Charles Yu does that.