recently read: yellowface
21: by rf kuang, sweet bean paste and upcoming seen library events
Knowing what book someone is reading and what parts they resonate with most can be so intimate. It reveals their interests, where their head is at, and what excerpts are so significant that they will mark up a page because they think it’s worth revisiting at a later time. I’m fascinated by what books others gravitate towards and I find that it helps me get to know them better and gives me a small glimpse into who they are at their core. No one asked for these book reviews, but maybe it’s my way of showing who I am and what I’m interested in – beyond the clothes, the products, and my career. Or at the very least, encourage some to look up from their phones and instead towards the pages of a good book.
Also, scroll down to the bottom for upcoming Seen Library events in Los Angeles.
Book no. 19 of 2023
This came highly recommended and I completely understand why. I could not put this down. Finished in a couple days and was completely absorbed. A clever story that had me glued to my book to find out what happens. R.F. Kuang did such an impressive job at verbalizing the innermost thoughts of many white people at a time when historically excluded stories are finally being told. Touches on cultural appropriation, the whitewashing of history to make it more palatable, cancel culture, the irresistible desire for more — more money, more fame — and the white tendency to center oneself and play victim. A fun and frustrating read and one I definitely recommend.
Get $5 off a book order of $30 or more here.
Underlined quotes:
“Writing is the closet thing we have to real magic. Writing is creating something. out of nothing, is opening doors to other lands. Writing gives you power to shape your own world when the real one hurts too much.”
“We decide who’s educated and articulate and attractive but marginalized enough to make good on our marketing budget.”
“For the first time since I submitted the manuscript, I feel a deep wash of shame. This isn’t my history, my heritage. This isn’t my community. I am an outsider, basking in their love under false pretenses.”
“Who really knows what happened? Twitter makes unqualified yet eager judges of us all.”
Book no. 20 of 2023
Sweet Bean Paste - Durian Sukegawa
An easy read with life lessons but not a must-read, as the story and writing were just ok. For me, the biggest takeaway from this book is how we should be encouraged more to just live, rather than placing so much value on how productive or useful to society we or others are, especially as this is such an ableist mindset. I appreciate the reminder of how common it is for society to judge and shun those with disabilities and how we need to do our best to combat that behavior. I also found the history behind Japan’s treatment of those suffering from Hansen’s disease (leprosy) — basically being forced into isolation and treated with so much discrimination — to be really sad and important to learn.
Underlined quotes:
“All experience adds up to a life lived as only you could. I feel sure the day will come when you can say: this is my life.”
“Some lives are all too brief, while others are a continual struggle. I couldn’t help thinking that it was a brutal assessment of people’s lives to employ usefulness to society as a yardstick by which to measure their value.”
Upcoming Seen Library events:
Save the dates :) I’m working on a few Seen Library events and want to give you a heads up even if I can’t share too many details just yet.
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