“Violence is the only language they understand, because their system of extraction is inherently violent. Violence shocks the system. And the system cannot survive the shock.”
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This may be one of my Kuang embodied the mental gymnastics of the oppressor so well: “those barbarians can’t call us barbarians!”  books this year, and sparked the best discussions I’ve seen in the Reading is Subjective club to date. Kuang addressed so many deeply important issues: racism, white allyship, colonialism, government structures designed to oppress all but the chosen few, and so much more. Kuang embodied the mental gymnastics of the oppressor so well: “those barbarians can’t call us barbarians!” 

The first sentence communicates the deadly seriousness of this book. The early interaction on the docks, before he knew Professor Lovell was his father and spoke Cantonese, forced Robin to become party to a racist structure or give up his life. This was a constant theme throughout the book.

I loved the stylistic choice to include footnotes. The major news being shared as a news clipping was phenomenal as it increased immersion by distancing the reader from the event and giving information the same way the characters received it. 

I was surprised at many of the main character deaths, but they served the purpose. Letty was an enraging character to read, similar to Yellowface’s FMC.

Kuang is a truly phenomenal author.