NPR's Book of the Day cover image

NPR's Book of the Day

Two thrillers raise questions about writing from a particular race and identity

Sep 1, 2023
R.F. Kuang talks about writing Yellowface and the intricacies of friendship and cultural appropriation. Joe Ide discusses writing his IQ series from the perspective of a Black protagonist, influenced by his upbringing in South Central LA.
16:43

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • 'Yellowface' challenges conventional ideas of appropriation and raises thought-provoking questions about writing outside one's own experience.
  • Through Isaiah's character, Eday tackles issues of race, identity, and belonging, while challenging traditional notions of who gets to tell certain stories.

Deep dives

Thrillers as an Escape During Parental Leave

While on parental leave, the host noticed a shift in his reading preferences towards thrillers. The fast-paced nature of thrillers provided a much-needed escape from the demands of parenthood. Despite his love for literary novels, the host found it difficult to engage with them during sleep-deprived nights. Thus, he delves into two thrilling novels featured in the podcast, one of which explores the dark underworld of publishing.

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