Yellow face by David Henry Hwang

"Yellow face" by  David Henry Hwang - Hilariously scathing!

This book is published by Theater Communications Group in 2009 and has 70 pages.

David Henry Hwang is an American Play writer of Chinese origin. He is very successful and writes satires. One day he opposes casting of a white man as a Chinese man in a play. This creates a scandal.

Later when David Henry Hwang writes a new play he has to cast a protagonist, a Chinese man. After a lot of search he identifies Markus and casts him. From his appearance he seems to have Chinese blood, but asking it would mean racism. So he doesn’t.

Is Markus Chinese? What does David Henry Wong do? How can he defend his selection? What would he do to cover up?

Well, as you have guessed, Markus has no Chinese blood. So, David Henry Wong invents using his liberal creativity. His creativity eventually comes back to haunt him. How? Read the book.

This book is hilariously scathing and depicts stereotype of Asian man in America. It has a unique writing style. It’s written in snippets and dialogues like a play. It’s a small book. That makes it crisp, short and sweet.

I liked very much the way this book ends. Author being the author takes the liberty to end the story the way he wants. But the ending is adorable. It leaves one with a question ‘Does your birth make you Chinese?’

Why did I read this book? Curious name.

What did I like? Crispiness. The end.

What I didn't like? Umm..... 

Recommend reading.

The boy at the top of the mountain by John Boyne

 "The boy at the top of the mountain" by John Boyne - Reflected glory !

This book is published by RH UK in 2016 and has 224 pages.

It’s 1936. Pierrot Fischer, son of German father and French mother, is orphaned. His estranged aunt Beatrix, who works as a house keeper at a home on a mountain top in Berghoff, Austria, takes him in. Everyone in the house is afraid of the master who visits the home but doesn't stay for long. Some even dislike him but would never speak out.

Why did he agree to shelter Pierrot? Will Pierrot be influenced by the master? What will become of his friend Anshel? Who is the master? 

Although the identity of the wealthy and strict master is an enigma for a while, it’s revealed that it’s none other than Adolf Hitler who is convinced that Germany was unfairly treated and he should bring Germany back to its lost glory. 

Somehow, Pierrot ends up spending a lot of time with Hitler and slowly but surely he is indoctrinated. He starts thinking that men are superior. Jews have robbed the Germans and they are sub-humans. He ceases any communication with Anshel. Uniform brings entitlement. He is important and his friendship is something that others should covet. He becomes insolent and considers himself very important. He thinks that the reflected glory is his own.

His aunt doesn’t like the transformation but she is helpless. Then Pierrot takes a step that marks the point of no return. Although he earns Hitler’s trust, his area of influence is restricted to Berghoff. And then the wheel of time turns.

It’s a medium size book. Readers are amazed to witness Pierrot’s metamorphosis. On one side they are amazed and on the other they feel sorry for him. It’s a very pertinent question. What happened to Hitler’s foot soldiers after his death?

Author concludes the book with a beautiful twist. This twist, although unexpected, isn’t out of line with the story. The seeds are already there.

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like?  Umm...... 

What did I like? How playable minds work.

Recommend reading.