R. F. Kuang’s novel Taipei Story faces controversy over Israeli character

Author R. F. Kuang’s new novel, ‘Taipei Story’, has faced significant online backlash and review-bombing following the inclusion of a brief scene featuring an unnamed Israeli pianist. The controversy began in May when an excerpt from an advance copy circulated online, leading some social media users to argue that the character's presence amounted to ‘normalising Israel’.

The novel follows Lily Chen, a Chinese-American student in Taipei navigating themes of colonialism, cultural identity, and geopolitics. The character in question appears for only two pages during a concert scene, described as a ‘dour-faced man’. Critics of the book have used platforms like Goodreads to leave negative ratings, prompting discussions regarding political interpretation and authorial intent.

Kuang, known for works such as ‘Babel’ and ‘Yellowface’ that explore imperialism and cultural power, has addressed the controversy during her book tour, defending the scene and the role of fictional representation.