Reviews

Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou

musaho's review against another edition

challenging funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kristra's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lottie1803's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

kitcaswe's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

jordford's review against another edition

4.0

slightly absurdist satire on academia? I’m in

elaineharlington's review against another edition

3.5

This book gets a lot right but it takes some time to warm up to the main character. Sometimes the satire felt like it got in the way of real issues but I did like the conclusion a lot

aminor23's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

chaoticdaisy11's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

murderousscottishgremlin's review

challenging mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Absolutely batshit crazy in the best way possible; impossible to put down, I read it in one sitting. I felt as though I was losing my mind as I read this novel. Chou’s satirical writing is so clever and pulls no punches.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Sexual violence

micareads123's review against another edition

funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Went in to this with no expectations and ended up loving it. I even stayed up late to finish the second half.

This book follows Ingrid Yang, a 29-year-old PhD student working towards her dissertation on a canonical Chinese poet. When she stumbles upon a seemingly harmless note during her research, she falls upon a disorienting mess that upends all aspects of her life and calls into question the actions and morals of not only her educational institution but several other entities and corners of society. 

The overarching theme in this book is internalized racism, not just among white people but among POC as well, and the author pulls this off beautifully. But in addition to that, the book looks at fetishization, “reverse racism,” yellowface, cultural appropriation and so much more. 

I loved the witty and tight writing style, the realness of the characters and the relatability of some of the uglier parts of the book. This was well worth the read and a book I think I will be recommending widely.