Reviews

Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou

oliviabulka's review against another edition

funny informative tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

e_cobbe's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

teacupinmylap's review against another edition

2.0

I just.. could not really believe they were 30 yos...

katyboo52's review against another edition

5.0

Ingrid Yang is 29. She has been doing a PhD for 8 years, researching a canonical Chinese poet, Xiao-Wen Chou. She never wanted to study him, but her supervisor pressured her into it and now she is trapped. Funding has run out and her dissertation isn't even close to being finished when she finds a strange note in the archives which reawakens her enthusiasm and sets her off in a new direction. Aided and abetted by her friend Eunice, Ingrid finds herself in far deeper than she imagined and as she begins to explore further it brings into question her own approach to her Korean heritage and the life she has built for herself. Everything begins to unravel and chaos ensues.

This is a sharp satire on identity, race politics and the world of academia. Funny, dry and with strong, likeable characters I kept thinking this would make a great film.

gabtat's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

snoopfrog's review against another edition

4.0

this book was so fun! if you like yellow face, you might enjoy this too

gregz_newdorkreviewofbooks's review against another edition

4.0

Alternating between a hilarious satire of the ridiculousness of academia and a sobering examination of authenticity and race, this is quite an accomplished debut novel!

littlesnarf's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

frumiouslyalice's review against another edition

emotional funny informative reflective fast-paced

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

4.75

meltbrianna's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective

5.0