takealoadoff's review against another edition
3.0
Meh.
The main character couldn't stop whining, and the other characters were also severely one-dimensional (but maybe that's the point?). That said, the passages about immigration, the apartment, and getting older were so beautifully done that it almost made this book worth reading. 3/5
The main character couldn't stop whining, and the other characters were also severely one-dimensional (but maybe that's the point?). That said, the passages about immigration, the apartment, and getting older were so beautifully done that it almost made this book worth reading. 3/5
pharmdad2007's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating perspective and writing style. A very difficult topic approached with self-deprecation and humor. Definitely impressed with the author.
sarahfeats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jaanasingh's review against another edition
2.0
I theoretically read this as part of a book club but also read this in a sum total of about 2 hours so I may come back post-discussion and add some flavor to this review (example: I read The Sellout as part of a book club and liked it much more post-discussion than I did otherwise, and in a lot of ways these two books are quite similar).
I think I read this book very quickly because I didn't like it and wanted it to be over. The structure is ambitious and quirky but I didn't really find it funny and I knew it was trying to be so it was a bit awkward. Then, I got to the courtroom scenes and really enjoyed those parts. My main problem with the book is that it was exposing an issue that I was already familiar with, but without putting any original thought into the exposition. The courtroom scene remedied that, but I don't know if it was enough to overshadow the hitherto lack of depth. Because I am a Punjabi Sikh I think the brief two mentions of the Singh character were fascinating in the larger context of the story, and I wonder if he was intentionally brought into the story to showcase the hypocrisy(?) of the courtroom arguments or if I'm looking into it too much.
I think I read this book very quickly because I didn't like it and wanted it to be over. The structure is ambitious and quirky but I didn't really find it funny and I knew it was trying to be so it was a bit awkward. Then, I got to the courtroom scenes and really enjoyed those parts. My main problem with the book is that it was exposing an issue that I was already familiar with, but without putting any original thought into the exposition. The courtroom scene remedied that, but I don't know if it was enough to overshadow the hitherto lack of depth. Because I am a Punjabi Sikh I think the brief two mentions of the Singh character were fascinating in the larger context of the story, and I wonder if he was intentionally brought into the story to showcase the hypocrisy(?) of the courtroom arguments or if I'm looking into it too much.
oishikeopi's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Theme: internalizing discrimination
khtaylor24's review against another edition
challenging
funny
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
4.25
xanderman001's review against another edition
2.0
This was the literary equivalent of rushing into a relationship without having the first date as a foundation. Yu's ideas and commentary are brilliant, but the very point of view that he chooses to tell the story in does not marry well to the format of the novel. The 2nd person/screenplay perspective weakens interaction and dynamic that could be used to make the themes of dehumanization and immigration more interesting within Yu's philosophical setting of the Interior Chinatown. All of this results in the novel saying all its wanted to in the first 100 pages, leaving its central character to fulfill a prophecy that feels paradoxically forced and disconnected from the reading experience.
On a 10 point scale: 4/10
On a 10 point scale: 4/10
jemini's review against another edition
4.0
Super quick and deep hitting read. The format is set up to be a script but sometimes gets confusing. A lot of discussion of intersectionality, immigration, assimilation and family. It’s amusing, thoughtful and really gets a lot in with the unorthodox style. It follows Willis Wu trying to obtain his dream of being Kung Fu Guy in acting roles but he struggles to learn that this esteemed role for Asian men actors isn’t as wonderful as it seems.
papayaaaa28's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0