Reviews tagging 'Cultural appropriation'

Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou

96 reviews

bloodmaarked's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective 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

4.0

disorientation is certainly one of the most fun books i’ve read this year. so similar in theme and even somewhat in tone to Yellowface by r.f. kuang, it’s no surprise that i enjoyed it as much as i did. i also love a book where we watch the main character’s slow descent into madness, and this book had a great version of this.

✧ full review on my tumblr ✧

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting

okaychanly's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

I read this because I had just finished Yellowface by R.F. Kuang and was looking for something in a similar vein. Both explore themes of identity, cultural expectations, and the complexities of navigating one's place within broader societal and academic contexts through the use of satire. However, with Disorientation I struggled to finish this book. It's entirely too long. The satire itself was annoying sometimes and the chaotic nature that developed within subplots lost me. On top of that, Ingrid Yang was an infuriating protagonist. It has some perks, esp. in regards to humor, but overall, it was just a tough one to get through. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Minor: Racial slurs, Violence, and Suicide attempt

stellahadz's review against another edition

funny medium-paced

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

4.75

This book is an absolute delight. It's equal parts hilarious, thought-provoking, and just generally buckwild. The title and cover are both great, the prose is clever and funny, and the story itself tackles timely issues in an interesting way. It's like Yellowface meets The Stepford Wives meets every horror story you've ever heard from anyone who works in academia. Absolutely recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Deportation

joensign's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting

ceedy's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Xenophobia

Minor: Racial slurs

oz2021's review against another edition

emotional funny informative reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Drug abuse and Toxic relationship

Minor: Racial slurs

smolswol's review against another edition

adventurous 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting

Minor: Mental illness and Toxic relationship

saturnsierra's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Cultural appropriation

alyxinthestars's review against another edition

dark reflective tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, and Cultural appropriation

Moderate: Hate crime

Minor: Murder

juliaureads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny fast-paced

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

4.75

 Truly, how did it take me so long to read this? It has all my favorite things, including an unhinged MC bent on her own destruction. Ironies that are so frustrating all you can do is laugh and a satisfying resolution. CW: micro and macro-aggressions 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Addiction, Bullying, and Colonisation