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A review by makealongstorycourt
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
this novel is a satire MASTERCLASS 🎬
I am currently FLOORED by this novel and how much I adored it. The style, craft, format, characters, themes, satire, and voice — ahhhh pick. this. up. You must experience this.
INTERIOR CHINATOWN by Charles Yu is dubbed a Hollywood satirical novel written as a screenplay. At the helm of the novel is Willis Wu, an aspiring Kung Fu Guy of television, however, he finds himself always being “cast” as Generic Asian Man. Through acting in the screenplay of a fictional cop procedural titled, “Black and White,” Willis reflects on his aspirations to become Kung Fu Guy and what that means for his identity and his sociopolitical “role” in America. Exploring the themes of assimilation, immigration, identity, opportunity, and fatherhood, Yu creates a satirical masterpiece that earned its spot as a National Book Award Winner and a modern classic, in my eyes.
Y’all I have little words because I am so blown away. I laughed, I cried, I reflected, I learned. The prose was crisp and intentional; the stylistic choice of a screenplay format was brilliant. This novel is so multilayered that I will absolutely be reading it again. I could gush for days about this one, guys.
TL;DR - INTERIOR CHINATOWN is fast-paced satire that is witty, spunky, sharp, and poignant. Yu is a satirical genius. This novel is now one of my all-time favorites, and it is a required reading of the Friends-of-Courtney syllabus.
I am currently FLOORED by this novel and how much I adored it. The style, craft, format, characters, themes, satire, and voice — ahhhh pick. this. up. You must experience this.
INTERIOR CHINATOWN by Charles Yu is dubbed a Hollywood satirical novel written as a screenplay. At the helm of the novel is Willis Wu, an aspiring Kung Fu Guy of television, however, he finds himself always being “cast” as Generic Asian Man. Through acting in the screenplay of a fictional cop procedural titled, “Black and White,” Willis reflects on his aspirations to become Kung Fu Guy and what that means for his identity and his sociopolitical “role” in America. Exploring the themes of assimilation, immigration, identity, opportunity, and fatherhood, Yu creates a satirical masterpiece that earned its spot as a National Book Award Winner and a modern classic, in my eyes.
Y’all I have little words because I am so blown away. I laughed, I cried, I reflected, I learned. The prose was crisp and intentional; the stylistic choice of a screenplay format was brilliant. This novel is so multilayered that I will absolutely be reading it again. I could gush for days about this one, guys.
TL;DR - INTERIOR CHINATOWN is fast-paced satire that is witty, spunky, sharp, and poignant. Yu is a satirical genius. This novel is now one of my all-time favorites, and it is a required reading of the Friends-of-Courtney syllabus.