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A review by micareads123
Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou
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.
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.