Reviews with content warning for Racism - Disorientation

This was a fun satirical read about the absurd world of academia, and an absolutely scathing look at racism, sexism, and finding identity as a first-generation Asian woman in America.

Ingrid is a Taiwanese-American grad student at a Harvard-like university, struggling to finish her dissertation on the works of Chinese-American poet Xiao-Wen Chou. She relies on an addiction to allergy meds to get through her anxiety and procrastination, and feels strongly this isn't the work she should be doing. Right away, we are introduced to scenes of her taking a backseat to white men, including her own fiancé, on topics about her own culture. The plot continues in a feverish nightmare, as Ingrid is shaken by the truth of her work, and realization of the incredibly racist world she's tried to function in.

Admittedly, I couldn't get into Elaine Hsieh Chou's writing style, but appreciated her funny storytelling, and extremely unlikeable characters. The author unlocked a lot of my own trauma, with anecdotes about trying to fit in with white friends, being ashamed of our own culture, the incessant need to question if someone is interested in us because they have a fetish. A lot of these themes are told in a continuous loop that could've been edited down, but I totally get the need to expand on topics that aren't represented enough. After reading R. F. Kuang's "Yellowface," with a white character faking Asian identity and struggling to find fault with what she's doing, "Disorientation"

similarly plays out this plot, but with an Asian protagonist's churning shock and disenchantment witnessing what's happening

; I'd highly recommend reading both in succession, for these two perspectives.

Give this a read if you're interested in Asian American themes, funny stories on grad school life, and whimsical sleuth-style storytelling.

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haave's review

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funny informative lighthearted reflective tense 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

4.0

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slimyfan's review

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emotional funny 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

3.5

I really enjoyed reading this: a protagonist that makes you cringe as much as you root for her. No character is spared the ruthless blade of the Hsieh Chou's satire, which though sometimes a little on the nose, is funny enough to balance the mounting stress I felt as the mystery unfolded. It attempts to cover a huge range of themes, and doesn't in my opinion land on any particular side, which I consider a strength - the trappings and realistic difficulty of navigating the world as a person vulnerable to those who are systematically privileged. My favourite parts were those that dealt with the struggles between truth and narrative.

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scarroll178's review

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emotional reflective 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? Yes

3.5

Not what I was expecting. The book is more campy than dark or mysterious. All the characters are stereotypical and one dimensional, including the MC. Idk, if you like satire, go ahead and give this one a try.

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siebensommer's review against another edition

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challenging slow-paced

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

3.5

why was sucking it up and pushing through it to the end perched on such a high pedestal anyway?
these were the same so-called values that sent phd students running headfirst into the open arms of antidepressants. for once in her life she wanted to be selfishly and deliciously lazy. to embody the most abhorred word of her generation: unproductive.

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bootsmom3's review

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious 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

4.0

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cweeks_ng's review

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

I wanted to like this book, but the second half was a disappointment for me.

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