disorientation's concept would be far more enjoyable as an hbo limited series, for example, or even a technicolor a24 film. in other words, a novel like this needs a visual foundation to offset its utterly illogical surrealism and plot/character inconsistencies. it should have began as a script (tighter constraints, less room for meandering description, greater comedic potential made possible by a cast of professional actors and their very distinct delivery).

The joy of Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou were the surprised that unfolded through the pages. Part caper, part campus novel, all satire, Disorientation explores ethnicity, identity, and growing up in a delightful way.

i absolutely adored this book!! if you enjoy high drama satire, campus novels, or just genuinely chuckling at being a woc in a white space (like academia) you'll enjoy this!

full review on tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zoes_reads/video/7084378653769010478?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7048455061177026054

I very much enjoyed reading this! The writing was strong and the story was enjoyable. I recommend it.

Incredible book! I ended up reading this via the audiobook and ebook and really enjoyed both. I definitely want to revisit this at some point.

This is a smart, thought provoking and at times amusing novel. There are so many themes of belonging, race, appropriation and cultural values that it might be difficult to see how it could also be a funny book but Chou handles it skilfully. I loved the character of Yang and her innocent and open self learning and development throughout the book. She starts to question her own beliefs and attitudes as well as those that impact upon her. The main plot about her Phd studentship and search for the Chinese author that she is studying was fresh and rang true to me at times due to the fact I’m also a creative writing PhD student. I’ve not found the same issues as Yang though…..

What a riot! It took about 25% for me to settle into what was happening and the writing style, but once I did I really enjoyed this one. I can see why people wouldn't enjoy this one, there's a variety of reasons I think this wouldn't land with someone. I, however, found it a hilarious critique of academia.

Can't remember the last time I laughed so much while reading a novel! I loved Disorientation, and have recommended it to so many people already. A true achievement. Looking forward to what Elaine does next!

Thanks so much to the publisher for the e-galley.

Elaine Hsieh Chou joins us to talk about her debut novel DISORIENTATION an interwoven satire that grapples with the ever-present danger Asian Americans face when racism rears its ugly head in the world of academia. Ph.D. hopeful Ingrid Yang is beginning to unravel as she struggles with writing her dissertation on the late Chinese poet Xiao-Wen Chou. A clue from the library's archive helps her to uncover that Xiao-Wen Chou is not dead, nor is he Asian, but rather a white man living his days in retirement after using yellowface as a tool to gain literary success for 35 years.

It took me a bit to read this book, but really because I was taking my time! It was a slow paced, but amazingly enjoyable book! The characters where a perfect balance between realistic, but also somehow caricatures of people in groups of society that they are representing. And I could not be happier with the ending. The author could have gone a million directions at a hundred points in this book, but the went the exact right ones every time. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Satire can be hit or miss for me, and although I'm sure some of the satirical elements of Disorientation went over my head, I couldn't put this book down. I lost many hours of sleep devouring this book in bed. Ingrid is a flawed protagonist, yet you can't help but root for her as she maneuvers through the battlefield of academia, race, social justice, and relationships.

disorientation was… a trip, a romp if you will, a trainwreck in the best way. it’s the story of ingrid, a taiwanese american phd student who, in the process of writing her dissertation, discovers a terrible secret about its subject, the late xiao wen chou. she’s left to deal with the plot twisty chaos her revelations spawn, while struggling to maintain her relationships with her fiancé, her friend, her family, her academic peers....

ingrid is a fascinating main character, she oscillates between moments of absolute clarity and resolution, and apathy and passivity. at first i was frustrated by her and her naivety at some of the things she encountered, but i quickly realised that she wasn’t really an audience stand in, if anything i identified more with vivian (the frenemy) as i pleaded for her to not trust any of the shady white people that surrounded her. vivian is the oppositional gaze and ingrid is the baby duckling wading in the murky waters of unpacking orientalism, fetishization, cultural appropriation, cancellation, campus politics, radicalization… all the while trying to claim her agency. it’s a lot.

it’s a really ambitious debut novel that completely hit the mark for me. if you’re not well versed in the “culture wars” it’s an exciting introduction, and if you are, it’s a show but it also gives you more empathy for the ones that are just starting out. it’s also a story that’s attached to showing every point of view, not in a “both sides” way, but in a “nuance is enriching” way.

another one for my “phd? no thanks!” folder. it would also make for a great limited series, someone should put me in charge of acquiring adaptation rights for real :^)

I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

What an irreverent and satirical way to describe so many timely topics! Ingrid Yang, a PHD candidate at a respected university, is experiencing a moment of crisis as she continues on her chosen path in academia.
The writing is terrific and touches upon so many important topics relevant to today's world. Can someone write and describe a culture different from their own convincingly? What is a cultural fetish or does such a thing even exist? The cutthroat quality of excelling in climbing the ranks of academia is explored in such a novel sense. The humor is ever present but the scalding results are ever apparent also.
Such an interesting read which so much to mull over!

The book everyone is talking about this year -- original, brave and satirical! I enjoyed it so much!

This book cracked me up. Dark irreverent humor is right up my alley and I've been looking for a book that scratches that itch. If you loved WE RIDE UPON STICKS by Quan Barry, read this next.

No review online yet but definitely plan to recommend it on TikTok soon.

Spreads itself too thin in parts, and the satire gets pretty heavy handed, but I respect the hell out of Disorientation and its biting, scorched earth takedown of the world of academia and its insular perpetuation of white supremacist, patriarchal norms. I also loved the discussions on fetishism, domestic violence and sex work, though I wish those themes had been discussed on a deeper level throughout.

5 stars; this book came to me when I needed it. Upcoming review on SUSPECT, the magazine for Singapore Unbound.

I loved the chaotic energy & snarkiness of Elaine Hsieh Chou’s debut novel DISORIENTATION. The cover feels perfect because this book is illuminating and a bit surreal, something that easily catches your attention & makes you take a closer look. I don’t always vibe with satire but Chou wields it so well as she explores identity, yellowface in academia, gaslighting, and fetishization.

Ingrid Yang is a Taiwanese American PhD student who is (less than) half-heartedly trying to finish her dissertation on a Chinese American poet. She’s addicted to antacids, dodging her advisor, hiring a dubious private investigator, breaking and entering… there’s never a dull moment here. I mean, Ingrid’s white fiancé is translating a book from Japanese even though he doesn’t speak the language!! And the way I cringed every time Ingrid’s academic advisor, Michael, talked about his wife Cixi.

Ingrid starts out quite ignorant but she learns and grows, and I was rooting for her throughout all the absurdity. Reading this book was a very memorable experience & really took me through a range of emojis.

Oh my goodness, this one sprawled. But it’s utter genius. I saw at one point that this was being comp’d with Ling Ma’s Severance, but I think a recent book (2021) that better matches the “vibes” here (some light racial horror, some satire of 21st century working life, and truly hilarious writing) would be “Black Buck.”
I loved this book, but the first third definitely felt slow to me, and I enjoyed it best once I kind of let the audiobook wash over me a bit - not to say it’s not worth a close read, but I don’t think every part of the book necessarily demands to be read that way.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an arc for review.

This book was amazing. I coudn't put it down. It was magical. Higly recommended! The characters, the plots, the writting: wonderful and perfect.