74 pages 2 hours read

Charles Yu

Interior Chinatown

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2020

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Interior Chinatown follows aspiring actor Willis Wu as he navigates stereotypical roles within the TV industry while grappling with his identity as an Asian American. Shot in a screenplay format with tags denoting scenes and characters, Willis’s story explores his struggle between pursuing his dream role of Kung Fu Guy and breaking free from cultural and familial expectations to find his true self.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Charles Yu's Interior Chinatown explores identity and assimilation with wit and originality. Its inventive narrative style blends script format with prose, which some readers find fresh and engaging, but others see as disjointed. The novel's humor and poignant critique of Hollywood's stereotyping resonate well, though a few critique its pacing. Satisfying and thought-provoking overall.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Interior Chinatown?

A reader who would enjoy Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu is likely interested in satirical narratives that explore identity, race, and stereotypes. Fans of Paul Beatty’s The Sellout or Ling Ma’s Severance will appreciate its unique structure and incisive commentary, blending humor and sharp social critique in a compelling, layered story.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Realistic Fiction

Allegory / Fable / Parable

Asian Literature

Topics

Race / Racism

Arts / Culture

Diversity

Themes

Identity: Race

Society: Nation

Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Period

Asian Literature