Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou (The funniest, most poignant novel of the year & for fans of Yellowface by RF Kuang)

For fans of Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang, Disorientation is an uproarious and big-hearted satire – alive with sharp edges, immense warmth, and a cast of unforgettable characters – that asks: who gets to tell our stories?

Ingrid Yang is desperate to finish her PhD dissertation on the much-lauded poet Xiao-Wen Chou and never read about ‘Chinese-y’ things again, when she accidentally stumbles upon a strange note in the Chou archives that she thinks may be her ticket out of academic hell.

But Ingrid has no idea that the note will lead to an explosive secret, upending her entire life and the lives of those around her. Her clumsy exploits to discover the truth set off a rollercoaster of mishaps and misadventures, from campus protests and over-the-counter drug hallucinations, to book burnings and a movement that stinks of Yellow Peril propaganda. In the aftermath, she’ll have to question everything, from her relationship with her fiancé to the kind of person she dares to be.

Review

The funniest, most poignant novel of the year ― Vogue

Funny, fearless . . . acutely inspects the power of the white gaze, academic imperialism, peer rivalry and self-hate ― Observer

A rollicking, whip-smart ride through the hallowed halls of academia ― Harpers Bazaar

Witty, knowing and funny . . . If Donna Tartt set the bar for the noirish campus novel, Elaine Hsieh Chou is setting a new bar for sharp, sideways takes on academia ― Evening Standard

Product details

    Publisher ‏ : ‎ Picador; Air Iri OME edition (31 Mar. 2022)
    Language ‏ : ‎ English
    Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
    ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1529080665
    ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1529080667
    Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
    Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 22 x 15 x 2.5 cm
    Customer reviews: 4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 649 ratings