What happens when the pursuit of knowledge and the fear of academic failure is entangled with racism, misogyny and self-perception? Elaine H. Chou’s 2022 debut Disorientation delivers a fiery campus-based satire that raises important discussions surrounding internalized racism and the separation of art from the artist. 

Ingrid Yang, an exhausted eighth year PhD candidate, is drowning in her dissertation on the canonical Chinese-American poet Xio-Wen-Chou, a figure so overanalyzed that originality feels impossible. When she stumbles upon a shocking revelation in the Chou archives, Ingrid is thrust into a whirlwind of self-discovery, unravelling long held truths and exposing institutional racism at a breakneck pace. Set in the familiar throes of chaotic and political academic life, there were so many unexpected twists and turns despite the novels’ cast of “extreme” stereotypical caricatures. 

I’d say that Chou’s character portrayal was the highlight of the novel for me. The caricatures were pitch perfect, especially when paired with Ingrid’s naïve, sometimes grating narrative voice. They allow the audience to better witness Ingrid’s journey of self-discovery — through Ingrid’s relationship with the cis-white men in her life, the novel directly confronts you with the fact that Asian-American women have historically been imagined, sexualised, dominated and controlled by white men – both in societal perceptions and lived realities. 

This satirical debut nails the complex themes of belonging as a woman of colour, aiding a more direct confrontation of internalised racism. Ingrid’s narration as a Taiwanese-American and her relationship with a white man leads her to confront her own self truths, transforming her perceptions of an Asian American woman’s place in American society.  

For a debut novel, the range of significant themes it addresses is impressive. Despite exploring multiple important issues, the story remains engaging as we follow the unfolding scandal without feeling overwhelmed. In this way, it shares a satirical tone with Yellowface by R.F. Kuang — who, incidentally, spoke about her novel at UEA Live in October last year. Similarly, Disorientation delves into themes of race and the complexities surrounding the right to tell a story. The prose is light yet sharp and funny, yet I must admit, the depth took me by surprise, given the cover art. I initially discovered it on the more literary side of “Booktok” making me think it was more of a rom-com or account of female disillusionment in society. It gave those vibes, with even more to admire – a satirical rollercoaster that blended serious moments with some entertaining leftist-versus-leftist clashes, all set against the familiar backdrop of academic life. 

While the satire can become excessive at times, it becomes more balanced by revealing some sobering truths that overall make it a hilarious but thought provoking read. These days, my favourite novels are those that can make me think  and laugh without becoming too disoriented (get it?).

Photo Credit: Giammarco Boscaro on Unsplash