Disorientation

In Disorientation, 29-year-old PhD student Ingrid Yang struggles to finish her dissertation on Xiao-Wen Chou, a celebrated Chinese American poet. Her world unravels when she discovers Chou may still be alive—and far from the person she thought he was. This revelation pulls her into a web of academic hypocrisy, racial tensions, and personal reckoning, forcing her to confront her values and break free from societal expectations to pursue her path.

This sharp satire blends humor with incisive commentary on issues like the "model minority" myth, identity, and academia’s contradictions. The author’s witty storytelling exposes the absurdities of graduate-school life while addressing serious social problems. As an Asian American reader, I found it both hilarious and deeply relatable. While I didn’t always agree with Ingrid’s choices, the book’s themes resonated profoundly, making it a thought-provoking and entertaining read.