2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou.

Pages: 403 pages

Length: 1 month (May)

Participants: Rebecca, Jen

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

I’ve put a hold at my library so hopefully I’ll be able to join this one!

That would be great, Allison. I'm really looking forward to reading this one.

I’ve started the audiobook. I’m a little lost. I don’t usually read contemporary so maybe I’m just not paying attention like I should?

The summary on Goodreads says both “uproarious” and “hilarious” but I have yet to hear any of that going on.

I'm hopefully starting it today

Is anyone reading it? I'm finding it hilarious.

I haven't started it yet.

Jen wrote: "Is anyone reading it? I'm finding it hilarious."

I’m finding it boring 😕

One of the thorniest questions explored in the novel is, “Who has the right to write what?” How would you answer this question?

I do agree this is a tricky question. I've read stories of writers being severely criticised for trying to say that as a writer, they feel they should be able to tell any story, even ones about people whose backgrounds they have no direct experience of. Perhaps that's why fantasy is so popular: you can imagine your characters in any world and any situation and no one can say you're being inauthentic.

I think for academics, it's a little easier. You can be an expert in a field you have no direct experience in and not attract very much criticism. However, an institution like Barnes would probably attract a lot of criticism for not having a lot of diversity in say, its East Asian Studies department, even if every individual working there is a world-class expert in the field.

I finished it last night. I read Yellowface earlier this year and wasn't impressed. This book about taking on a fake racial identity was much better and much funnier.