Tournament of Books discussion

location to discuss Charles Yu's NBA winner

Is anyone else who listened to the audio version of this going to reread it in print? I should finish the other short list books I haven't read first, but that's my plan.

I am, Lauren. I enjoyed the audio somewhat but feel like I missed a lot.

I absolutely adored this book. I will preface this by saying I didn't have access to the audio, but I feel like the print version is necessary as the screenplay formatting helps the quirky humor land with more punch.

Yeah, I can't imagine how this would come across in audio, but it was a great read. That monologue near the end is killer.

I wouldn't even try this in audio. It's supposed to feel like reading a script, and I can't imagine that translating well into an audio book.

Yes, I'm pretty sure I didn't think through that decision at all - just added the audiobook to my library checkouts with a quick glance at the description. Oh well, I'll start fresh with this one through the print version soon.

I did that thing where I had both versions and it was a marvelous way to experience the novel. The narrator is very good.

One element of storytelling that I almost never talk about or even think about much is ‘sincerity.’ This novel is sincere in just the right ways for me. It’s a personal story, but it isn’t at all self indulgent. It invites me in.

I’m just starting this one and am about 20% in. I’m absolutely loving it so far and laughing out loud many times. Such a nice combination of humor and seriousness (very difficult to achieve, I believe). As someone who is married to an Asian man (Vietnamese, in my case), this book is raising many issues we’ve discussed as a couple before. The humor lightens the sting, but the racism is real and heartbreaking.

I thought this book was great.

Just finished it right as my ebook was expiring....it was short and sweet and just what I needed right now.

All the meta-ness of this book didn't really speak to me, and I had some issues with the way the book addressed representation. (Was it weird to anybody else that the 'dominant culture' show was about a Black man and a white woman, as though this rather than a focus on white dudes is the norm?') I guess I might have liked it more if Yu's thesis made more sense to me but I always wanted to argue

now i'm seeing that i missed some format things by only experiencing the audio version but i'm not too eager to revisot

Caroline wrote: "All the meta-ness of this book didn't really speak to me, and I had some issues with the way the book addressed representation. (Was it weird to anybody else that the 'dominant culture' show was ab..."

I think you could think of it as like, even when the "dominant culture" thinks it's being inclusive it's only stretching out to include black men and white women (which the book's focus is largely on how it ignores Asians but also includes the ignoring of black women).

good points!

I finished rereading this in print, and that format helped me pick up more of the subtleties and thoughtfulness of the story. It bumped it from a 3.5-star read (on audio) to 4.5 stars.

At first I was pretty frustrated by the lack of Black author recognition in the Booker and NBA award winners during a year that was so pivotal for the Movement for Black Lives, but the more I'm learning about anti-Asian discrimination/violence that has come up since COVID, I think Interior Chinatown is also a timely and important read. I'm glad it's in the tournament!

I wonder what Charles Yu thinks or would think of the character of Dr. Alex Park on The Good Doctor. He doesn't seem at all stereotypical to me but there could be subtleties of which I'm not aware.

One of the things Interior Chinatown did for me was to make me aware of my casual racism toward Asian Americans. It’s an astounding book for the way it exposes how positive stereotypes are still stereotypes—that all preconceptions and prejudices flatten and diminish the humanity of others.

Janet wrote: "I wonder what Charles Yu thinks or would think of the character of Dr. Alex Park on The Good Doctor. He doesn't seem at all stereotypical to me but there could be subtleties of which I'm not aware."

I don't watch TV any more, so I had to google that show. But looking at Will Yun Lee's IMDB page, he definitely was "Kung Fu Guy" at some point in his career.

Ruthiella wrote:I don't watch TV any more, so I had to google that show. But looking at Will Yun Lee's IMDB page, he definitely was "Kung Fu Guy" at some point in his career. "

Maybe the more interesting interview would be what Will Yun Lee thinks of Interior Chinatown.

Janet wrote: "Maybe the more interesting interview would be what Will Yun Lee thinks of Interior Chinatown. ..."

which led me immediately to wonder whether this novel has been optioned for film...and whether a new screenplay would even need to be written.

lark wrote: "Janet wrote: "Maybe the more interesting interview would be what Will Yun Lee thinks of Interior Chinatown. ..."

which led me immediately to wonder whether this novel has been optioned for film......"

I'd love to see this filmed as a 'play within a play within a play'. Something along the lines of the brilliant (imho) Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story

Nadine wrote: "...I'd love to see this filmed as a 'play within a play within a play'....
If Yu had creative control, then we'd actually get to learn what was in the "Black and White" TV show, what was in "Phoebe Land," what was within the restaurant & SRO, and what was in real life (at least in the author's envisioning).