Interior Chinatown: Why It Was Actually Worth It
The title “Interior Chinatown” has sparked various reactions among the students of LHS this fall. While most of those reactions may be groans, I personally thought it was a very worthwhile read.
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu is a satire novel that was published in January, 2020. Some may know it as the 2020 winner of the National Book Award for Fiction. Others simply know it as the 2021 LHS whole-school summer reading assignment. Either way, the cover draws immediate attention; it is bright red and adorned with a paifang (Chinese archway) that is strangely reminiscent of jail bars. You may also notice that the entire novel is typed in courier new, the font used for film and TV scripts. This is a nod to the book’s satirical commentary on Hollywood typecasting.
The book follows the life of protagonist Willis Wu, a young Asian-American man who grew up with his family in Chinatown and continues to live there. He works as an actor, playing minor roles for a TV series, but he dreams of one day becoming ‘Kung Fu Guy,’ the role he and every other male Asian American in the show see as the pinnacle of success for an Asian man. Eventually, Willis has the realization that Kung Fu Guy is just another form of the minor roles he has played his whole life– those built on stereotypes and the expectations of Western society.
The characterization in this novel is definitely a highlight and an aspect that I really enjoyed. Each character has a distinct personality and backstory. For example, Willis, who regards himself as generic, doesn’t really feel generic at all. Readers not only get to delve deep into his story, but also the stories of his parents and their individual lives in America. The relationships between Willis, his parents, and peers shows Yu’s attention to detail and accurately portrays the American immigrant experience.
Even though I did enjoy this book, I understand where people are coming from when they disagree. I found myself rereading passages to understand what was happening (what was up with that court scene?) and, though purposefully ambiguous, it could be frustrating to keep up with the shifts in reality.
In light of the Stop Asian Hate movement, I think choosing Interior Chinatown as our summer reading was a relevant and honestly crucial decision. Lexington has a high population of Asian-Americans, yet Interior Chinatown is probably the first school-assigned book that felt culturally relatable to me. This made me feel disappointed with the lack of AAPI stories in the LPS curriculum. Yu also occasionally incorporated non fictional snippets of Asian-American history into his writing– none of which I can remember learning about in school. Moments like these are especially important in making sure all students feel comfortable and seen in the classroom.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend Interior Chinatown to anyone considering reading it. Willis’ story is funny in some moments, touching in others, and wholly powerful to hear.
BY VIVIAN WANG