Exploring Chinatown Assimilation in a Novel

2020 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The novel, hailed as one of the funniest books of the year, offers a delicious and bold Hollywood satire. According to The Washington Post, it is a must-read for those interested in Chinatown, assimilation, and the inside scoop on Tinseltown.

From the brilliant mind behind 'The right way to Dwell Safely in a Science Fictional Universe' comes a deeply personal novel exploring race, popular culture, immigration, assimilation, and breaking free from societal expectations. This novel delves into the heart of Chinatown, offering a unique perspective on assimilation from inside Chinatown.

Every day, Willis Wu grapples with his identity, feeling like a mere background character in his own life – the Generic Asian Man. From being the Background Oriental Making a Bizarre Face to the Disgraced Son, he's always pushed to the sidelines, seen as a prop rather than a person. Leaving his cramped room in a Chinatown SRO, he steps into the bustling Golden Palace restaurant, where the Black and White cop show is constantly filmed. Even here, he remains a minor figure, yearning to embody the revered role of Kung Fu Man, a symbol of success for someone like him. Will he ever find his place inside Chinatown: or will he forever be a product of someone else's narrative?

After stumbling into the highlight, Willis finds himself launched right into a wider world than he’s ever identified, discovering not solely the key historical past of Chinatown, however the buried legacy of his circle of relatives. Infinitely ingenious and deeply private, exploring the themes of popular culture, assimilation, and immigration— Inside Chinatown  is Charles Yu’s most shifting, daring, and masterful novel but.

"Recent and delightful. . . .  Inside Chinatown  represents one more stellar vacation spot within the journey of a  sui generis  creator of seemingly limitless ability and ambition.” — The New York Instances E book Evaluation

From the Writer