Please join us for a discussion of Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu.
Winner of the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction.
Willis Wu doesn't perceive himself as the protagonist in his own life: he's merely Generic Asian Man. Sometimes he gets to be Background Oriental Making a Weird Face or even Disgraced Son, but always he is relegated to a prop. Yet every day, he leaves his tiny room in a Chinatown SRO and enters the Golden Palace restaurant, where Black and White, a procedural cop show, is in perpetual production. He's a bit player here, too, but he dreams of being Kung Fu Guy--the most respected role that anyone who looks like him can attain. Or is it?
After stumbling into the spotlight, Willis finds himself launched into a wider world than he's ever known, discovering not only the secret history of Chinatown, but the buried legacy of his own family. Infinitely inventive and deeply personal, exploring the themes of pop culture, assimilation, and immigration--Interior Chinatown is Charles Yu's most moving, daring, and masterful novel yet.
Books are available on a first-come basis at the Information Desk. You may also call the Library at 563-344-4179 to have a book signed out to you and placed on the Holds shelf. Newcomers are always welcome! Remote attendance is possible; please register in order to have the login information sent to you.
This program is funded by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.
Here's a list of books that have been discussed by the Contemporary Books Discussion Group.
The Bettendorf Public Library has served the community of Bettendorf since July 12, 1955. We offer Library events for all ages, and our meeting rooms are available for public use. See more information about our meeting room policy at http://www.bettendorflibrary.com/services/meeting-rooms/.