I guess I’m a very literal reader and this unique structure went a little over my head at times. The story is written as a screenplay, interspersed with the script of a TV show that is set mostly in a restaurant (a functioning or non functioning restaurant? I’m still not sure) in Chinatown. The main character, Willis Wu, is stuck perpetually in the same role of Generic Asian Man while dreaming to someday rise to the level of Kung Fu Guy. But is that what he really wants?

The lines between reality and the show are blurred, for Willis because he has lived this role for so long and for me because the structure wasn’t totally clear and I found hard to distinguish what was really happening with what was scripted. Maybe I don’t know enough (ahem anything) about police procedurals? I found it hard to get sucked in to the story because while the unique structure was interesting, it took me out of the flow. Regardless, the commentary on being Asian in America was sharp. Who gets to be an American? What does an American look like? This book definitely felt like a prize winner to me. The style is very creative. I’m glad I read it, but also I’m sure I missed a lot of detail and nuance.