Interior Chinatown

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The novel explores the idea that people can become trapped in roles that others assign to them. Have you ever felt pressured to play a particular "role" in your professional or personal life? How did you handle it?

2. Willis struggles with his identity as a Chinese American, feeling neither fully American nor fully Chinese. How do you navigate multiple cultural identities in your own life?

3. The relationship between Willis and his father highlights generational differences in approaching identity and assimilation. How does this dynamic compare to the generational dynamics in your family?

4. Consider Karen's ability to move more fluidly between different roles and identities. How does physical appearance affect people’s ability to define themselves in society?

5. Willis eventually realizes that he has been complicit in his own typecasting. Have you ever recognized ways in which you have limited your own prospects through self-imposed boundaries?

Examine the book's relevance to broader societal issues, cultural trends, and ethical dilemmas.

1. How does the show "Black and White" serve as a metaphor for America's understanding of race? What does it suggest about where Asian Americans fit in this binary?

2. The novel critiques both Hollywood's stereotyping and the Asian American community's acceptance of limited roles. How do these dynamics play out in contemporary media and society?

3. What does Interior Chinatown suggest about the relationship between performance, identity, and authenticity in American society?

Dive into the book's structure, characters, themes, and use of narrative techniques.

1. How does Yu use the screenplay format to blur the lines between reality and performance? What does this tactic suggest about the nature of identity formation?

2. How does the Golden Palace restaurant function as both a physical location and a symbolic space in the narrative?

3. How does Willis's narrative voice evolve throughout the novel? What aspects of the narrative trigger these changes?

4. Consider the role of Older Brother in the story. How does his character challenge or reinforce the novel's themes about identity and assimilation?

5. Examine the significance of names in the novel. What does the author’s choice to use generic roles (e.g., “Old Asian Man,” “Generic Asian Man”) rather than actual names reveal about the issues of identity and belonging?

6. How does Yu use the courtroom scene to bring together the novel's various themes and conflicts?