by Charles Yu
Reviewed by Linda:
This satirical look at racism in American culture won the National Book Award for Fiction. Written as the script of a TV show, the novel develops over 7 acts and features Willis Wu, an actor aspiring to move beyond being cast as "generic Asian man" and perhaps someday reaching the pinnacle of success (for an Asian American) as "Kung Fu guy." Wu specializes in looking exotic, unknowable, and all too often dead. But these stereotypes take a deep toll on him and his fellow actors of Asian descent. The reader roots for Wu as he fights for a more meaningful role, in his acting career, in his family, in America.