Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussions of racism, gender discrimination, and emotional abuse.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to Yu's unconventional screenplay format? How did this structural choice affect your reading experience? Did you find it reminiscent of Yu's other experimental works, such as How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe?

2. How effectively does Yu balance humor with serious social commentary throughout the novel? Which aspects resonated most strongly with you?

3. What does the title Interior Chinatown mean to you? How does its meaning evolve throughout the story?

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.