Happy New Year! On this episode, we discuss the first 2 acts (or “books”) of Babel by R.F. Kuang, a epic dark academia fantasy taking place in an alternate universe version of Oxford during the early Victorian era about a Chinese boy named Robin Swift who is whisked away from his home in Canton and set on a path to become a translator for the Royal Institute of Translation (aka Babel). However, as he and his cohort learn more about their chosen field, the contradictions of empire, and their roles in it, become harder and harder to ignore.

Note that Babel is published by a Harper Collins imprint which is in the middle of a strike with the HCP Union seeking fair pay for workers. Books & Boba supports the HCP Union, as does the author R.F. Kuang, and invite you to support the union by amplifying their message on social media (Twitter / Instagram) and donating to their strike fund.

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

For the last time this year, we highlight the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our December 2022 mid-month check-in, including checking in on the ongoing strike at Harper Collins

New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news:

• Shell Song by Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson
• Untitled picture book by Sanae Ishid
• Untitled YA horror novels by Judy I. Lin
• Terminal Hope by Michelle Wong
• Outside Mom, Inside Mom by Jane Park; illust by Lenny Wen
• To Gaze upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang
• It’s Only a Game by Kelsea Yu
• Little Sisters by Tomo Miura; translated by Nanette McGuinness
• The Girl with No Reflection by Keshe Chow
• Tagging Freedom by Rhonda Roumani
• Little Bird Laila by Kelly Yan; illust by Xindi Yan
• What Lolo Wants by Cristina Oxtra; Jamie Bauza
• Noodles on a Bicycle by Kyo Maclear; illust by Gracey Zhang

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

On this episode, we discuss our Books & Boba November 2022 book club pick, Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life by Alice Wong, a memoir by the founder and director of Disability Visibility Project, about her life growing up as a person living with disability as well as a Chinese American in the mid-west, her work in activism and advocacy, and all the food and geeky pop cultural things that she loves. The book is also as a great resource for those looking  for ways to be a better ally to the disabled community.

Check out Alice’s work and additional resources for the book at: https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/ 

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

On our 200th(!) episode, we highlight the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our November 2022 mid-month check-in, including checking back in on the ongoing publishers strike at Harper Collins.

New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news:

• From Mumbai, with Love by Priyanka Taslim
• The Notes by Catherine Con Morse
• Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice by Anna Lapera
• Crow Girl by Charlotte Woo
• Inside Scouts by Mitali Banerjee Ruths; illust by Francesca Mahaney
• The Star in You by Katrina Moore; illust by Amber Ren
• Six Truths and a Lie by Ream Shukairy
• Team Park by Angela Ahn
• Wataru Misaka: Basketball’s Barrier Breaker by Hayley Diep; illust by Naomi Giddings
• A Bright Heart by Kate Chenli
• Mamie Fights to Go to School by Traci Huahn; illust by Michelle Jing Chan
• Unbecoming by Seema Yasmin
• The Lucky Ones by Zara Chowdhary

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

We’ve talked to many authors on Books & Boba, we’ve also read a few translated works for book club, but for the first time, we’re talking to a translator directly! On this episode, we welcome Anton Hur, the English language translator of Baek Sehee’s hit memoir I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: A Memoir. We chat with Anton about he became a literary translator and how he approaches his work translating the words of other authors.

Follow Anton on Instagram @antonhur

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

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This episode is sponsored by Audible Theater Presents: Good Enemy

Played by Obie Award winner Francis Jue (Pacific Overtures, Soft Power), a father learns that closing the door to his past means shutting his daughter out in Good Enemy, a haunting and hopeful world premiere play from Yilong Liu. Performances for this smart, thrilling limited engagement begin October 25 at the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York. 

Act now to save 25% on tickets using the code BOBA25

Get your tickets now at: goodenemyplay.com

On this episode, we discuss our Books & Boba October 2022 book club pick, The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun, a psychological thriller about a man who wakes up from a coma after suffering debilitating injuries after surviving a car crash that kills his wife and finds himself dependent on his grieving mother-in-law who he’s not sure he can trust. It’s a story about the terror of not being about to control your own body, and at the same time, a story about toxic masculinity as well.

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Played by Obie Award winner Francis Jue (Pacific Overtures, Soft Power), a father learns that closing the door to his past means shutting his daughter out in Good Enemy, a haunting and hopeful world premiere play from Yilong Liu. Performances for this smart, thrilling limited engagement begin October 25 at the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York. 

Act now to save 25% on tickets using the code BOBA25

Get your tickets now at: goodenemyplay.com