We discuss our Books and Boba May 2019 book club pick, This is Paradise: Stories, by Kristiana Kahakauwila, a collection of six short stories taking place across the islands of Hawaii. We discuss our thoughts on the book’s portrayal of life in Hawaii, and its exploration of characters who have been shaped by their relationship to the islands.

It’s time for the May Books & Boba mid-month news roundup. On this episode, we check in with the latest publishing announcements and news out of the world of Asian American literature. We also chat about recent book to film adaptation news!

On this episode, we discuss our Books and Boba April 2019 book club pick, Bangkok Wakes to Rain, by Pitchaya Sudbanthad, a book featuring stories of a myriad of characters, all connected through time and space to a single building in the city of Bangkok. We discuss the book’s musings on the cycles of history, and the tensions between memory,culture, and technological progress.

For additional thoughts and discussion on the monthly pick, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums.

On this episode, we chat with Henry Lien, the author of The Peasprout Chen Series, a middle grade series about Peasprout Chen, a new student and immigrant to an academy that teaches wu liu, the art of martial arts figure skating. Henry shares about his journey of going from a career in law to writing fiction for youth, as well as what he’s learned about himself through the process.

This Episode’s Guest:

• Henry Lien, Author of The Peasprout Chen Series

It’s the April Books & Boba mid-month news roundup. On this episode, we check in with the latest publishing announcements and news out of the world of Asian American literature.

For additional thoughts and discussion on the monthly pick, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums.

The Books & Boba April 2019 pick is Bangkok Wakes to Rain by Pitchaya Sudbanthad

On this episode, we discuss our Books and Boba March 2019 book club pick, Darius the Great Is Not Okay, by Adib Khorram, the story of Darius, a teenage kid who loves Star Trek and Tolkien, and his trip to his mother’s home country of Iran to visit his ailing grandfather for the first time. We discuss Darius’ journey of finding his inner strength in Iran while dealing with clinical depression (CW: discussion of depression) and his anxieties of never really feeling like he fits in.

For additional thoughts and discussion on the monthly pick, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums.