On this episode, we discuss our November 2024 book club pick, Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu, an award winning novel about a guy living in cop show version of Chinatown who dreams of becoming a “Kung Fu Guy” but is stuck playing generic Asian guy roles, a metaphor for not only how Hollywood treats its Asian actors, but for the model minority myth as well.
To help us discuss this book, we’ve invited our friends Ada Tseng and Brian Hu from the Saturday School Podcast who provide their perspectives as longtime Asian American pop culture journalists and scholars.
Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors
On this episode, we chat with author Julie Leong chat about her debut novel The Teller of Small Fortunes, a cozy fantasy about a young traveling fortune teller who embarks on a journey across her adopted kingdom alongside her party of found family members. Julie shares her inspirations for writing her cozy adventure that explores western fantasy with a distinctly Asian diaspora lens.
Our world may have shifted to a darker timeline, but at the very least, there will still be books! On our November 2024 mid month check-in, we review the latest Asian American publishing announcements as well as check in on the latest book tea and awards!
Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:
The Offer by Neel Patel
Benny’s Bright Qing Ming, by Michelle Jing Chan
Melodies of the Sitar by Shachi Kaushik; illust. by Geeta Ladi
As I Dream of You by Jennifer Lee & LeUyen Pham
Dim Sum Battle by Tony Tong; illust. by LeUyen Pham
Deepa, MD by Priya Swaminathan
Look Under Me by Veera Hiranandani
Kill Your Darlings by Yuvashri Harish
Simmy and Maddy’s Snow Day by Pawan Singh; illust. by Meneka Repka
Lots and Lots of Ocelots by Vicky Fang; illust. by Angel Chang
Asha Means Hope by Pooja Ma-khi-jani; illust. by Nadia Alam
On this episode, we welcome author Nayantara Roy to chat about her debut novel The Magnificent Ruins, a story about an up and coming literary editor in New York who returns to Kolkata (where she was born) after finding out that she has inherited her family’s manor from her grandfather and has to deal with her extended family who all still live there. Tara shares with us her personal inspirations for her debut as well as her journey to becoming a published novelist by way of a career in the television industry.
On this episode, we discuss our October 2024 pick, The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw. A story following a flesh-eating mermaid and a plague doctor who encounter a village of children with an unsettling secret while on a journey through a snowy forest. Join us a we dive into this spooky read that melds the fairy tales of Anderson and Grimm and asks the question, what happens after the prince marries a creature from the depths of the sea?
Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors
On our mid-month check in for Spooky Month 2024, we highlight some of the latest Asian American publishing announcements, check in on the latest winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, and weigh in on the possible TV adaptation of RF Kuang’s Yellowface!
Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:
Kingdom of Waves by Melissa de la Cruz
One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram
Never, Ever After by Sue Lynn Tan
Wild Song by Candy Gourlay
Ask the Doctor: 75 Wacky and Wise Health Questions from Curious Kids by Betty Choi; illust by Jannie Ho
Don’t Eat Eustace by Lian Cho
The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye
Casting April by Wendy Lu
Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish
The Ex-girlfriend Murder Club by Gloria Chao
Schooltime Grumps by Katrina Moore; illust by Xindi Ya
Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus
Jeong Is Jeong by Jessica Yoon; illust by Michelle Lee
The Legendary Allies series by Linda Trinh; illust by Quynh Anh Nguyen
Books & Boba 