On this episode, we discuss our September 2024 pick, A Burning by Megha Majumdar, a social novel about a poor girl in Kolkata accused of a terrorist attack she wasn’t involved in, and the aspiring actress and teacher who have the chance to clear her name but at the cost of their own social ascension. Join us as we dive into Megha’s modern social novel which asks the question, who are the ones being burned in a society where anyone can become kindling?

Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors

On our mid-month check in for September 2024, we highlight some of the latest Asian American publishing announcements, get some updates on which authors of Asian descent who made it to the National Book Awards long-lists, and touch a little on the latest controversy with NaNoWriMo!

Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:

• Flashlight by Susan Choi
• Let It Be a Tale: Palestinian Journalists on Survival and Resistance edited by Zahra Hankir
• The Singular Life of Aria Patel by Samira Ahmed 
• Stars, Stripes, and Summer Nights by Celeste Dador
• How to Free a Jinn by Raidah Shah Idil
• Okchundang Candy by Jung-soon Go, translated by Aerin Park
• Nest of Tongues by Randy Ribay
• Every Single Splendor by Mae Respicio
• A Zombie Day by An Na; illust by August Zhang
• A Space for Nina by Karen Koh
• When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen-yi Lee
• Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay
• Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi
• The First State of Being by Erin Entrada
• The Tale of a Wall: Reflections on the Meaning of Hope and Freedom by Nasser Abu Srour, translated by Luke Leafgren 
• The Book Censor’s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa; translated from Arabic by Ranya Abdelrahman and Sawad Hussain
• Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ; translated by Lin King
• Where the Wind Calls Home by Samar Yazbek; translated by Leri Price

Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors

On this episode, we chat with author Randy Ribay about his latest novel, Everything We Never Had, a YA story about four generations of Filipino men, each grappling with their own unique relationships with identity, masculinity, and father-son relationships. We talk with Randy about his inspirations for the book, as well as his thoughts on its themes of breaking out of toxic cycles.

Follow Randy on Instagram at @RandyRibay and check out his novel Everything We Never Had, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors

On our mid-month check in for July 2024, we recap some of the latest Asian American publishing announcements, as well as get some updates on the latest Books & Boba pick to get picked up for TV and which books by Asian authors made it into the New York Time’s best 100 books of the century!

Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:

• Reasons We Break by Jesmeen Kaur Deo
• Arctic Adventures: A Tundra Tale by Jyoti Rajan Gopal; illust by Alexandra Mims Cook
• Cactus Home by Vikram Madan
• The First Girl on Stage: Tunga Dances the Yakshagana by Shruthi Rao; illust by Devika Joglekar
• Tea Leaf Eggs by Karen E. Hong
• Hold by Randy Ribay; illust Zeke Peña
• Miles Ahead by Minh Lê; illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao
• Passé It On by Dani Chuatico
• How to Fake a Love Story in 15 Days by Aashna Avachat
• Baba Palooza by A.D. Ghani; illust by Nadia Alam
• Amina Banana by Shifa Saltagi Safadi; illust by Aaliya Jaleel
• The Other Lata by Kirthana Ramisetti

News stories covered on this episode:

• George R.R. Martin honors R.F. Kuang and Xiran Jay Zhao with 2024 Alfie Awards
• Xiran Jay Zhao wins The Astounding Award at the 2024 Hugos

Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors

On this episode, we discuss our July 2024 book club pick The Sense of Wonder by Matthew Salesses, a contemporary Asian American novel following the story of Won Lee, the only Asian American player for an NBA team, and his rise to stardom during a period known as “The Wonder.” Inspired on the real life Linsanity phenomenon, and the discourse surrounding it, we dive into Matthew’s take on the Asian American experience (and K-drama tropes) through the eyes of the star himself, a Korean American sports writer, and a female Korean American entertainment executive.

Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors

On our mid-month check in for July 2024, we recap some of the latest Asian American publishing announcements, as well as get some updates on the latest Books & Boba pick to get picked up for TV and which books by Asian authors made it into the New York Time’s best 100 books of the century!

Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:

• Seen: The Story of Corky Lee and His Photographs of Asian America by Julie Leung
• The Big Jump by Marie Tang; illust by Gillian Eilidh O’Mara
• Appetite by P. Paramita
• Black Bird by Sonny Liew
• A Riddle of Thorns by Sarena & Sasha Nanua
• A Village Made of Rainbows by Jo Wu; illust by Alina Chau
• The Never-Ending Goodbye by Leila Boukarim; illust Afsaneh Sanei
• Upside Down Iftar by Maysa Odeh; illust by Nadine Issa

News stories covered on this episode:

• The Fortunes of Jaded Women optioned for a TV series
• The Shortlist for the 2024 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction
• NYT’s best 100 books of the century

Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors