Books and Boba

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 *

---

Follow our hosts:

• Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
• Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba December 2022/January 2023 pick is Babel by R.F. Kuang

**

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.

**

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

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 *

---

Follow our hosts:

• Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
• Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba December 2022/January 2023 pick is Babel by R.F. Kuang

** 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. **

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

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 *

---

This episode is sponsored by Audible Theater Presents: Good Enemy

A father learns that closing the door to his past means shutting his daughter out in Good Enemy, Yilong Liu’s ”gripping and undeniably important world premiere” (Theatermania) now playing at the Minetta Lane Theatre. When Howard makes a surprise cross-country trip to visit his college-aged, TikTok-loving daughter, he’s forced to confront the realities of their relationship and the rift between them—a rift caused by Howard’s refusal to face memories of his life as a young man in China. In a smart, thrilling story that deftly weaves together two generations and two continents amidst sweeping social changes, Good Enemy explores the power of human connections, affirming that no one lives an “ordinary” life, no matter how hard they might try.

“With a serious mind, an inventive spirit, and a goofball heart, Good Enemy is a mélange of a play about getting a second chance, and being wise enough to grab it,” cheers The New York Times. Do the wise thing and get your tickets today! Unlock tickets from $45 now using code BOBA25.

Get your tickets now at: https://goodenemyplay.com/  

---

Follow our hosts:

• Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
• Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba November 2022 pick is Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

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 *

---

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

---

Follow our hosts:

• Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
• Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba November 2022 pick is Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

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

---

Follow our hosts:

• Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
• Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba November 2022 pick is Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On our latest author chat, we sit down with Ryan Lee Wong to chat about his debut novel Which Side Are You On? A story about a young Asian American man, struggling to live up to his ideals as an activist in today's world, who finds inspiration and frustration through conversations with his mother, who has a history in activism herself, as they drive around Los Angeles. We chat with Ryan about his real life inspirations for the story, his thoughts on activism, and why LA has the best Korean food in the country.

Follow Ryan on instagram at @ryanlwong and check out her novel Which Side Are You On? on sale now!

*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. 

Unlock $25 tickets using code BOBA25- offer valid thru 11/5. 

Get your tickets now at: goodenemyplay.com

---

Follow our hosts:

• Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
• Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba October 2022 pick is The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we highlight the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our October 2022 mid-month check-in, including checking in on some bookstore drama and unionizing in the publishing world.

New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news:

• Homeseeking by Karissa Chen
• Red by Cherry Zong
• Prodigy by Cyrena Lee; illust by Julia Kuo
• The Magic Lunch Box by Hanna Kim; illust by Emily Paik
• My Mama Is a Work of Art by Hana Acabado
• The Healers of Harlem: The Lost History of the Black Women Medical Pioneers in America's First Desegregated City Hospital by Nina Chhita
• The Red Car to Hollywood by Jennie Liu
• The Shadow and the Ghost by Cat Min
• Divining the Leaves by Shveta Thakrar
• Letters for My Brown Self by Sarah Mughal Rana
• Leo's First Vote by Christina Soontornvat; illust by Isabel Roxas
• Mami King by Jacqueline Chio-Lauri; illust Kristin Sorra
• Once Upon a Sari by Zenia Wadhwani; illust by Avani Dwivedi
• Chinese Menu by Grace Lin
• Little Night Says Goodnight by Grace Lin
• Born Naughty: My Childhood in China by Jin Wang, with Tony Johnston; illust by Anisi Baigude
• Welcome, Pink! by Laan Cham
• The Red Roti written by Namita Moolani Mehra; illust by Beena Mistry
• Scroll of Heaven by Shannon Lee & Fonda Lee
• The Rainbow Bangles by Thushanthi Ponweera; illust by Maithili Joshi
• The Rock in My Throat by Kao Kalia Yang; illust by Jiemei Lin
• Making a Scene by Constance Wu
• Everyone Hates Kelsie Miller by Meredith Ireland
• If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Follow our hosts:

• Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
• Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba October 2022 pick is The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we chat with author Lygia Day Peñaflor about her debut latest novel Creep: A Love Story, a story about a girl who might be too big a fan of her high school's "it" couple. We chat with Lygia about her inspirations for the story and what it was like to get into the head of an extreme stan.

Follow Lygia on instagram at @lygiaday and check out her novel Creep: A Love Story on sale now!

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Follow our hosts:

• Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
• Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba October 2022 pick is The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we discuss our Books & Boba September 2022 pick, You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa, a twisty thriller about Amaya, a woman who returns to her hometown for the first time in years to stop the wedding between her ex-best friend and her ex-boyfriend. To do so, she need to re-enter the cutthroat Sri-Lankan high society that she thought she had left behind forever. But is everything really how it seems? Or is there something dark festering underneath this perfect wedding that Amaya is willing to go as far as it takes to stop it?

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Follow our hosts:

• Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
• Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba October 2022 pick is The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we welcome bestselling author Judy I. Lin to chat about her debut duology A Magic Steeped in Poison and A Venom Dark and Sweet, an Asian-inspired fantasy series about magical tea, imperial court intrigue, and a young woman's quest for redemption. We chat with Judy about her inspirations behind the story, as well as her series' whirlwind publishing schedule. 

Follow Judy on instagram at @judyilinauthor and check out her novels A Magic Steeped in Poison and A Venom Dark and Sweet on sale now!

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Follow our hosts:

• Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
• Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba September 2022 pick is You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective