On this episode, we chat with author K-Ming Chang about her latest novel, Organ Meats, a story about two childhood friends, Anita and Rainie, who realize that they're descended from dogs and connected by a red string of fate. Years after moving away, Rainie returns to her hometown to find her friend lost in a dream and sets out to rescue her. We chat with K-Ming about how she became a novelist, as well as the inspirations behind her writing style that steeped in Chinese folklore and metaphor.

Check out K-Ming's latest novel, Organ Meats, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

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

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The Books & Boba December 2023 pick is Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

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

On this episode, we discuss our November 2023 book club pick, Squire by Nadia Shammas & Sara Alfageeh, a graphic novel about a girl who belongs to a conquered group of a great empire, who sees an opportunity to rise above her station when an opportunity arises to become a squire in service to the imperial army. However, along the way she begins to realize that maybe there's no glory to be found after all in the practice of empire.

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

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The Books & Boba December 2023 pick is Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

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

On this episode, we chat with author Kate Chenli about her debut novel, A Bright Heart, a Chinese-inspired imperial court fantasy about a girl who wakes up in the past after being betrayed by the prince she loved, and armed with knowledge of the future, has the opportunity to take revenge on those who wronged her. Kate shares with us her own personal journey to becoming a published author, as well as the challenges of bringing tropes that are popular in Asian fiction to the west.

Follow Kate on Instagram at @katechenli.author and check out her debut novel, A Bright Heart, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*

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

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The Books & Boba February 2023 pick is The Charmed List by Julie Abe

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

Follow our hosts:

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

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The Books & Boba November 2023 pick is Squire by Nadia Shammas & Sara Alfageeh

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

We have a little pre-thanksgiving treat for you all! Recently, Reera & Marvin had the pleasure to guest on a fellow book podcast The Novel Tea, hosted by Neha and Shruti, to chat about the modern classic Pachinko.

If you like what you hear, remember to subscribe to The Novel Tea on your favored podcatcher!

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We had so much to say about Pachinko that we had to record a part 2! Joining us on this episode are special guests Marvin and Reera from Books & Boba. We talk to them about their podcast and mission, and get to hear more about Asian diaspora stories and their impact.  

In continuing our discussion on Pachinko, we talk about themes of wealth and opportunity, generational trauma, and relate these to some of our own family’s struggles. We talk more about Min Jin Lee’s process in writing this book, and we also share our unfiltered opinions on the Apple TV adaptation. 

Books mentioned:

Straw Dogs of the Universe by Ye Chun

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

Sorcerer of the Crown by Zen Cho

The Magical Language of Others by E.J. Koh

On our mid-month check in for November 2023, we review the latest Asian American book and publishing announcements, as well as follow up on the recent Scholastic book fair controversy as well as checking in on the latest literary awards!

Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:

• We Will Go to Jinju by Grace M. Cho
• The Typing Lady and To Live for Now by Ruth Ozeki
• Tea Is Love written by Adib Khorram; illust by Hanna Cha
• Mustafa's Mithai by Sana Rafi; illust by Nabi H. Ali
• Badge Quest by Guy Kopsombut
• Pig Town Party by Lian Cho
• A Hanbok for Hana by Korena Di Roma Howley; illust by Jaime Kim
• Aloha Everything by Kaylin Melia George; illust by Mae Waite
• Chang'e on the Moon by Katrina Moore; illust by Cornelia Li
• The Salt Princess by Anoosha Syed
• If You're Reading This, I'm Dead and The Comment Section by Arvin Ahmadi 
• Somewhere in the Gray by Michelle Jing Chan
• Inside the Compost Bin by Melody Sumaoang Plan; illust by Rong Pham & Vinh Nguyen
• Dreamslinger by Graci Kim
• Made for More by Chloe Ito Ward; illust by Gael Abary

*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*

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

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The Books & Boba November 2023 pick is Squire by Nadia Shammas & Sara Alfageeh

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

On this episode, we sit down with author Ye Chun to chat about her newest novel, Straw Dogs of the Universe, an decades spanning historical fiction about the early Chinese immigrants in America, following a daughter's search for her father who went missing after helping complete the transcontinental railroad.

Check out his novel, Straw Dogs of the Universe, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*

Follow our hosts:

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

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The Books & Boba February 2023 pick is The Charmed List by Julie Abe

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

On this episode, we discuss our October 2023 book club pick, Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang, a story about a piano prodigy conservatory dropout who takes a job at the high-end wellness company Holistik and gets drawn into the unsettling world of beauty for rich people, and what they're willing to pay to attain it. Part satire, part dystopian horror, with a helping of body horror and child of immigrant guilt, a perfect read for spooky month!

*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*

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

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The Books & Boba November 2023 pick is Squire by Nadia Shammas & Sara Alfageeh

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

On this episode, we are joined by Malaysian novelist Tan Twan Eng to talk about his new Booker Prize long-listed novel The House of Doors, a historical fiction story about British citizens living in colonial Malaya and their personal dramas that play out against the backdrop of significant real life events, including the murder trial Ethel Proudlock and the revolution of Dr. Sun Yat Sen. We chat with Twan about the challenges of writing fiction around real life characters and events as well as his inspiration for writing a story about white settlers in Malaysia.

Follow Twan on instagram at @tan.twan.eng and check out his novel, The House of Doors, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*

Follow our hosts:

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

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The Books & Boba October 2023 pick is Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang

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

On our mid-month check in for October 2023, we review the latest Asian American book and publishing announcements, as well as catch up on the latest controversial moves by a prominent book corporation.

Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:

• Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie
• Untitled middle grade by Karina Yan Glaser
• One Mad Cat by Vicky Fang 
• Zuni and the Memory Jar by Aisha Saeed; illust by Neha Rawat
• Bread Is Love by Pooja Makhijani; illust by Lavanya Naidu
• Crossing the Finish Line by Thushanthi Ponweera; illust by Maithili Joshi
• Nora at Night by April dela Noche Milne
• The Gowkaran Tree in the Middle of Our Kitchen by Shokoofeh Azar
• The Tales from Cabin 23 by Justina Ireland and Hanna Alkaf
• Be Careful, Xiao Xin! by Alice Pung; illust by Sher Rill Ng
• Auntie Q's Golden Claws Nail Salon by Van Hoang
• Dust by Gina Nguyen
• Muslim Mavericks series by Seema Yasmin
• Chopsticks Are... by Chloe Ito Ward; illust by Lynn Scurfield
• What Sparks a Fire? by Livia Blackburne; illust by Nicole Xu
• Two-List Thanksgiving by Christine Whan; illust by Sienna Kim
• The Ghost Key by S.R. Appavu
• The Three Beasts by Gillian Pascasio
• Gracie Under the Waves by Linda Sue Park
• Zeyna Lost and Found by Shafaq Khan
• The Serpent Rider by Yxavel Magno Diño
• What a Weirdo! and What a World! by Laan Cham
• Lost and Found at the Gurdwara by Baljinder Kaur

News stories covered on this episode:

• Scholastic to separate books on race and sexuality for book fairs
• We Need Diverse Books’s statement condemning Scholastic’s decision

*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*

Follow our hosts:

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

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The Books & Boba October 2023 pick is Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang

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

On this author chat episode, we sit down with bestselling author Jean Kwok to discuss her latest novel THE LEFTOVER WOMEN, a suspenseful story about 2 women, one recent immigrant from China searching for the daughter that was taken from her at birth, and an affluent publishing executive trying to balance the needs of her career with her beloved adopted daughter. We chat with Jean about her personal journey as an author, and what inspired her to write her latest novel.

Follow Jean on instagram at @jeankwokauthor and check out her novel, The Leftover Women available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*

Follow our hosts:

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

Follow us:

• Facebook
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The Books & Boba October 2023 pick is Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang

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