On this week's episode, Francine sits down with author Sunisa Manning to unpack her debut novel A Good True Thai (link) which is a historical fiction set in Thailand during the 1970s student radicalization and revolution. Her book was a finalist for the 2020 Epigram Books Fiction Prize for Southeast Asian writers. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on censorship in Thailand, Sunisa's mixed-race experiences, and her struggles in resolving her Thai and American identity!

Lightning Round: 03:10

Research and lecture summary: 05:38

Advice for researchers and recommendations: 33:30

Manning's Top Recommendations:

• Buru Quartet by Pramoedya Ananta Toer (link)
• How to Read Now: Essays by Elaine Castillo (link)

The music on the podcast is from "Me and Some Friends", a musical project by a group of friends at Cornell, to experiment with how the beautiful timbres of Gamelan music can meld with hypnotic guitar parts to create a contemplative and unique experience. Check them out here.