Books and Boba

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#201 - Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong Dec 03, 2022

Show notes

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 *

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Follow our hosts:

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

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

#200 - November 2022 Book News Nov 19, 2022

Show notes

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 *

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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/

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Follow our hosts:

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

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

#199 - Translator Chat w/ Anton Hur Nov 12, 2022

Show notes

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 *

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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

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Follow our hosts:

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

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

#198 - The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun Nov 05, 2022

Show notes

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 *

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Act now to save 25% on tickets using the code BOBA25

Get your tickets now at: goodenemyplay.com

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Follow our hosts:

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

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

#197 - Author Chat w/ Ryan Lee Wong Oct 29, 2022

Show notes

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 *

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

Get your tickets now at: goodenemyplay.com

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Follow our hosts:

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

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

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

#196 - October 2022 Book News Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

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)

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

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

#195 - Author Chat w/ Lygia Day Peñaflor Oct 14, 2022

Show notes

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)

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

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

#194 - You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa Oct 07, 2022

Show notes

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)

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

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

#193 - Author Chat w/ Judy I Lin Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

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)

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

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

#192 - September 2022 Book News Sep 23, 2022

Show notes

On this episode, we highlight the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our September 2022 mid-month check-in, this month we also check out some recent book awards updates and have a chat about the sad recent trends of book bans.

New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news:

Song of the Six Realms by Judy Lin
Good Fortune by C.K. Chau
Covenant series by LySandra Vuong
Oxherd Boy by Regina Linke
My Father, the Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang
Toto by Hyewon Yum
A Suffragist's Guide to the Antarctic by Yi Shun Lai
The Spirit Mirror by Roshani Chokshi
A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel
The No-Shoes Home by Helena Ku Rhee; illust by Myo Yim
I Drew a Heart by Gillian Sze
Perfect by Waka T. Brown; illust by Yuko Jones
Ganesha Goes Green by Lakshmi Thamizhmani; illust by Debasmita Dasgupta
A Sky That Sings by Anita Sanchez & George Steele; illust by Emily Mendoza
Goodnight Zodiac Animals by Jiemei Lin
Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Civil Rights Activist by Mia Wenjen; illust by Keith Henry Brown
Together on Eid by Sana Rafi; illust by Mariam Quraishi
When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar
The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories by Jamil Jan Kochai
All This Could be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews
As She Appears by Shelley Wong
The Rupture Tense by Jenny Xie
A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee
Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
Seasons of Purgatory Shahriar Mandanipour
Scattered All Over the Earth by Yoko Tawada
Ibn Arabi’s Small Death by Mohammed Hasan Alwan

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Follow our hosts:

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

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

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

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