Books and Boba Folgen

On this episode we discuss our July 2023 book club pick The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke by Tina Makereti. A coming-of-age story of a Maori boy, armed with a British education and eager to see the world, who ventures to London to be a living exhibit for a British artist's exhibition. It's an epic tale written in the style of Victorian fiction, but told from the perspective of an indigenous youth growing up under colonization.*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*Timecodes:01:45 - Book jacket description02:40 - First impressions and David Copperfield vibes06:50 - Hemi's upbringing08:42 - Theme of aligning yourself with white majority for survival and privileges11:00 - Hemi’s adoption into a new Maori tribe11:36 - Empire’s goal of erasing marginalized cultural identities13:28 - Hemi agrees to become a living exhibit16:09 - Being tainted by colonization education17:45 - Hemi's first impression of Victorian England18:50 - Victorian England’s class divisions19:17 - The Angus family21:42 - Hemi’s introduction to other living exhibits22:40 - Representation matters25:10 - Intro to Billy Neptune & Henrietta 27:47 - Hemi's sexuality awakening30:12-31:30 Trigger of SA31:33 - What is savage and what is civilized?32:33 - Women's limited rights in Victorian London35:00 - Hemi’s time as a sailor and camaraderie with non-white crewmen39:25-40:15 Trigger of SA40:20 - Life on the margins outside civilization’s watch43:17- What is home?47:22 - Ending50:57 - Hemi meeting a Black doctor and learning about intersectionality53:08 - Taika Waititi options book for adaptationhttps://variety.com/2020/film/asia/taika-waititi-piki-films-indigenous-film-tv-colonization-1234691066/Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba August 2023 pick is Bitter Medicine by Mia TsaiThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we welcome Thien Pham, the author and illustrator of Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam, his graphic memoir recounting his life growing up as a refugee in America, with each chapter centering around a specific food-related memory. Follow Thien on instagram at @thiendog and check out his graphic memoir, Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam, 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:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba July 2023 pick is The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke by Tina Makereti

On our mid-month check in for July 2023, we review the latest Asian American book and publishing announcements, while catching up on a pretty terrible few weeks for the Asian American literature community (and the literature industry in general). Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon EastonSuka's Farm written by Ginger Park and Frances Park; illust by Tiffany ChenKai Po Che: Mini's Perfect Diamond written by Suhasini Gupta; illust by Devika OzaKill Her Twice by Stacey LeeUntitled YA novel by Sahar JahaniCincinnati Lee and the Spear of Destiny by Heidi HeiligHana's Hajj written by Zainab Khan; illust by Anait SemirdzhyanYou Are Loved by Sujean RimTiny Wonders and Nightsong by Sally Soweol HanA Place in the World written by Rina Singh; illust by Christopher PoulerInfinite Sky: The Story of Tsien Hsue-Shen, the Scientist Who Took Two Countries into Space by Celeste PewterAnother Word for Neighbor written by Angela Pham Krans; illustrated by Thai PhuongThe Demon's Prince by Remy Lai; illust by Lauren DimayaAdoration by June HurEliza, from Scratch by Sophia LeeThe Clock by Pam FongEmbroidered by Farida ZamanPickling Time by Marzieh Abbas; illust by Darshika VermaNews stories covered on this episode:BTS’s book Beyond the Story becomes instant #1 NYT BestsellerYu & Me Bookstore flooded from fireHarperCollins/Harlequin shuts down Inkyard PressSmithsonian abruptly cancels 2023 Asian American Literature Festival (AALF)AALF co-organizers’ open letter to the Smithsonian*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba July 2023 pick is