Books and Boba

On this episode, we discuss our June 2020 book club pick, Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata & translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori. A short and humorous novel about Keiko, a Japanese who finds it hard to interact with people, who finds contentment in the routines of working at a convenience store, where she can do a good job and feel like a "normal person" contributing to society. We discuss what happens when  her ideal life is thrown for a loop as societal pressure mounts for her to settle down and get a real job, get married, or both. Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba July 2020 pick is The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata MasseyThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we go over the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our June 2020 mid-month check-in. We also discuss some of the recent social media movements in literature including #BlackoutBestsellerList and #PublishingPaidMe.Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba June 2020 pick is Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata & translated by Ginny Tapley TakemoriThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

We chat with Joe Ide, author of the IQ series of detective novels about Isaiah Quintabe, a freelance private investigator solving mysteries and doing odd jobs for his Long Beach neighborhood. We ask Joe about how his experience growing up in South Central LA helped him with writing his novels, as well as his previous career as a screenwriter for hire. We also chat about HI-FIVE, the latest chapter of the IQ series that came out earlier this year, and the upcoming HBO adaptation of the series.---Today's episode is brought to you by Novel Gazing, the newest literary fiction podcast from Book Riot, North America's largest independent book site. Novel Gazing is your destination for all things literary fiction, bringing you news from the world of fiction, and recommendations for under-the-radar reads, works in translation, buzzy books, and more. Stay in the know, expand your TBR and your view of literary fiction, and, of course, have some laughs with hosts Mary Kay McBrayer and Louise Johnson. - Subscribe to Novel Gazing wherever you get your podcasts!---Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba June 2020 pick is Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata & translated by Ginny Tapley TakemoriThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

A little late, but here is our discussion of the Books & Boba May 2020 book club pick, The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts by Maxine Hong Kingston, our first attempt at reading an Asian American literary classic. We dive into this memoir that blends autobiographical storytelling with folklore and oral histories, and reflect upon our own experiences as second generation children of immigrants. ---Books & Boba recognizes that we are currently in a historic moment in American history. We know that Black lives matter and stand with the brave people fighting across the world for an end to systemic racism in our institutions as well as the death and inequality those systems cause. For a near-comprehensive list of resources on how you can support the fight, whether on the streets or from your home, click on this link (shoutout to Nico for putting it together)---Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba June 2020 pick is Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata & translated by Ginny Tapley TakemoriThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

We're a little late, but on this episode, we recap our book recommendations for the last week of May's #AsianBooksChallenge. Thanks to everyone who participated in our challenge and recommended books by Asian and Asian American authors!---Books & Boba recognizes that we are currently in a historic moment in American history. We know that Black lives matter and stand with the brave people fighting across the world for an end to systemic racism in our institutions as well as the death and inequality those systems cause. For a near-comprehensive list of resources on how you can support the fight, whether on the streets or from your home, click on this link (shoutout to Nico for putting it together)---Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba June 2020 pick is Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata & translated by Ginny Tapley TakemoriThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we go over the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our May 2020 mid-month check-in, as well as recap our book recommendations for week 3 of #AsianBooksChallengeFor additional thoughts and discussion, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums on Goodreads.---This episode is brought to you by Libro.fm, your independent bookstore for digital audiobooks! Get 3 audiobooks for the price of one month by signing up with the promo code "booksandboba" - Subscribe here---Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba May 2020 pick is The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong KingstonThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode we chat with author Christina Soontornvat about her latest middle grade novel A Wish in the Dark, a tale taking place in Thai-inspired fantasy world loosely inspired bt Les Miserables. We chat with Christina about her inspirations for writing the book as well as how she became a writer after a career as a science educator.Follow Christina at @soontornvat and pick up A Wish in the Dark at your favorite bookseller!---This episode is brought to you by Book of the Month! Subscribe today and get your first month's book for $9.99 with our promo code BOOKSANDBOBA---Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba May 2020 pick is The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong KingstonThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

It's Asian American Heritage month 2020! Books and Boba is celebrating by launching our very own #AsianBooksChallenge! Each day of May, participants are encouraged to recommend a book written by an Asian author in a variety of categories. On this special episode of Books and Boba, Reera and Marvin recap their picks for week one.---This episode is brought to you by Libro.fm, your independent bookstore for digital audiobooks! Get 3 audiobooks for the price of one month by signing up with the promo code "booksandboba" - Subscribe here---Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba May 2020 pick is The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong KingstonThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode we discuss our April 2020 book club pick Mimi Lee Gets a Clue by Jennifer J. Chow, a cozy mystery story about Mimi Lee, a pet groomer in LA who gets falsely accused of murder and tries to clear her name with the help of her trusty cat marshmallow (who can telepathically communicate with Mimi), all while trying to keep her meddling mother at bay while she tries to woo her hot lawyer neighbor.For additional thoughts and discussion, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums on Goodreads---This episode is brought to you by Book of the Month! Subscribe today and get your first month's book for $9.99 with our promo code BOOKSANDBOBA---Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba May 2020 pick is The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong KingstonThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we go over the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our April 2020 mid-month check-in.For additional thoughts and discussion, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums on Goodreads.---This episode is brought to you by Book of the Month! Subscribe today and get your first month's book for $9.99 with our promo code BOOKSANDBOBA---Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba April 2020 pick is Mimi Lee Gets a Clue by Jennifer J. ChowThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective