

Books and Boba
Potluck Podcast Collective
Books & Boba is a book club dedicated to books written by Asian and Asian American authors. We cover a wide range of genres including contemporary, historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, YA, nonfiction, thrillers, graphic novels, and memoirs.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 4, 2020 • 56min
#87 - Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
It's time to discuss our Books and Boba December 2019 book club pick, Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie, a modern day retelling of the Greek tragedy Antigone. We discuss the book's themes of what loyalty to family, love, and country means when your people are considered enemies of the state, and the physical and psychological costs of the sacrifices people make to survive as diaspora immigrants.For additional thoughts and discussion, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums on Goodreads.Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba January 2020 pick is The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu & translated by Ken LiuThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Dec 23, 2019 • 37min
#86 - December 2019 Mid-Month Check-In
On our last episode of the decade, we review the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our Books & Boba Mid-Month check-in for December 2019.For additional thoughts and discussion, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums on Goodreads.Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba December 2019 pick is Home Fire by Kamila ShamsieThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Nov 16, 2019 • 39min
#84 - November 2019 Mid-Month Check-In
On this episode, we go over the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our Books & Boba mid-month check-in for November 2019.For additional thoughts and discussion, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums on Goodreads.Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba November 2019 pick is Steel Crow Saga by Paul KruegerThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Nov 5, 2019 • 1h 4min
#83 - Summer of the Big Bachi by Naomi Hirahara
On this episode, we discuss our Books and Boba October 2019 book club pick, Summer of the Big Bachi by Naomi Hirahara, a story about an elderly and jaded Japanese-American gardener named Mas Arai who also happens to be a competent (though reluctant) sleuth. Against his wishes, Mas is drawn into a series of unfortunate events that force him to re-confront his experiences as a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima as he braces himself for the big bachi.For additional thoughts and discussion, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums on Goodreads.Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba November 2019 pick is Steel Crow Saga by Paul KruegerThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Oct 21, 2019 • 32min
#82 - October 2019 Mid-Month Check-In
On this episode, we go over the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our Books & Boba mid-month check-in for October 2019.For additional thoughts and discussion, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums on Goodreads.Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba September 2019 pick is Summer of the Big Bachi by Naomi HiraharaThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Oct 3, 2019 • 1h 3min
#81 - Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee
On this episode, we discuss our Books and Boba September 2019 book club pick, Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee, a story about a pair of sisters and their the testing of their bond as the younger one struggles with mental illness. We discuss the book's takes on the effects of mental illness on not only the person dealing with it, but also those around them. Reera also reflects on her own experiences and her thoughts on how the book addresses these issues.CW: Discussion of mental illness and some mention of suicideFor additional thoughts and discussion, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums on Goodreads.Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba September 2019 pick is Summer of the Big Bachi by Naomi HiraharaThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Sep 18, 2019 • 29min
#80 - September 2019 Mid-Month Check-In
It's time to go over the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our Books & Boba mid-month check-in for September 2019. We also recap the results of the 2019 Hugo Awards including the big splash that Jeannette Ng made in her acceptance speech for the Best New Writer award.For additional thoughts and discussion, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums on Goodreads.Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba September 2019 pick is Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira T. LeeThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Sep 4, 2019 • 1h 15min
#79 - Severance by Ling Ma
On this episode, we discuss our Books and Boba August 2019 book club pick, Severance, by Ling Ma, a story about a millennial New Yorker dealing with (or not dealing with) a zombie apocalypse. Marvin and Reera discuss the book's contemporary take on the Zombie genre and how the book deftly melds millennial anxieties with the nuances of life as a 1.5 generation Asian American immigrant.
For additional thoughts and discussion on the monthly pick, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums.
Follow our hosts:
Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)
Follow us:
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads Group
The Books & Boba September 2019 pick is Everything here is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee
This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Aug 20, 2019 • 38min
#78 - August 2019 Mid-Month Check-In
On this episode, we go over the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literatureon our August 2019 Books & Boba mid-month check-in. We also chat about the latest TV adaptation news and the recent passing of celebrated author Toni Morrison.
For additional thoughts and discussion, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums on Goodreads.
Follow our hosts:
Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)
Follow us:
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads Group
The Books & Boba August 2019 pick is Severance by Ling Ma
This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Aug 4, 2019 • 1h 4min
#77 - Zero Sum Game by S.L. Huang
On this episode, we discuss our Books and Boba July 2019 book club pick, Zero Sum Game, by S.L. Huang, a thriller about Cas Russel, a mercenary who uses her superhuman math skills to "retrieve" things for her clients. She's used to relying on herself to get through tough situations, but meets her match and has to rely on others for the first time to survive. Marvin and Reera discuss thier personal historie with math, how the diverse cast is portrayed, and the central themes of morality in the story.
For additional thoughts and discussion on the monthly pick, visit the Books & Boba Goodreads forums.
This Month's Book Club Panelists:
Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)
Follow us:
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads Group
The Books & Boba July 2019 pick is Zero Sum Game by S.L. Huang
This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective


