Books and Boba

On this episode, we discuss our February 2024 book club pick, Untethered Sky, an action packed novella by Fonda Lee about a young woman as she becomes a Ruhker, who are warriors that hunt monsters using giant mythical birds called rocs. *Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba March 2024 pick is Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum & translated by Shanna Tan This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we chat with Ray Xu about his debut middle grade graphic novel Alterations, a charming semi-autobiographical tale of a kid growing up in a crowded apartment with his mom, older sister, and grandmother, just trying to fit in and stand out. We chat with Ray about the real life inspirations behind his novel, as well as his own creative journey to becoming an animation story editor and published author.Follow Ray on Instagram at @rayxuxu and check out Ray's graphic novel, Alterations, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba February 2024 pick is Untethered Sky by Fonda LeeThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On our mid-month check in for February 2024, we recap the latest Asian American book and publishing announcements, as well as catch up on the latest book tea, including controversies from a prominent book awards.Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:Me and My Pet Demon by Remy LaiOnce Upon a Tail by Audrey Perrott & Charlene ChuaA Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim100th Day of School with Yasmin by Saadia Faruqi; illust by Debby RahmaliaThe Baby Who Stayed Awake Forever by Sandra SalsburyThis Is Dance by Rekha S. Rajan; illust by Chris ParkFolk Remedy by Jem YoshiokaNavigating Night by Julie Leung; illust by Angie KangA Good Indian Girl by Mansi ShahNews stories covered on this episode:Controversy over 'inexplicable' exclusion of R F Kuang and Xiran Jay Zhao from Hugo Awards 2023“YA Isn’t Just for Young Adults” op-ed criticism*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba February 2024 pick is Untethered Sky by Fonda LeeThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we chat with author Sajni Patel to talk about her new YA fantasy novel A Drop of Venom, a retelling of the Medusa myth taking place in an Indian-inspired fantasy setting. Her novel follows the story of two people, one is a naga, deemed a monster by the powers that be, and the other is a slayer, who is sent to kill monsters by those same powers. Sajni shares with us why she was inspired to adapt Medusa's story, and why her tale is now more relevant than ever.Follow Sajni on Instagram at @sajnipatelbooks and check out Sajni's novel, A Drop of Venom, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba February 2024 pick is Untethered Sky by Fonda LeeThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode we discuss our January 2024 book club pick, Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City, by Jane Wong. In this memoir, Jane shares about her upbringing in Atlantic City as a restaurant kid, her trials and tribulations in love, as well as her tumultuous journey to becoming a writer and academic. Jane's stories aren't all fun-times, but not all sad-times neither, and they are beautifully brought to life with her evocative prose that will stay with us for some time.*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba February 2024 pick is Untethered Sky by Fonda LeeThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this author chat, we sit down with French-Chinese-American author Aube Rey Lescure to talk about her debut novel River East, River West, a story that blends coming-of-age and historical fiction following the stories of a young daughter of an expat living in Shanghai who dreams of a better life in America (or at the very least among the Americans living in Shanghai), and her new stepfather, a Chinese businessman pursuing his own dreams after his life was derailed during the Cultural Revolution. We chat with Aube about her inspirations for he story as well as her personal journey to becoming a novelist.Follow Aube on Instagram @aubenoisette and check out Aube's debut novel, River East, River West, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba January 2024 pick is Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City by Jane WongThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

It's time for our first mid-month book news check-in for 2024! It's been a light news month to start off the year, but that doesn't mean we don't have some exciting new publishing announcements to go over, including a new literary project by Keanu Reeves! Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves & China MiévilleBones of Jade, Flesh Like Ice by Gracie MarsdenThe Lotus Inn by Nisha SharmaMen Like Ours by Bindu BansinathMake My Wish Come True by Alyson Derrick & Rachael LippincottShe Gets the Girl: A Christmas Novella by Alyson Derrick & Rachael LippincottSun, Moon and Star by Nancy So MillerA Fly in the Chai by Zenia Wadhwani; illust by Chaaya PrabhatI Am a Bon Dancer by Brandi-Ann Uyemura; illust by Amy Matsushita-BealNo Purchase Necessary by Maria MarianayagamFollow Us by Liann Zhang*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba January 2024 pick is Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City by Jane WongThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we discuss our December 2023 book club pick, Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong, a spin-off taking place four years after the events of Chloe's first duology, Foul Lady Fortune follows returning character Rosalind Lang, an supernatural assassin seeking redemption for her actions by working for the Kuomintang in 1930's Shanghai, who is sent on a mission to infiltrate a Japanese aligned newspaper alongside Orion Hong, an infuriatingly charming spy, to uncover a suspected international terror plot. *Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba January 2024 pick is Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City by Jane WongThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

For our first episode of the new year, we sit down with Wendy Chin-Tanner to talk about her debut novel King of the Armadillos, a historical fiction coming-of-age story of a young Chinese American immigrant from the Bronx in the 1950's, who is sent to a federal medical institution in Louisiana after he is diagnosed with Hansen's Disease (also known as Leprosy). We chat with Wendy about how this story was inspired by the true story of her father who spent his formative years being treated for Hansens, as well as how she skillfully mixed in Asian American history into her coming-of-age story.Follow Sage on Instagram @wendychintanner at Check out Wendy's debut graphic novel, King of the Armadillos, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba January 2024 pick is Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City by Jane WongThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we chat with graphic novelist (& animation artist) Sage Cotugno about their debut graphic novel, The Glass Scientists Volume 1, a story mashing up Victorian horror classics about Dr Jekyll and his Society for Arcane Sciences, which provides rogue (not mad) scientists a safe place to practice their rogue experiments. We chat with Sage about their love of anime and Victorian horror, as well as their background in the animation industry and how that led them to creating comics.Follow Sage on Instagram @arythusa at Check out Sage's debut graphic novel, The Glass Scientists Volume 1, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba December 2023 pick is Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe GongThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective