Wordless Wednesday: One Week to Go!
#BookReview: Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune
5 stars Genre: Magical realism Pros: Strong weaving in of cultural observationsPoetic and lyricalBonus recipes Cons: Appears to be a predictable narrative (but stick with it!) Absolutely loved this book! Lim's lyrical prose really draws you in. I love the magical aspects of this book and all the cultural details artfully woven into it.To be honest, I thought this book might be very straight-forward, with its transformative recipes. I was very glad to be proven wrong and … [Read more...]
Teen Vogue
"At this moment, someone is thinking good thoughts of you." Hi, all! It'll be a busy week for me since I'm prepping to host Thanksgiving :) Thus, this will be a super quick post. If you haven't already seen on my social media channels, Dragonfly Dreams was mentioned in a Teen Vogue article. It was picked as one of nine "Asian-Led Books that Deserve Their Own Movie Adaption." Squee! P.S. My book is listed in the #5 slot. If you don't want to click on the article, here's the full … [Read more...]
Crazy Rich Asians!
"You will soon be honored by someone you respect." Yes, I watched “Crazy Rich Asians” and LOVED it! It’s a super charming romantic comedy. Constance Wu really nailed the leading lady role. The interactions between the different generations and classes were exquisitely played out. I also really liked the side characters of Peik Lin and Oliver—hilarious! I did the read the book as well. The movie isn’t able to showcase the lavish details of the uber rich that well (because it’s visual … [Read more...]
#BookReview: Starswept
"Romance will come your way soon." Starswept by Mary Fan 4.5 stars Pros: An invented language! Unique world-building Focus on the arts Cons: Too much mystery in the beginning Starswept is a wonderful book. I love the premise of the situation, where the arts are adored by an alien race. There are also interesting underlying themes of prejudice, xenophobia, and the value of human lives in the novel. I’m able to really identify with the main character, Iris. I love how … [Read more...]
#AuthorProfile: Shawna Yang Ryan
"Your kind spirit will lead to many new friendships." Name: Shawna Yang Ryan Accomplishments: Fulbright Scholar; Teaches at University of Hawaii Latest book: Green Island Shawna Yang Ryan is super sweet and down-to-earth. Her latest novel, Green Island, took many years of research. She ended up interviewing people, both in Taiwan and here in America, about how the 228 Massacre affected their lives. Before penning her book, she also had to process all the turbulent emotions involved in … [Read more...]
Vote
"Assert yourself, your ideas are worthwhile." Who knew that only half of Asian Americans vote? Last weekend, there was also a series of free concerts held to entertain people and get them to register to vote. Fellow AAs, let's go out there and make a difference! … [Read more...]
Diverse Phantom of the Opera!
"Your loyalties will be rewarded." Okay, I admit it: I love musicals. Even when I was forced to watch Westside Story in high school and all my peers snickered at the Jets versus Sharks, I relished it. Of course, I also remember being glued to the TV set watching Lea Salonga perform in Les Miserables. Now, I'm excited to see an Asian American female lead and an African American actor as partners in Phantom of the Opera (find the plot summary and more here). Hurrah! … [Read more...]
Colorful Casting
Gunjih leuhnggo hau: the officials have two mouthsWithin the character for "official" appears two mouths (they look like square boxes). Regular people use one mouth. This phrase means that those in power can speak much louder. Whether they're right or wrong, you still have to listen to them. Some things are out of one's control. When a writer gets their work turned into a movie, it transitions out of their hands. Film adaptations require different skills. That's why there are … [Read more...]
