Have you read books by Asian/Pacific American writers lately? To celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I've rounded up six of my favorites.
The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide is about a childless couple in their thirties, a small rented cottage, a garden that blooms different flowers all year, ailing friends and acquaintances and Chibi, the neighborhood cat. Set in the late 80s on the brink of a "changing" Tokyo, Hiraide's quiet novella is written in spare, meditative and poetic style.
In the Country by Mia Alvar features nine beautifully crafted stories that will take you to different parts of the world, from Manila to Bahrain to New York. Alvar's evocative writing explores Filipino diaspora that draws on her own experiences and the characters she’s met in her transnational life.
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng is about a Chinese family living in Ohio in the 70s. This suspenseful page-turner recounts the personal histories of the characters before the disappearance of the couple's favorite daughter.
Set in Hong Kong, The Expatriates by Janice Y. K. Lee is an absorbing tale about three American women experiencing difficult lives in a small affluent, well-educated community of Americans living abroad. There is a kidnapping, affairs and plenty of gossip.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is a gripping novel that delves deeply into love, friendship and self-harm. Spanning several decades, the story follows four close college friends as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. This book is over seven hundred pages but you'll keep reading to find out about Jude's dark past. Some readers recommend the audiobook version.
Finally, I had the pleasure of reading Adrian Tomine's collection of graphic short stories, Killing and Dying recently. His moving stories about identity, dreams and family dynamics are illustrated in full color and clean panels. My favorite was about a newly widowed father trying to build a relationship with his nerdy daughter who wants to be a stand-up comedian.
Do you have any recommendations?
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