Author Archives: Lily

About Lily

East Coast Chinese American. I like thick-skinned dumplings and hard-covered books.

8Books Review: “The Making of Asian America,” by Erika Lee

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Lily

Erika Lee’s The Making of Asian America is a masterful work that surveys hundreds of years of Asian American history, taking an expansive view of both Asian and America, to the benefit of all. Lee investigates histories of race relations locally, … Continue reading →

Posted in 8Books, Current Events, Discrimination, History | 4 Comments

8Books Review: “In the Country,” by Mia Alvar

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Lily

Mia Alvar’s beautiful collection of nine short stories, In the Country, is one you don’t want to miss. Her stories traverse the Filipino diaspora, from Bahrain to Manila, to New York and back. But it is Alvar’s lyrical language that is the most compelling, … Continue reading →

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8Books: Jenny Zhang on Michael Derrick Hudson

Posted on September 17, 2015 by Lily

Included in this year’s edition of The Best American Poetry, edited by Sherman Alexie, is a poem worthy of significant controversy. It is a poem by one Yi-Fen Chou, the Chinese pen name of a white writer named Michael Derrick … Continue reading →

Posted in 8Books, Books, Current Events, Discrimination, Entertainment | 1 Comment

8Books Review: “Bright Lines,” by Tanwi Nandini Islam

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Lily

Tanwi Nandini Islam’s debut novel Bright Lines is a coming-of-age story for three young girls in Brooklyn and a family trying to find itself. Ella returns home from college for the summer to see her aunt, uncle, and cousin in Brooklyn, her … Continue reading →

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8Books Review: “The Hundred Year Flood,” by Matthew Salesses

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Lily

Matthew Salesses’ debut novel The Hundred Year Flood is a lyrical adventure through the streets of Prague. Young Korean American Tee at the center of everything, as he tries to reinvent himself and separate himself from his adopted parents and the … Continue reading →

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8Books Review: “Being Japanese American, 2nd Edition,” by Gil Asakawa

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Lily

Gil Asakawa’s newest edition of his JA sourcebook, Being Japanese American is chock full of information and anecdotes to guide anyone through Japanese American life, questions, issues, etc. I should say, of course, that I am not Japanese American, but … Continue reading →

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8Books Review: “Between Mao and McCarthy,” by Charlotte Brooks

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Lily

Charlotte Brooks’ new book, Between Mao and McCarthy, is an impressive scholarly tome on the evolution of Chinese American politics in the years after World War II. It looks specifically at the evolution of politics in New York and San … Continue reading →

Posted in 8Books, History, New York, Politics, San Francisco Bay Area | Leave a comment

8Books Review: “Young-Hee and the Pullocho” by Mark James Russell

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Lily

“Paths are ephemeral and strange, at once obvious and frustrating. This world is wild and dangerous, but the path is usually a safer place to be.” Young-Hee and the Pullocho follows our young adventuring title character on a fantastical journey … Continue reading →

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8Books Review: “Re Jane” by Patricia Park

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Lily

I stumbled across Patricia Park’s debut novel Re Jane while looking through reading lists saying what should have been on this year’s (not surprisingly) all-white cast of New York Times recommended summer books. And I have to say, that it is a … Continue reading →

Posted in 8Books, Books, Dating, Entertainment, Family, New York | Leave a comment

8Books Sale Announcement: $1.99 for On Gold Mountain eBook

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Lily

Hey readers! Just to let y’all know, Lisa See’s On Gold Mountain is on sale until June 14 for just $1.99 as a Kindle eBook. Best known for her novels, Shanghai Girls, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, China Dolls, among others, On … Continue reading →

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8Books Review: “The Sympathizer” by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Lily

Viet Thanh Nguyen’s expertly and cunningly crafted debut novel The Sympathizer dictates a confession in the years after the end of the Vietnam War. At it’s very base, this is a spy’s story. Told from his perspective to an unnamed Commandant … Continue reading →

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8Books Review: Island, Second Edition

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Lily

Shortly before the Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay was scheduled for demolition in 1970, a California State Park Ranger discovered poems carved in the walls of the former detention center and so began a grassroots movement to preserve … Continue reading →

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