Asian Book Club

In the sixth and final read of book club pick no. 13, we see how the two relationships in the story - between Astrid and Michael as well as between Rachel and Nick - pan out. Kevin Kwan is a Singapore-born American. Kwan was named one of the "Five Writers to Watch" by The Hollywood Reporter in 2014, then made Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in 2018. You can learn...

In the fifth read of book club pick no. 13, we experience the opulence, the exchanges, and the possibility blossoming from the Khoo Wedding. Kevin Kwan is a Singapore-born American. Kwan was named one of the "Five Writers to Watch" by The Hollywood Reporter in 2014, then made Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in 2018. You can learn more about Kevin Kwan's work t...

In this fourth read of book club pick no. 13, Rachel was having a rough time, facing a mean girl situation at the bachelorette party as well as having information dug up behind her back. Kevin Kwan is a Singapore-born American. Kwan was named one of the "Five Writers to Watch" by The Hollywood Reporter in 2014, then made Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in 2018. Yo...

In this third read of book club pick no. 13, the characters find themselves in secret social circles all around Asia. Some are delighted, others mildly amused, while still others can't wait to find an escape. Kevin Kwan is a Singapore-born American. Kwan was named one of the "Five Writers to Watch" by The Hollywood Reporter in 2014, then made Time magazine's list of 100 most infl...

In this second read of book club pick no. 13, Rachel and Nick arrive in Singapore and spend time with friends. Other characters are struggling to accept their current circumstances. Kevin Kwan is a Singapore-born American. Kwan was named one of the "Five Writers to Watch" by The Hollywood Reporter in 2014, then made Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in 2018. You can...

In this first read of book club pick no. 13, we are introduced to a whole cast of characters and get a taste of how money plays such a big role in some of their lives. Kevin Kwan is a Singapore-born American. Kwan was named one of the "Five Writers to Watch" by The Hollywood Reporter in 2014, then made Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in 2018. You can learn more ab...

In the last read of book club pick no. 12, the Mythology Class put up an epic fight against the aswang. Arnold Arre is a multi-talented comic book artist and writer. He's won National Book Awards from the Manila Critics Circle for The Mythology Class and Trip to Tagaytay . You can learn more about his work through his website at ⁠⁠Arnold-Arre.com⁠⁠ and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ArnoldArre⁠⁠ . F...

In the second read of book club pick no. 12, the Mythology Class captures the last of the engkantos without realizing they have even bigger problems ahead - the aswang. Arnold Arre is a multi-talented comic book artist and writer. He's won National Book Awards from the Manila Critics Circle for The Mythology Class and Trip to Tagaytay . You can learn more about his work through his website at...

We start book club pick no. 12 on the 50th episode of the podcast! In this episode, the book introduces us to the characters as well as the fantastical world they enter as the Mythology Class. Arnold Arre is a multi-talented comic book artist and writer. He's won National Book Awards from the Manila Critics Circle for The Mythology Class and Trip to Tagaytay . You can learn more about his work...

[Content Warning: death, loss of a child, violence] In our last read of book club pick no. 11, the characters finally make their way home . . . for the most part. Vanessa Chan is a Malaysian author whose work has also appeared in Vogue, Esquire, and more. She is now based in Brooklyn. You can learn more about her work through her website at ⁠⁠⁠VanessaJChan.com⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠VanJChan...

[Content Warning: murder, alcoholism, child abuse, sexy time] In our third read of book club pick no. 11, the characters continue to manage under the British and Japanese occupations, following the two different timelines. From Cecily's perspectives in particular, we see the storm figuratively and literally brewing. Vanessa Chan is a Malaysian author whose work has also appeared in Vogue, Esqu...

[Content warning: murder, alcoholism, references to sexual assault] In our second read of book club pick no. 11, we see the character development of the Alcantara family, particularly from the points of view of the children and their mother. From several perspectives, circumstances break down even further. Vanessa Chan is a Malaysian author whose work has also appeared in Vogue, Esquire, and more....

[ Content warning: sexual assault, child abuse ] In our first read of book club pick no. 11, we are introduced to the Alcantara family. As readers, we are able to see through the perspectives of Cecily (the mother), Jujube (the eldest child), Abel (the middle child), and Jasmin (the youngest child). Even in this initial glimpse, the characters struggle under colonial occupation. Vanessa Chan is a...

In this last read of book club pick no. 10, Domingo puts the final pieces together, solving the mystery that is Monica Reed's whereabouts. Complete with an elaborate setup, a car chase scene, and a big reveal, the ending gives us the resolution we're looking for while leaving us with a few unanswered questions. Cindy Fazzi is a Filipino-American writer who lives in the Sacramento area in C...

In the third read of book club pick no. 10, a plot twist neither of us - Jamae nor Steven - could have predicted takes us by surprise. Domingo continues to make small dot connections with the little leading evidence he has. Cindy Fazzi is a Filipino-American writer who lives in the Sacramento area in California. She's a former Associated Press reporter and has worked as a journalist in the Phi...

In this second read of book club pick no. 10, Domingo relies on the information he gets from Christian Price and Tess Chua to follow the leads pointing toward Monica Reed. Throughout the episode, we - Steven and Jamae - talk about how effective we think Domingo's been at his job so far. Cindy Fazzi is a Filipino-American writer who lives in the Sacramento area in California. She's a former...

In this first read of book club pick no. 10, we follow Domingo in his third search for Monica Reed, whom he has referred to as "multo" (translated as "ghost" in Tagalog). Although he's caught her (and "lost her") twice before, he's running into complications this third time around. Cindy Fazzi is a Filipino-American writer who lives in the Sacramento area in C...

Did you eat yet? This is how our immigrant families show they care for and love us. In this segment, we share the foods and specific meal times we'd pair with the past five books we've read - Min Jin Lee's Pachinko, Melissa Chadburn's A Tiny Upward Shove, Elain Hsieh Chou's Disorientation, Sarah Echavarre Smith's The Boy with the Book Store, and the romance anthology Pasko...

As the year draws to a close, enjoy this special episode where Jamae and Steven talk all things holidays and share their wishes for you and yours this season. Find us on ⁠⁠ ⁠AsianBookClubPod.com⁠ ⁠⁠ and on Instagram @ ⁠⁠⁠AsianBookClubPod⁠ ⁠⁠. You can also support us by buying books through ⁠⁠ ⁠Asian Book Club's Bookshop⁠⁠⁠ . Hosts : Jamae Ann Sabangan and Steven Park Edits : Steven Park Music...

In this final read of book club pick no. 9, we go through the last two stories in the anthology. As Vida and Rafa navigate a secret relationship in "So It's You", Drew and Gel pretend to get back together for the sake of the Moore family in "My Only Love". Maida Malby cooks up multicultural, contemporary romances with "heat, sizzle, [and] spice". You can learn mor...

In this second read of book club pick no. 9, we dive into the next two stories in the anthology. As Ollie and Norah figure out how to get into Lola Naty's party in "The Deal", Eden and Nick navigate some awkward territory and hurtful history in "Illicit". Tif Marcelo is a veteran nurse who writes about "the strength of families, the endurance of friendships, and heartf...

In this first read of book club pick no. 9, we're introduced to the first two stories in the anthology. While Ruby and Mason in "Last Minute" could almost boil over with how much fire they have toward each other, Sophie and Travis in "Volcanic Love" cannot deny the embers left burning between them. Sarah Smith wants to make the world a nicer place, "one kissing story a...

In this last read of book club pick no. 9, things get messy before they get better. Max and Joelle's landlord finally clears up the money problems; Max finally sees his mom again; and Joelle puts the pieces back together after she and Max fight. Plus, buckle up for an epilogue surprise! Sarah Echavarre Smith writes steamy romcom novels, making the world a nicer place "one kissing story at...

[Content Warning: sexy time] During the third read of book club pick no. 8, Joelle and Max are hooking up and learning more about each other. We also discover why Max has been a moody, grumpy person. Sarah Echavarre Smith writes steamy romcom novels, making the world a nicer place "one kissing story at a time." Her love for romance started as a young girl when she found her aunt's ro...

In our second read of book club pick no. 8, we rant on Max's audacity. Despite the constant whining (brooding?), romance sparks between him and Joelle. Sarah Echavarre Smith writes steamy romcom novels, making the world a nicer place "one kissing story at a time." Her love for romance started as a young girl when she found her aunt's romance collection. You can learn more about h...