Inky Expressions

In this evocative episode of The Inky Expressions, the podcast turns its lens toward Min Jin Lee’s sweeping masterpiece, Pachinko. This multi-dimensional exploration bridges the literary and cinematic worlds, juxtaposing the slow, chronological weight of the original 500-page novel with the sharp, non-linear cross-cutting of the TV adaptation. From the historical engine of the 1910 Japanese annexa...

What would you do if your deceased husband suddenly showed up on your doorstep? In this episode, we dive into Ludmilla Petrushevskaya’s bone-chilling wartime tale about a woman caught in that exact nightmare. Months after his funeral, her husband returns with a bizarre request: he needs her help burying something deep within the eerie Sokolniki forest. But once they reach the woods, a normal chore...

In this episode of Inky Expressions, Annabelle is joined by her mom, Eve, to discuss Daniel Keyes’ classic novel, Flowers for Algernon. Together, they explore Charlie Gordon’s rapid journey from a motivated bakery worker to an isolated genius, tracking how the book's unique journal-style formatting mirrors his intellectual evolution. Eve shares her personal history with the novel as one of the fir...

In this special "role reversal" episode of Inky Expressions, recurring guest Eve takes over the hosting mic to interview her daughter, Annabelle,about Ted Chiang’s mind-bending novella, Story of Your Life. The pair explores the profound philosophical implications of the story’s non-linear "Heptapod B" language, which allows the protagonist to experience her entire future simultaneously. Their conv...

In this episode of Inky Expressions, host Annabelle and her mother, Eve, share a personal conversation about Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club. They explore how hidden family histories and cultural silences shape the complex relationships between Chinese mothers and their American daughters. By revisiting iconic moments like June’s piano recital, they discuss the universal struggle to bridge the emotion...

This special episode is a winning entry for NYT 8th Annual Student Podcast Contest.

In this episode of  Inky Expressions , Annabelle explores the emotional complexity behind Theodore Roethke’s famous poem  My Papa’s Waltz . At first glance, it might seem like a simple memory of a father dancing with his son—but look closer, and the imagery reveals a mix of love, fear, chaos, and tenderness. Tune in to hear how Roethke’s words capture the reality of family relationships and why th...

🎙️  Special Edition Alert!  This episode of  Inky Expressions  is a special crossover to introduce  Two Braincells —a brand-new podcast cohosted by Annabelle and her best friend Mia. Now streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts,  Two Braincells  dives into the real mental health challenges teens face today. In Episode 1, they sit down with Riya, a 10th grader who bravely shares her journey through...

"The Recognition of Shakuntala" by Kalidasa is a classic Sanskrit play that explores themes of love, fate, and divine intervention. The story centers on Shakuntala, a beautiful and innocent maiden who captures the heart of King Dushyanta. Their love blossoms, but a sage's curse causes Dushyanta to forget Shakuntala until a significant token reminds him of their bond. As Shakuntala embarks on a jou...

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a satirical allegory that critiques totalitarian regimes and the corruption of revolutionary ideals. The story follows the animals of Manor Farm who, led by the pigs Snowball and Napoleon, overthrow their human farmer, Mr. Jones, to establish a society based on equality. However, power corrupts the pigs, especially Napoleon, who becomes a dictator. The pigs begin to...

"The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown is an inspiring true story about the University of Washington's eight-oar crew team and their quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Amidst the Great Depression, these nine working-class boys faced immense physical and emotional challenges, forming an unbreakable bond. Their journey captures their transformation from rugged individual...

"When You Trap a Tiger" by Tae Keller explores Korean folklore through Lily, a young Korean-American girl. After moving in with her ill grandmother, Halmoni, Lily encounters a mystical tiger from Halmoni’s tales, offering a deal: a story for Halmoni's health. As Lily navigates family secrets and folklore, she confronts the tiger, deepening her connection with her family and her cultu...

Nine Perfect Strangers" by Liane Moriarty is a suspenseful and thought-provoking novel that explores the lives of nine individuals who come together at a boutique health-and-wellness resort called Tranquillum House, seeking transformation and healing. Over the course of ten days, the strangers, each with their own secrets and personal demons, are taken on an unexpected journey by the resort&#...

"The Giver" by Lois Lowry is a dystopian novel set in a seemingly utopian society where pain, suffering, and choice are eliminated. The protagonist, Jonas, is selected to become the Receiver of Memory, the person who stores all the past memories of the time before Sameness. As Jonas receives these memories from the previous Receiver, now called The Giver, he discovers the dark truths of...

Louisa May Alcott's Little Women is a coming-of-age story for four women: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. As the novel unfolds against the backdrop of the Civil War in New England, it follows each of the young ladies' growth as they recognize and overcome their mistakes. At the end, they find out that happy endings may assume unanticipated forms.

Jemima Small, who is intelligent and brave but constantly made fun of for being fat. This is her story of discovering ones worth isn’t defined by their weight and learning how to be happy with who you are. The story is tender and funny. Jemima is a unforgettable character that everyone will fall in love with.

In this special episode ( NYT 6th Annual Student Podcast Contest runner-up ), I interviewed my high school friends about their experiences with ChatGPT.

This book provides the first comprehensive account of the heroic efforts of Chinese laborers in the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad. The author based his study on resources available in English and Chinese in both the United States and China. The book is well written and thoroughly researched. It's a vital document for studying the earliest years of Chinese American history.

All Creatures Great and Small is James Herriot's wartime veterinarian memoir, which has also been made into a television series. Herriot explores the never-ending challenges of veterinary practice through his interactions with his animal patients. The stories are both humorous and touching. Everyone will enjoy this beautiful memoir.

The book "A Raisin in the Sun" takes place in a Chicago neighborhood of African Americans in the 1950s. Three generations of the Younger family live in a small, dilapidated apartment that serves as the setting for the entire book. The family members argue with one another throughout the book about their own goals and objectives while coping with the challenges of being a Black family in...

The Yearling is the best book for capturing the bond between a youngster and a pet. A little boy named Jody takes in an abandoned deer he names Flag and raises it as a member of his family and best friend. However, due to the terrible conditions of life in the Florida backwoods, where his family must battle wolves, bears, and even alligators, as well as the failure of their precarious subsistence...

Have you heard of the book Lord of Flies? It's not about flies for sure. The book was written by Sir William Gerald Golding. He was noted for his dark novel, and he also won the Nobel Prize of 1983 for literature. Common Sense Media suggests this book is for kids over 12 years old. I need to let our younger audiences know in advance, there’s violence in this book. I would recommend this book to pe...

One of my favorite books this year is Being Miss Nobody, by Tamsin Winter. This emotional book is about an 11 year old girl called Rosalind, who suffers from a condition called Selective Mutism. Selective Mutism is a social anxiety disorder, where people who suffer from this can’t speak in some situations. She gets bullied a lot at school, and she even gets the nickname “Mute-Ant”. Rosalind can’t...

How Do You Live? is a novel translated from Japanese author Genzaburo Yoshino. The book was published in 1937, and it’s called 君たちはどう生きるか (Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka) in Japanese . It follows a young 15-year old boy called Junichi Honda, whose nickname is Copper, and his uncle as the boy encounters life about poverty, spirit growth and finding the meaning of being a good human. I picked o...