Friday Favorites Remixed: Written by Women
Friday, August 7, 2020
Asia Society at Home
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Discover your newest binge and get to know our staff a little better with the Asia Society Texas Center team's favorite ways to stay entertained indoors! In each post we'll share with you our picks for what to read, watch, listen to, and more.
Our Friday Favorites: Remixed series looks back at the dozens of suggestions our staff members have made over the last few months, collecting them by theme and adding a couple new suggestions to help you find exactly what you most want to nerd out to!
This week's remix highlights women authors and writers we've recommended so far. Through fiction and nonfiction, these women have created new realms, revisited the past, and shed light on the present with compelling anthologies, novels, and articles alike.
Novel: Spirits Abroad by Zen Cho
Recommended by Mei Qi, Business and Policy Manager
"Occasionally ghastly, often charming, sometimes familiar and sometimes strange, this is my favorite collection of short stories from one author, which combines modern and fantastical supernatural elements of Southeast Asian myth and lore with very human characters and relationships."
Find it on: Zen Cho's website (with links to purchase)
Novel: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Recommended by Jennifer Kapral, Director of Education and Outreach
"Historical saga exploring the lives of haenyeo (women sea divers) from Jeju Island on the South Korean coast. Heartbreaking, inspiring, and enthralling, this book is ultimately the story of the ties that bind us through generations."
Find it on: Lisa See's website (with links to purchase)
History: The Making of Asian America by Erika Lee
Recommended by Chris Dunn, Marketing and Communications Manager
"Historian Erika Lee surveys the history of Asian America, from the first sailors of the 1500s up through the modern era. It's a history you did not learn in high school. Because the scope of the book is necessarily wide but not very deep, I consider this a good 'starter' book for anyone unfamiliar with Asian American issues to lay groundwork before delving more deeply into more specific histories and issues."
Find it on: Simon & Schuster (with links to chase)
Manga: D.Gray-man by Katsura Hoshino
Recommended by Rebecca Becerra, Education, Outreach, and Data Coordinator
"I'm a big fan of Katsura Hoshino's work. I enjoy her subtly gritty and gothic style, especially looking at earlier releases of her famous D.Gray-man. I love the way her story pulled me in, and continues to do so as volumes continue to be released. I admire her attention to detail, not only in her diverse character designs but also in her illustrations. I'm looking forward to seeing what imaginative plot twists are in store for her characters."
Find it on: Viz.com (manga)
Find the anime on: Hulu (D.Gray-man) | Funimation (D.Gray-man)
YA Novel: Good Enough by Paula Yoo
Recommended by Alanna Ferreon, Volunteer since 2019
"Torn between her head and her heart, Patti Yoon is forced to choose the best path for herself before leaving for college. A simple yet sentimental read, this piece is comedic and relatable to many, and shares a little insight into the many conflicts of high school life. I recommend this book to young readers, as it is a wonderful coming-of-age story that will surely make readers smile."
Find it on: Paula Yoo's website (with links to purchase)
Magazine: Mochi Magazine
Recommended by Chris Dunn, Marketing and Communications Manager
"I only stumbled upon Mochi Magazine recently, but recommend it as an easy rabbit hole! An online magazine for Asian American women, by Asian American women, Mochi Magazine started in 2008 as a publication for teens, but it's since shifted to cover topics of all ages. Articles range from beauty to interviews with influential Asian Americans to activism."
Find it on: Mochi Mag
Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Nancy Pollok Guinee, and United Airlines, Presenting Sponsors of Business and Policy programs; Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher, Presenting Sponsors of Exhibitions; Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts and Culture; Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsor of Education & Outreach; and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Presenting Sponsor of the Japan Series. General support of programs and exhibitions is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Hearst Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, McKinsey & Company, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as Friends of Asia Society.
About Asia Society at Home
We are dedicated to continuing our mission of building cross-cultural understanding and uplifting human connectivity. Using digital tools, we bring you content for all ages and conversations that matter, in order to spark curiosity about Asia and to foster empathy.
About Asia Society Texas Center
With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.