Category Archives: Culture

Violets – Kyung-Sook Shin, translated by Anton Hur

(reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “San’s attraction did not originate this summer. But rather it has lain in wait for millennia before bursting forth all at once. “ San was no stranger to abandonment. Her father left right after she … Continue reading

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Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience – Raj Tawney

(reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned In Raj Tawney’s captivating memoir, Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience, readers are treated to a poignant exploration of identity, family, and cultural diversity. Set against the backdrop of suburban New … Continue reading

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January – Sara Gallardo, translated by Frances Riddle

(reviewed by JD Jung) January (Enero) first published in Spanish in 1958, follows the daily life and thoughts of sixteen-year-old Nefer, who finds she is pregnant after a rape. Nefer works on the family farm, and lives in the shadow … Continue reading

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Sweet Undoings – Yanick Lahens (translated by Kaiama L. Glover)

(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned “Nowadays, in the cities, you’ve got to drink it all in, the honey and the bile. All in the same cup.” Judge Raymond Berthier has just been murdered, and his nineteen-year-old daughter, Brune, is grieving … Continue reading

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Which Side Are You On – Ryan Lee Wong

(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned Why did Reed’s grandparents want him to have the best education? “His answer: “So I could participate in the great American ladder climb, where East Asians hoard resources and try to become white at the … Continue reading

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Song Noir: Tom Waits and the Spirit of Los Angeles – Alex Harvey

(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned My first introduction to Tom Waits was in Jim Jarmusch’s 1985 film, “Down By Law”. I found him quite enigmatic, and as a singer/songwriter was drawn to his authenticity. While reading Song Noir, I realized … Continue reading

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Send Her Back and Other Stories -Munashe Kaseke

(Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned This collection will captivate you as soon as you start reading. “Send Her Back” is just one of twelve riveting tales centering around women who immigrated to the U.S. from Zimbabwe. In that specific title, … Continue reading

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Antiman: A Hybrid Memoir – Rajiv Mohabir

(reviewed by JD Jung) “I wanted to stop hiding. I wanted to tell them that I was queer. Queer sexually, queer religiously, queer by caste, and queer countried.” Rajiv Mohabir never felt that he belonged. As a resident of Central … Continue reading

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Feeding the Dragon: Inside the Trillion Dollar Dilemma Facing Hollywood, the NBA, & American Business – Chris Fenton

(Reviewed by Don Jung) So many people graduate from college and think they can get a job in the film industry only to face rejection and disappointment. This is a true story about a Dartmouth graduate who seeks fame and … Continue reading

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Toubab Tales: The Joys and Trials of Expat Life in Africa – Rob Baker

(reviewed by Ann Onymous ) “I wouldn’t have missed my time in Mali for all the tea in the world.” “Thinking of the three cups of tea: bitter as death, pleasant as life and sweet as love, makes me realize … Continue reading

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