A Novel of Old Shanghai: In Conversation with Weina Dai Randel, by Susan Blumberg-Kason

Interviews   Weina Dai Randel burst onto the literary scene a number of years ago with her duology about Empress Wu Zetian, China’s first woman leader. After winning the prestigious Rita Award in 2017 and seeing her novels translated into seven languages, she is back now with a new historical novel set in 1940s Shanghai. Keeping with her love of strong women characters, her new book, The Last Rose of Shanghai, centers on a nightclub owner named Aiyi Shao who falls for a Jewish refugee who had recently escaped Nazi Germany. Through their love of jazz, they develop a forbidden bond set during one of Shanghai’s most volatile and exciting eras. Randel is the first Chinese American author to write about Shanghai Jewish refugees, although there have been dozens of memoirs, narratives, and novels about this phenomenon from Jewish authors. We recently spoke over Zoom about what made Shanghai so special and why it matters now, along with the reasons Jews escaped to Shanghai during World War II and how Chinese and Jewish traditions are so similar. Susan Blumberg-Kason: It seems that the popularity of 1930s and ’40s Shanghai rose both in China and the US about twenty-five years ago. Can you talk about the appeal of this time and why it’s so special, both to people in the US and China? Weina Dai Randel: I think many aspects of Old Shanghai appeal to us today. From the late 1920s to the early 1940s, the period of Old Shanghai was a symbol of... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'

[ World Literature Today | 2022-01-20 14:33:49 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "A Novel of Old Shanghai: In Conversation with Weina Dai Randel, by Susan Blumberg-Kason"


Germany’s Bookwire Reorganizes Its Audiobook Approach

'Pooling our energies even more to focus on audio,' Bookwire announces a restructured unit for audiobooks and podcasting. The post Germany’s Bookwire Reorganizes Its Audiobook Approach appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-08 14:22:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Listen To Me: Start Your Audiobooks All Over Again

Ever tried this audiobook tip? Why it might be worthwhile to let yourself experience the vibes then revisit with more attention. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-07-29 10:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Podium Audio Buys Bookstat

The digital publisher Podium Audio has acquired Bookstat, the data subscription service that tracks online book purchases in physical, e-book, and audiobook formats. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


That Voice You’re Hearing? It Might Be Julia Whelan.

Julia Whelan is one of the most in-demand audiobook narrators working today. With her novel, “Thank You for Listening,” she’s telling a story of her own. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-07-22 20:12:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this


10 New Full-Cast Audiobooks to Listen to for an Incredible Reading Experience

A full cast of narrators brings an audiobook to life in totally new and unexpected ways. Here are some of the latest you can't miss. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-07-21 10:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Start with Mysteries, Thrillers, & True Crime If You’re New to Audiobooks

If you're new to audiobooks or unsure if they're for you, try a mystery, thriller, or true crime audiobook to get you started. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-07-20 10:32:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Book Riot’s YA Book Deals of the Day: July 16, 2022

The best YA book deals of the day, sponsored by the audiobook of Wake the Bones by Elizabeth Kilcoyne. `the audiobook of Wake the Bones by Elizabeth Kilcoyne`https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250855992/wakethebones?utm_source=BookRiot+Hey+YA!+Deals`` Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-07-16 10:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Best Places to Find Audiobook Narrator Jobs for Beginners

Finding audiobook narrator jobs for beginners can really be hard especially if you don’t know where to start. Here’s where to find them. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-07-13 10:37:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Macmillan Audio Releases Audiobook Version of Three Key Supreme Court Abortion Rulings

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s June 24 ruling on abortion, Macmillan Audio is publishing an audiobook edition of three key cases. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Audiobook Publisher RBmedia Makes Two Purchases

Audiobook publisher RBmedia has acquired the audiobook business of Upfront Books and the French company Éditions Thélème. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Germany’s Bookwire Now Offers Artificial Narration for Audiobooks

Text-to-speech automated audiobook narration arrives at Bookwire, amid the company's insistence on its respect for human narration. The post Germany’s Bookwire Now Offers Artificial Narration for Audiobooks appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-06-27 12:12:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this


What Makes a Great Audiobook?

What makes an audiobook stand out? Is it true that narrators can make or break the story? Some experts offer perspectives. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-17 10:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Spotify Completes Findaway Purchase

Spotify has completed its acquisition of digital audiobook distributor Findaway. The Swedish streaming giant has 422 million monthly active users, and will use the Findaway purchase to speed its growth in the audiobook market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Get The 10 Best Audiobook Narrators In Your Ears

From the best fantasy narrators to YA audiobook narrators, find the best audiobook narrators by genre to narrate your reading! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-16 10:35:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Book Riot’s YA Book Deals of the Day: June 11, 2022

The best YA book deals are sponsored by the audiobook edition of We All Fall Down by Rose Szabo. `the audiobook edition of We All Fall Down by Rose... Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-11 10:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Costa book awards scrapped suddenly after 50 years

Coffee company announces ‘difficult decision’ to end the prizes, sparking a chorus of disappointment across the books industryThe Costa book awards, after running for half a century, have been abruptly scrapped. The coffee shop chain has said the 2021 awards, which were announced in February... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-06-10 13:00:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Audiobook Sales Up for 10th Straight Year

Audiobook sales are up for the tenth straight year. Here are the results from a few studies detailing audiobook listener habits. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-08 17:45:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Listen Up: 8 Incredible Queer Audiobook Narrators

Whether you’re looking for romance, sci-fi, history, contemporary fiction, or fantasy, these queer narrators have you covered, like Avi Roque in Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-08 10:32:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Audio Publishers Association: US Audiobook Revenues Reach $1.6 Billion in 2021

Growth in audiobook revenue by genre was led in 2021 by romance, self-help, and science-fiction per the Audio Publishers Association. The post Audio Publishers Association: US Audiobook Revenues Reach $1.6 Billion in 2021 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-06-07 15:41:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this


A Summary and Analysis of Ray Bradbury’s ‘The Veldt’

‘The Veldt’ is a short story by the American author Ray Bradbury (1920-2012), included in his 1952 collection of linked tales, The Illustrated Man. The story concerns a nursery in an automated home in which a simulation of the African veldt is conjured by some children, but the lions which […] Continue reading at Interesting Literature

[ Interesting Literature | 2022-06-06 14:00:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this