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 ]
The Haitian American author's new collection, 'Everything Inside,' explores the ethereal and urgent influence of Haiti on its stories’ characters. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
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A little under two years after its five-season run ended on BBC America, Orphan Black is returning with a bang, and probably loads more sound effects. Fiction publishing startup Serial Box is reviving the beloved sci-fi show this summer as a ten-epis... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2019-06-13 22:51:00 UTC ]
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Angelica Gonzalez used to read about a book a year. Then she discovered the Libby app, which allows anyone with a Los Angeles Public Library card to borrow e-books, audiobooks and other electronic media — for free. Now Gonzalez regularly checks out titles and transfers them to her Kindle.... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-06-12 10:00:00 UTC ]
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Talks are underway for a film adaptation of Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Vintage). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-05-20 21:56:32 UTC ]
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"Insecure" creator Issa Rae is producing a film adaptation of "Silver Sparrow," the 2011 novel by acclaimed author Tayari Jones. Jones, whose latest novel, "An American Marriage," was shortlisted for a Los Angeles Times Book Prize, confirmed the news to Oprah Magazine. "Issa Rae is an artist... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-05-16 18:20:00 UTC ]
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The highly anticipated film adaptation of J.D. Vance's memoir "Hillbilly Elegy" has its first star: six-time Academy Award nominee Amy Adams. The actress is the first announced cast member of the planned Netflix film, which will be directed by Ron Howard, Variety reported Thursday. Screenwriter... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Max Porter’s second book Lanny (Faber) has been optioned by BBC Films, actress Rachel Weisz and The Bureau production company. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The shortlist for the 2019 International Prize for Arabic Fiction was announced today at the El-Hakawati Palestinian National Theatre in East Jerusalem. The IPAF - often referred to as the ‘Arabic Booker’ - is an annual literary prize for prose fiction, which encourages the readership of... Continue reading at British Council global
[ British Council global | 2019-02-05 16:33:45 UTC ]
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Delia Owens's 'Where the Crawdads Sing' keeps seeing dividends thanks to a bump from Reese Witherspoon, whose film adaptation of the novel was announced last month. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This week's hot international books include an Australian backlist novel that has gained new sales after a film adaptation, and a Finnish title about a woman seeking inspiration from historical figures. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-11-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lee Child’s 2011 Jack Reacher novel 'The Affair' jumped to #1 over Jenny Han’s 'To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before' (now at #2) following recent news that the series will be rebooted for a new TV series. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The main characters in a new children's book bear an uncanny likeness to New Zealand's first family. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2018-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The film adaptation of Kevin Kwan's 'Crazy Rich Asians' is dominating the U.S. box office, and its source book continues to sell well in Apple's iBooks store as well. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kevin Kwan's 'Crazy Rich Asians' remains on top of Apple's iBooks store as its film adaptation continues to do well at the box office, while Rachel Hollis's 'Girl, Wash Your Face' climbs up the list to #2. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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We spoke with author emily m. danforth about the film adaptation of her 2012 novel, 'The Miseducation of Cameron Post,' a queer coming-of-age story set in 1990s Montana. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chicken House has acquired world publishing rights to a middle grade fantasy, which is also in development for film adaptation with Altitude Films, by Benjamin Read and Laura Trinder (Trindles & Read). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kevin Kwan's 'Crazy Rich Asians' soars to the top of the Apple Store's iBooks bestsellers list on the strength of its film adaptation, which is now in theaters. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett has the #1 book in the country with ‘The Russian Hoax.’ Plus Kevin Kwan’s ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ gets ready to hit the big screen, and newcomer Rosie Walsh’s ‘Ghosted’ gets some love from Liane Moriarty. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wondering which books you should bring to the beach this summer? Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, philanthropist and unrepentant book nerd, has some suggestions for you. Gates recommended five books he's enjoyed on his blog on Monday, including a Booker Prize-winning novel by an American... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Cannes, Voltage is handling world rights to the film adaptation of Anna Todd's 'After' from Wattpad Studios. In New York, a newly announced panel with the Motion Picture Association and AAP looks at film collaborations. The post BookExpo Adds Screen Panel; Anna Todd’s ‘After’ Names Telles,... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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