Interviews Renee H. Shea Monique Truong / Photo © Haruka Sakaguchi Monique Truong, who came to the United States in 1975 as a refugee from Vietnam, began exploring untold and ignored histories in her first novel, The Book of Salt (2003), told through the voice of Binh, the cook of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas in Paris. Her autobiographical second novel, Bitter in the Mouth (2010) is a coming-of-age story set in North Carolina. In her most recent novel, The Sweetest Fruits (Viking, 2019), Truong tells the story of Lafcadio Hearn from the perspective of three women: his mother, Rosa; his first wife, Alethea; and his Japanese wife, Setsu. Shea: At its core, The Sweetest Fruits is a story about storytelling—and it’s Russian dolls of narrative! It’s not only that three different women have their say about Hearn and their relationship with him, but each is telling her story to a specific audience—so issues of mediation and agency add further complications, as do oral vs. written stories and translation. How did you arrive at this approach instead of just telling the story in the voice of one person, then the next, then the next? Truong: This question is a Russian doll of inquiries! You’re absolutely right that the novel is interested in the different ways that stories are transmitted to us: oral vs. written, in our mother tongue vs. in translation, private story vs. public history, women’s voices vs. men’s, face-to-face vs.... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'
[ World Literature Today | 2019-09-17 13:54:26 UTC ]
Stephen Colbert and Evie McGee Colbert once had a falling out over a spoon, but their new cookbook has them in the kitchen, with love, laughter, and the right utensils. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-09-15 09:03:46 UTC ]
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Stephen Colbert and Evie McGee Colbert once had a falling out over a spoon, but their new cookbook has them in the kitchen, with love, laughter, and the right utensils. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-09-15 09:03:46 UTC ]
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National Book Award longlist week, historical fiction and the literary canon, THE POWER BROKER at 50, and more in this week's biggest book news. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-09-14 16:03:33 UTC ]
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Historical fiction is dominant (?), the Non-Fiction Finalists for the National Book Award, and Salem's Lot is set to scare. All in today's book news. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-09-12 21:35:54 UTC ]
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A medieval heist, a Halifax murder, a Dutch wartime winter and a daring 1939 journey to Shanghai provide egress for any taste. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-09-11 12:42:39 UTC ]
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An international writing organisation appeared to greenlight the use of AI, prompting anger, the resignation of four board members and an entire creative community to ask: ‘What?!’Please spare a thought for artificial intelligence (AI). It may not have feelings yet but, if it did, it would feel... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2024-09-11 10:00:07 UTC ]
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Best Historical Fiction of the Century, New YA out this week, Neurodivergent romance novels, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-09-09 16:08:01 UTC ]
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Striding the Borderlands: Charles Ferdinand Ramuz’s Great Fear on the Mountain, by Alice-Catherine Carls Book Reviews [email protected] Thu, 09/05/2024 - 14:03 Caroline Cingria, C. F. Ramuz, pastel (1903) / Images courtesy of Noël CordonierLumen... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2024-09-05 19:03:58 UTC ]
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Get into the life of a Civil Rights icon when she's still a girl, learn about Nigerian women protesting, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-09-04 15:35:00 UTC ]
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The cookbook author is bringing her YouTube show to TV, thanks to Tastemade’s streaming channels. Esteemed cookbook author Alison Roman is finally getting a TV show—but not on the Food Network. Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2024-09-03 12:00:00 UTC ]
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A decade ago, it was dusky green matcha. Then came masala chai, yuzu and ube. Now another distinct Asian ingredient is wending its way through New York City’s dining scene.Pandan is a staple ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine, used to give beverages, desserts and savory dishes a simultaneous... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2024-08-30 10:03:04 UTC ]
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Books that break the fourth wall, a major lawsuit goes after book banes, historical fiction set in Hawaii and more today on Book Riot. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-08-29 16:05:10 UTC ]
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August book clubs read historical fiction set during the Vietnam War, historical mysteries based in Black American and Jewish neighborhoods, dragon-filled romantasies, time traveling romance, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-08-28 15:40:00 UTC ]
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Exploring the Burning Questions: A Conversation with Cara Lopez Lee, by Susan Blumberg-Kason Interviews [email protected] Tue, 08/27/2024 - 15:32 I first came across Cara Lopez Lee on a listserv group (remember those!) for authors who write about... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2024-08-27 20:32:44 UTC ]
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The Irish literary scene is thriving, which makes choosing just five other Irish writers likely to appeal to fans of Rooney a daunting task. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2024-08-22 11:49:16 UTC ]
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Fall book club picks, historical fiction for kids, the most interesting questions in books, and more today on Book Riot Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-08-21 16:25:00 UTC ]
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Can anyone unseat Kristin Hannah as the bestselling historical fiction book of the moment? Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-08-20 10:15:00 UTC ]
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Plus: historical fiction set in Nigeria and weeding in libraries: what it is, what it isn't, and why you should care. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-08-16 15:15:00 UTC ]
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Nigerian historical fiction is thriving. Here are some excellent books to get you started. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-08-16 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Cookbook author and TV personality Sandra Lee is a co-host and judge on a new Netflix competition series called “Blue Ribbon Baking Championship" out Friday Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2024-08-08 14:54:47 UTC ]
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