#aapi literature

[reverie-quotes]

It can be said that an inability to express even a fragment of one's thoughts is more moving than the feelings of one skilled with words.

— Ueda Akinari, "The Reed-Choked House," Tales of Moonlight and Rain

[egg-yolks]

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning, Cathy Park Hong

[Text ID]: Does an Asian American narrative always have to return to the mother? When I met the poet Hoa Nguyen, the first question she asked me was, "Tell me about your mother."

"Okay," I said. "That's an icebreaker."

"You have an Asian mother," she said. "She has to be interesting."

[egg-yolks]

Groundwork of The Metaphysics of Morals, Young Jean Lee

[Text ID]:

Fah Lo See: There's something about white people's faces...

(Pause.)

Sometimes I look at you -- at that blankness -- and think there's no way I could ever hurt you enough.

(They exit.)

[minoritiesinpublishing]

'Loveboat, Taipei' Explores Feeling Disconnected From Your Culture

The heartwarming young adult novel follows an Asian American teenager caught between the culture of the United States and her parents' homeland.

“The novel explores the paradox of being a part of two cultures: never feeling like you’re a part of where you belong but simultaneously identifying with different heritages. “Loveboat, Taipei” portrays the kind of disappointment that often follows after coming to terms with your physical and cultural differences — the people you thought you belonged with, may not recognize you as belonging with them.

[The author] tackles this conflict beautifully, framing Ever’s experience with subtle cues that her Chinese identity is doubted, as staff at the airport scowl at her lack of Mandarin and her new friends laugh about how she had never tasted bubble tea.”