Hi! I’m Christine, the Finance and Operations Director at Mata Traders. I know May is coming to an end, and wanted to get this list up before Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month was over!
Lately, I’ve been watching “Take Out with Lisa Ling'' on HBOMax, which features Asian American contributions to the culture, especially the food culture, here in the U.S. One of the main themes of the show is that a lot of Asian Americans, like myself, don’t know a lot about Asian history or the impact of Asian Americans on U.S. history, since it isn’t really taught in school (at least it wasn’t when I was growing up, as an elder millennial). However, as I was watching the show, I realized I have absorbed a lot of this history through the books that I've read!
So, here's a list of some of my favorite books that highlight Asian history, Asian authors, and the Asian American immigrant experience in the U.S.
by Jung Chang
Recounts the story of the author’s childhood, her mother, and her grandmother. The (true!) story of these women is so gripping, but also highlights a lot of the history, struggles, and mindset of people before and during Mao’s rule.
by Min Jin Lee
Recounts the story of a woman coming into adulthood during the Japanese occupation of Korea and follows the story of future generations of her family in Japan. It follows a similar time period to Wild Swans, and there are some parallels between the two books (including both being very long!) It was also turned into a TV show on Apple TV.
by Lisa See
Recounts the story of two women who work as the famous Haenyeo (female sea divers) in Jeju, Korea. It describes the everyday details of the lives of these women throughout many decades, and how major world events influenced their lives.
by Yoko Ogawa
Set in an unknown time and an unknown place, the book tells the story of a woman living under the “Memory Police,” which makes objects disappear. It demonstrates the impact that government propaganda and societal pressure to conform can have on people. It seems farfetched, but is it really that different from the experience in Wild Swans, which highlights the Cultural Revolution in China? If you liked 1984 or Fahrenheit 451, this book is for you.
by Han Kang
I’ll say upfront that this book is weird. But it really illuminates the struggle of being a woman in society and wanting but being unable to live your life for yourself. If you’re a fan of Haruki Murakami, this book is for you.
by Anthony Veasna So
The stories of Cambodian Americans trying to find their place in America while grappling with the generational trauma of the Khmer Rouge genocide.
by Jhumpa Lahiri
I’ve read a few books by Jhumpa Lahiri; they are all excellent but this one is my favorite. It’s a collection of short stories on the Indian diaspora and shows how varied that experience can be.
Let us know if you give any of these a read!