Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2025 Reading List

 Oh man.  This one was hard to pare down to a manageable list.  There's an incredible renaissance right now in English-language Asian lit--both works from diaspora authors getting publishing contracts they might not have gotten a decade ago, and a big push for translation of works.  It's amazing.  Too many books, not enough time

Let me know if you want to discuss any of these!

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"Before the Coffee Gets Cold" by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, 2015

While "cozy" fiction is having its moment in the sun in the West, and South America is generally more famous for magical realism, Japanese authors have quietly been mastering understated, contemplative, magic-infused fiction forever.  One of the most famous, about a cafe in Tokyo where you can travel back in time to revisit an event in your past, but you have to return before your coffee gets cold

"Out" by Natsuo Kirino, 1997

Similarly, Japan has been absolute rocking the psychological thriller crime novel genre, and we're finally starting to get a number of the classics translated.  This one has stood the test of time, I'm looking forward to it

"The Deep Sky" by Yume Kitasei, 2023

Far-future post-dystopic locked-room mystery scifi set on a spaceship carrying the last hope of Earth?  Man, that hits so many of my buttons

"Immortal Longings" by Chloe Gong, 2023

God bless the day that publishers finally realized that epic fantasy doesn't have to take place exclusively in vaguely-medieval-European settings, that we're allowed to draw from other cultures.  And then add what's supposed to be a pretty fun swordfight-full enemies-to-lovers genre piece, I'm in

"The City in Glass" by Nghi Vo, 2024

I honestly know nothing about this book.  Haven't read any reviews, haven't read the back cover, nothing.  I just know I'll read anything Nghi Vo writes, so why spoil anything?  I've been saving this one for a special occasion

"On Fragile Waves" by E. Lily Yu, 2021

Magical realist immigrant story, from Afghanistan to modern Australia.  The reviews on this are wonderful, I'm excited

"Cursed Bunny" by Bora Chung, 2017 (short fiction)

Visceral horror short fiction?  Yup, I'm down

"Cantonese Love Stories: Twenty-five Vignettes of a City" by Dung Kai-cheung,  (short fiction)

Recommended by a friend of mine, I'm really looking forward to it.  A collection of stories set in Hong Kong in the 90s, looking forward to exploring a world about which I know fairly little!

"Fireheart Tiger" by Aliette de Bodard, 2021 (young adult, novella)

de Bodard has quietly been putting out a fantastic collection of stories set in either fantasy or scifi worlds inspired by pre-colonial Vietnam.  Queer love story and political intrigue as well?  Excellent

"Want" by Cindy Pon, 2017 (young adult)

Cyberpunk set in future Taipei, I mean, yeah, I'm gonna read that.  Let's dance

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Really looking forward to this month!

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