Random Musings
New year, new look
In addition to starting afresh with a new resolution for the new year, I’ve decided to go for a new look as well for my blog. As you can see, it is A LOT different from the old look. This theme, Nuntius, has a lot of cool features that allow me to select which posts [...]
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Stories about artists — NWAW’s monthly must-reads
Here are my book recommendations for the Northwest Asian Weekly this month: “Drawing from Memory” By Allen Say Scholastic Press, 2011 From the time he was a young boy growing up in Japan, Allen Say knew he wanted to be a cartoonist. Inspired by comic books, he drew what he saw, what he imagined, and [...]
Old ways meet new, perserving culture — NWAW’s November must-reads
Here are my latest book recommendations for Northwest Asian Weekly: “How to Be an American Housewife” By Margaret Dilloway Berkley Books, 2010 Growing up, Shoko was very close with her brother Taro. But when she got older and decided to marry an American GI and leave Japan after the end of World War II, Taro [...]
Traditional feminist: An oxymoron?
I recently read a book in which the heroine is quite a militant feminist. She scoffs at the thought of a woman wanting to get married and have a family or any sense of a “traditional” life and thinks she’s fine on her own. And while I agree that a woman doesn’t need a man [...]
Winning…At what cost?
It’s not whether you win or lose. It’s how you play the game. From P.E. to peewee football to little league baseball, this is what we’re taught when we’re young. In addition to physical skills, some of the biggest things sports and athletics teach us are hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship, teamwork and fair play. Or, [...]
Stories about Asians who are gay — NWAW’s October must-reads
Here are my latest book recommendations for the Northwest Asian Weekly: “Leche” By R. Zamora Linmark Coffee House Press, 2011 After 13 years of living in the United States, Vicente De Los Reyes is returning home. Born in the Philippines, Vicente, or Vince, came to Hawaii when he was only 10 years old. He returns [...]
SHELF: NWAW’s September must-reads
Here are my latest book recommendations for the Northwest Asian Weekly: “Hot, Hot Roti for Dadda-ji” Written by F. Zia, Illustrated by Ken Min Lee & Low Books, 2011 Whenever Aneel’s grandparents visit, they tell him stories about their lives growing up in an Indian village. During one particular visit, Aneel’s grandfather, Dadda-ji, tells him [...]
SHELF: NWAW’s August must-reads, strangers brought together by unusual circumstances
Here are my latest book recommendations for Northwest Asian Weekly: “One Amazing Thing” By Chitra Divakaruni Voice, 2010 On a weekday afternoon, a major earthquake hits an unnamed American city, trapping nine individuals in the Indian consulate’s visa office located in the basement of the building. With nowhere to go and more time on their [...]
Appreciating small town America
During my time writing for various community newspapers, I like to say that I’ve learned a few things. One: Starting out at smaller publications definitely helps when you’re new in the field — you get a lot more hands-on experience and more one-on-one help and mentoring. Two: Working in a small community means you’re able to build [...]
Fantasy and sci-fi, oh my! — NWAW’s July book recommendations
My latest book recommendations for Northwest Asian Weekly: “Tiger’s Quest” By Colleen Houck Splinter, 2011 In this second installment of Houck’s “Tiger Saga,” Kelsey Hayes has returned to Oregon after her extraordinary adventures in India. As she tries to adjust to a normal life free of the dangers of immortal sea monkeys and 300-year-old curses, [...]
