every book I read in my asian american literature class in college | asian american book recs!

[@elsagarcia3347]

I read Native Speaker in college and it helped spark my interest in literature. I also really enjoyed America is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan it's another classic that I read in college I feel like it's still relevant today.

[@catherineannechiang]

I haven't read that one! taking notes ✍

[@angelk5743]

I took an Ethnic Lit class and one of the books we read was No No Boy by John Okada. It's about a Japanese-American man who was incarcerated when he refused to enlist during WWII. I still think about it years later.

[@catherineannechiang]

ooh gonna check it out, thanks!

[@kitaldridge640]

Loved this! Asian American lit wasn't even a course option at my university so this is such a lovely breath of fresh air, thank you for sharing!

[@catherineannechiang]

I feel so privileged I was able to take a class like that (even though it shouldn't be a privilege to have access to that kind of education!!) and I hope you enjoy the books if you read them!

[@kristixie4678]

Wow! I wish I had taken a course like this in college I think it would have helped me feel comforted in my identity. I am definitely going to check out a bunch of these books!

[@brekaterina]

ooo i grew up in LA so now I wanna read Tropic of Orange!

[@floraandfable]

Thank you for recommending those books, I love to learn more about other cultures, and these books are perfect for that. 🌞 Since I’m from Poland I didn’t learn that much about Asian history in school. I think it’s very important to learn about other cultures history. People saying that „the gangster we are all looking for” being not relatable should be a shamed (like why would you say that), book doesn’t have to be relatable to be good, and I think in all types of books we can find character that we can relate to. It’s not story about them, so how they want to relate to it 🥲 Thank you for making my tbr even bigger 😭💖

[@catherineannechiang]

agree with you completely, because one of the best things about reading is getting a glimpse of lives and perspectives unlike our own! hope you enjoy the books!

[@chocolateoreo6489]

You seem like such a lovely person❤

[@burnt-croissants]

Sadly, asian lit isn’t an elective at my uni, so it’s really helpful that you shone a spotlight on these works otherwise I wouldn’t know anything about them. Adding Obasan and Tropic of Orange to my tbr and getting reading for a good cry 🥲

[@catherineannechiang]

I'm so glad this was helpful to you!! I wish everyone could have the option to take a class like this