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Introduction to Asian American Literature, Fall 2006
Recommended reading list
Buck, Pearl S. The Good Earth. Recommended by Donald Kwan.
This novels talks about the life of a poor Chinese farmer Wang Lung. As the novel starts off, it is the wedding day of
his and his wife O-Lan. After the marriage, O-lan works with his husband working on the land that they rented from the
rich. As they make money from the years good harvest, they start to buy land for themselves. After a drought, they
were forced to make a living in town until their drought was over. During one coincidence, they looted from a rich man's
house and after they returned home, they brought more land and that begins the saga of Wang Lung's obsession of the earth
he bought and the though of wealth is in the land and with land, you will always be wealthy. This novel shows a lot of
familar family values and troubles not different from many of us.
Bulosan, Carlos. America Is in the Heart. Recommended by Robert Burton, Jane Salvador.
This the autobiography of Filipino immigrant Carlos Bulosan. Taking place from the mid-1920's and ending
shortly after the start of World War II, it tells the story of his impoverished youth in the Philippines,
his immigration to the United States, and his experiences after his arrival. Due to the autobiographical
nature of the story, one is forced to face the level of discrimination, exploitation, and injustice that
Filipino immigrants suffered on the West Coast of the United States in the years leading up to World War II.
However, this is not just a story of what is done to the immigrants, but also how this maltreatment can
result in America's newest immigrants falling into lives of violence and crime.
—Robert Burton
Carlos Bulosan's America is in the Heart offers readers an Asian American experience unlike
anything that has been read in class this semester. Bulosan's spares the reader nothing when describing the
violence and prejudice faced in America and the Philippines. This book really is a must read for anyone
interested in Filipino American Culture, or anyone willing to read something a little different.
—Jane Salvador
Chin, Frank. The Chickencoop Chinaman. Recommended by King Zhang.
A funny, interest fast paced play about Asian American. Representing stereotypings of Modern day Asian American, and the
indivdual identity of them, being put by society that they live in.
Chin, Frank. Year of the Dragon. Recommended by Patrick Chen Xi Hao
What makes Chinatown and the people who live in that regional area? Could it be the Chinaman, the American in them or just
the figment of your stereotypical imagination? Frank Chin’s Year of the Dragon touches the taboo of gender
stereotypes that American has on Chinatown and its people – the Ornamental Orientals. Don’t just read Chin’s play, but
hone his message of the Chinamen living in Chinatown. Surpass the rapid accent, the yellow skin and the harsh dialogues;
and just absorb Chinatown as itself. I give Chin's play - one and half chopstick up!
Choi, Susan. The Foreign Student. Recommended by Chenyan Huang.
It is a love story in a historical novel between a Korean refugee and an American woman that takes place in Sewanee,
Tennessee. Their miserable past of one being the sufferer of war during 1950s in Korea and other suffer from the affair
she had when she was 14 left them a wounded heart. Recall and reveal of secret past heal the wound and make them the
survivors.
Chu, Louis. Eat a Bowl of Tea. Recommended by Xiao Jiang.
This novel talks about a bachelors' society in Chinatown, New York for which the protagonist, Ben Loy faces many issues
such as gender identity diffusion, betrayal, cultural dilemmas and so much more. Come read and explore the struggles
within.
Hagedorn, Jessica. Dogeaters. Recommended by Claudette Maniego.
“Dogeaters” by Jessica Hagedorn is a Filipino American literature. It shows the rich history, culture and
traditions of the Filipinos, thus it should be taught to students in order for them to gain knowledge and
gain a better understanding about the Filipinos. An important aspect is Filipino foods. In every occasion,
Filipinos prepare foods lavishly. Chicken and pork adobo is the national food of the Filipinos. This is the
most popular food and is always served whenever there is a gathering or an event.
Houston, Jeanne Wakatsuki and James D. Houston. Farewell to Manzanar. Recommended by Angela Pan.
The nonfiction Farewell to Manzanar is written by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston is
about a Japanese Issei (1st generation) family in the United States and their three years in the interment
camp. Houston tells the story through the eyes of a seven year old and explores life in the camp and affects
on her family due to the event.
Hwang, David Henry. Flower Drum Song. Recommended by Anthony Bongiorno.
"Flower Drum Song" by David Henry Hwang is a rewrite of the original 1958 musical by Rodgers & Hammerstein.
Hwang rewrites the play, originally based on a novel by C.Y. Lee, aiming to eliminate the show’s
stereotypical representation of Asian American culture.
Kim, Suki. The Interpreter. Recommended by Andrea Leo.
The Interpreter is a murder mystery novel that takes place in New York. The author, Suki Kim, allows
the audience to learn about the lives of many Korean immigrants and the underground Korean community through
her alienated character, Suzy Park. We learn of the sacrifices that these immigrants make in order for their
children to have better lives. Suzy Park’s journey and discoveries unravel the mystery behind her parent’s
brutal death.
Lahiri, Jhumpa. The Namesake. Recommended by Jennifer Cherry-Woode, David Cudjoe.
I've been working on Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake. It's the story of a
Bangladesh couple that immigrates to Massachusetts for to raise their children.
The novel is written from Gogol's perspective as he grows from a boy into a man.
It's a story of immigration and one that details what it's like to grow up
immersed in American culture, while one's parents are still rooted in the
traditions of the old country, in the 21st Century.—Jennifer Cherry-Woode
Lee, Gus. China Boy. Recommended by Mankit James Wong.
Liu, Eric. The Accidental Asian. Recommended by Tenzing Andrugsurba.
The Accidental Asian is a novel about the author's quiet oddessy to find out his identity. Eric Liu
narrates a novel about an assimilated youth who readily identifies himself with the people he sees around
him, mostly whites. Liu tells us, while becoming assimilated, something which is defined to mean: becoming
white, Liu ignores his native culture and thus ignores his father. Liu noticed his neglect when he couldn't
even read his father's autobiography! (Which was written in Chinese) Liu suggests a solution that could be
utilized to help with the problem of identity (and which race to ultimately identify yourself with) by
having a dual citizenship: "being loyal to America in a matter of rights, and being loyal to Asia in a
matter of blood". This hybrid of two cultures can be maintained, by what Liu describes as, having stronger
ethnic Asian communities and more Asian leaders. By doing so, can Liu find an end to his oddessy and return
back to his father as an Asian-American.
Malladi, Amulya. The Mango Season. Recommended by Julienne Verdi.
Amulya Malladi's novel, The Mango Season tells the story of one woman's journey back to India after
living in the US for seven years and all the drama that comes with this journey. Priya, the main character
is stuck between a rock and a hard place, having to choose between the man she loves in the United States,
and the family and home of her childhood in India.
Mukherjee, Bharati. Jasmine. Recommended by Arta Gashi, Rubaith Ghani.
In my opinion Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee is great book that should be distributed in this course.
It fills the gap of lacking variety in this course. It also gives us more knowledge about the historical
facts, religious beliefs, traditions of other countries such India. I think it is something new and adds a
little bit of spice to the course. Hey India is known for its aromatic spices!! And the ending of
Jasmine is different from any of the novels that read in class. The lack of stability and the
indenity crisis that many or should all Americans face in this story is vivid, but in its own way.
—Rubaith Ghani
Ng, Fae Myenne. Bone. Recommended by Eva Yu, Alice Cheng.
In this backward narrative, readers have a broken down Chinese immigrant family, where the middle daughter
committed suicide and the family lives in pain and despair. In this novel, readers witness betrayal,
infidelity, lost of hope, loneliness, guilt and tension within the Leong family that drives each member to
escape from these sorrow. Aside from this, readers get a glimpse into the hearts of San Francisco Chinatown,
living in America as a paper son and other histories of Chinese immigrants. Ng shows readers the hardship
for a Chinese Immigrant to establish a close- knit family in America and be successful.
—Eva Yu
My essay concentrates on the historical events that took place in the book and their effects to the
Chinese: Paper Son Scheme, Exclusion of Chinese and Women Shortage. These events caused distortion of family
structure of the Leong family. Ng purposely arranged the book in a sad, dark and confusing way throughout
the novel to show the effects on Chinese immigrants by the above historical events.
—Alice Cheng
Rosal, Patrick. Uprock, Headspin, Scramble and Dive. Recommended by Lisa Cheng.
Uprock, Headspin, Scramble and Dive written by Patrick Rosal is a great book of poems which shows a
Filipino American life in America. This book won the Asian American Writers Workshop Members’ Choice Award.
Patrick Rosal is a Filipino man who is thirty seven years old and currently lives in Rahway, New Jersey. He
touches upon everyday life issues of love, family, friends, and sex of a Filipino living in America. His
poems have no periods in his writing, which rejects the Standard English grammar so it leaves space for his
readers to analyze the text in many different ways. He wants his writing to reach out to “people who work,
fall in and out of love, perpetrators and victims of violence and rage, people who eat, smoke, dance,
laugh.” a book of poems accessible to everyone.
Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. Recommended by Ellen Cho.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan is stories about four mothers and four daughters. It's written in
sections and parts and they all narrate the relationships with their mothers and find out how they are
important in their lives. The book itself feels like short stories so it's not boring and the way it
connect is just amazing! Read it to find out. =)
Wong, Jade Snow. Fifth Chinese Daughter. Recommended by Iryna Makaruk.
Yep, Laurence. Dragonwings. Recommended by Sierra Luong.
Dragonwings is an epic adventure of an 8 year old Chinese immigrant, Moon Shadow and his father,
Windrider. Situated in early 1900s San Francisco, they struggle to make their dream of flying come to life
while battling racism from white demons as well as their Chinese brethen.
And a few from the prof:
If you’re interested in the Japanese American internment experience, Citizen 13660 by Mine Okubo is a
fascinating, illustrated look at the camps published almost immediately after the war. I would also suggest
Monica Sone’s Nisei Daughter for a portrait of growing up Japanese American both before and after the
internment. If you’re interested in Korean American literature, and up for a challenge, Teresa Hak Kyung
Cha’s Dictee is a fascinating mixed-genre work. More Korean American suggestions: Clay Walls
by Ronyoung Kim and Quiet Odyssey by Mary Paik Lee. If you found this semester too depressing, read
anything by Gish Jen (Mona in the Promised Land, The Love Wife, Typical American,
and/or the stories in Who’s Irish?). She considers contemporary questions of identity with a fun
sense of humor as well as seriousness.
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