Literature
JOHN CHO
Tuesday, July 19, 2022 | 5:00 PM
Author Photo: Benjo Arwas As one of the first Korean American actors to blaze a unique path through cultural and business barriers into the mainstream, John Cho’s esteemed career has spanned over two decades with compelling performances across film and television. Cho is also a former 7th-grade English teacher who grew up as a Korean immigrant kid in Texas and East L.A. (among many other places). This spring, he became…
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KA YA! Korean-American YA Novels & Authors
Wednesday, June 15, 2022 | 6:30 PM
Illustration by Subin Yoo Meet the new generation of Korean American young adult novelists. Drawing inspiration from the Korean pop culture they grew up consuming and their personal journey as immigrant kids, these authors offer refreshing and compelling representations on myriads of subject matters, from intergenerational struggles and family bonds to identity issues. And they are conquering the bestseller lists while offering a mirror to the generations of young readers…
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Author Talks: Gu Byeong-mo
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 | 5:00 PM
A New York Times Editors' Choice Pick • A Most Anticipated Read in LitHub, CrimeReads, Thrillist, and Popsugar The kinetic story of a sixty-five-year-old female assassin who faces an unexpected threat in the twilight of her career—The Old Woman with the Knife is an international bestseller and the English language debut from an award-winning South Korean author Gu Byeong-mo. At sixty-five, Hornclaw is beginning to slow down. She lives modestly…
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Marie Myung-Ok Lee with Frances Cha
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 | 6:30 PM
Author photo by Adrianne Mathiowetz “The Evening Hero is at once a hilarious, lacerating look at the American for-profit healthcare system and a profoundly moving examination of the long-term effects of war, trauma, and displacement on individuals, families, and cultures. I will never forget Marie Myung-Ok Lee’s evening hero, Dr. Yungman Kwak." —Ann Packer, New York Times bestselling author of The Children’s Crusade Chances are, you’ve read something you loved…
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A Conversation with Yoon Choi
Thursday, April 28, 2022 | 6:00 PM
Author Photo by Aaron Jay Young Maureen Corrigan/Fresh Air Top 10 Book of the Year ● Longlisted for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection ● An NPR Book Best Book of the Year ● A Kirkus Best Book of the Year A long-married couple is forced to confront their friend’s painful past when a church revival comes to a nearby town … A woman in an…
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Beasts of a Little Land with Juhea Kim
Tuesday, December 7, 2021 | 6:00 PM
“An epic novel brings complex 20th-century Korean history to life…. Extraordinary…. Gorgeous prose and unforgettable characters combine to make a literary masterpiece.” -Kirkus Reviews (starred review) An epic story of love, war, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Korean independence movement, Beasts of a Little Land follows the intertwined fates of a young girl sold to a courtesan school and the penniless son of a hunter. From the…
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Author Talks: Sang Young Park
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 | 5:00 PM
“Park’s stunning English-language debut takes readers through the wild highs and lows of young adulthood . . . The strength of the narrator, notably his flexibility of voice and expansiveness, caries the narrative to great heights, making this a standout among queer literature.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) Love in the Big City is the English-language debut of Sang Young Park, one of Korea’s most exciting young writers. A runaway bestseller, the…
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Author Talks: Keum Suk Gendry-Kim
Thursday, October 21, 2021 | 5:00 PM
"How can black and white drawings do this, you might ask. But maybe only black and white drawings can do this—Gendry-Kim offers us here a glimpse of the heart of a woman who has lost more than some might ever find, and who has never given up her love, if not her hope. The Waiting is a stunning achievement, and a testament to the power of her artistry. Not a…
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New Narratives in Korea: Illustrator Wooh Na Young
Tuesday, June 29, 2021 | 5:00 PM
Illustrator Wooh Na Young, also known by her pen name "Obsidian," has caught the eyes of people around the world with her distinctive style of reinterpreting Western characters in hanbok, Korean traditional clothing. Combining her training in both traditional style of Asian painting and game design, her illustrations have become a viral sensation and a unique way of promoting the beauty of hanbok. Meet the illustrator who has captivated the…
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Author Talks: Bae Myung-Hoon
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 | 5:00 PM
cover illustration: Jisu Choi One of the most popular science fiction writers in Korea, Bae Myung-Hoon explores the forces that shape modern life with wit and a sly wink at the reader. His writings are known for their inventive premises and clarity of language, and much of his work is also considered political satire. Tower is a series of interconnected stories set in a 674-story skyscraper and sovereign nation. Each…
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