Books, Movies, and Chinese Food

As May is coming to a close, we're beginning to wrap things up on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. I hope you've enjoyed the posts throughout the month. If you haven't already, be sure to click on the picture above to enter the contest for one of the 5 sets of 5 books by Asian American authors. Today we have a guest blog from Jean from Disciplines of Culture sharing what it's like being part of two different worlds. I love my upbringing and the access to a wide variety of cultures being Taiwanese but born in the United States has afforded me. But I will suffer an identity crisis for the rest of my life. I was born and raised in the Midwest. But the year before high school, I moved to Taiwan with my family. My parents still live there so when people hear my parents live there they think I moved here recently. I spent 3 years in Taiwan over a decade ago. I remember this particular incident vividly and it summarizes how I felt in Taiwan. I was out shopping with so...

If you can't be a mega teen superstar sensation then maybe you'll be lucky enough to join her entourage. Devon -- one name only, please -- is the latest and jail-bait-est pop star to hit number one on the Billboard chart, and she's making her big-screen debut in Juicy. But after her stint in rehab, the studio isn't so sure she's their girl anymore. If they cut any more of her lines, she'll be a silent film actress! Can Devon regain her star status? She needs to watch her back and make sure that flash doesn't catch her causing a scene, and we don't mean the kind you can yell "Cut!" after. Livia has lost the weight and gained the attitude in the Hollywood party scene. Her dad's an Oscar-winning producer, and with a hot Beverly Hills boyfriend on her arm as well as her photos all over the pages of Gosizzle.com, Livia looks like she has a perfect life. But looks can be perfectly deceiving.... And there's fresh-faced Casey, who left a job ba...

Our local PBS station has been airing several shows this month about Asian American Pacific month. I'm sad that I somehow mi ssed two very interesting sounding programs: American Masters: Hollywood Chinese From the first Chinese-American film produced in 191 6 to Ang Lee’s triumphant Brokeback Mountain nine decades later, “Hollywood Chinese” brings together a fascinating group of actors, writers, directors — and iconic film images — to examine how Chinese people have contributed to and been portrayed in an industry that was often ignorant about and dismissive of race. The Slanted Screen From silent film star Sessue Hayakawa to Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, this program explores the portrayals of Asian men in American cinema, chronicling the experiences of actors who have had to struggle against ethnic stereotyping and limiting roles. Through a parade of 50 film clips spanning a century, the film presents a critical examination of Hollywood's image-making machine. I...

What’s all the hubbub about Amish fiction? Major media outlets like Time and ABC Nightline are covering it, and authors like Cindy Woodsmall are making the New York Times bestseller list regularly. What makes these books so interesting? Check out the recent ABC Nightline piece here ( http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=7676659&page=1 ) about Cindy and her titles When the Heart Cries , When the Morning Comes , and When the Soul Mends . It’s an intriguing look at Amish culture and the time Cindy has spent with Amish friends. And don’t forget that Cindy’s new book The Hope of Refuge hits store shelves August 11, and is available for preorder now.

Another thing that's great about Asian American Month, is learning from people who are Americans who have been able to experience true Asian culture first hand. Today we have a guest blog from Amy from My Friend Amy who talks about her trip to Japan (I've been in the Tokyo airport on a layover to Malaysia) Moving to Japan wasn't my first choice, but at the time, it was my best choice. I had really wanted to move to France, something that was and has remained impossible for me. So when I arrived in Tokyo in the heat of summer, the humidity thick and my apartment without air conditioning, I did wish it was a different place. And that's how I started my brief stay in Asia. Add to that, I was suddenly rendered illiterate. Since reading has always come easy to me, I usually get my information through reading. That was no longer an option. I couldn't speak, I couldn't read. Did I mention it was hot? I was teaching English, adjusting to life with two Australian...

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Rose House WaterBrook Press (May 5, 2009) by Tina Ann Forkner ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tina Ann Forkner writes contemporary fiction that challenges and inspires. She grew up in Oklahoma and graduated with honors from CSU Sacramento before settling in Wyoming. She lives with her husband, their three bright children and their dog and stays busy serving on the Laramie County Library Foundation Board of Directors. She is the author of Ruby Among Us, her debut novel, and Rose House, which recently released from Waterbrook Press/Random House. ABOUT THE BOOK A vivid story of a private grief, a secret painting, and one woman’s search for hope Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms. She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in searc...

-------------------Contest Closed---------------------------- I'm giving away 5 brand new copies of today's book! Leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win. I'll pick a name and announce the winners on Wednesday June 3 . US and Canada addresses only (No PO Boxes). Good luck! PLEASE LEAVE A WAY FO R ME TO CONTACT YOU!!!! ENTRIES WITHOUT CONTACT INFO WILL NOT BE ENTERED. After arguing with her live-in boyfriend about his inability to commit, Peggy Adams flies to a friend's bachelorette party in Las Vegas, and wakes up next to a man she can't remember. Hung-over and miserable, she sneaks out of the sleeping man's hotel room and returns home to New York, where her boyfriend apologizes for the fight and gives her a Tiffany box containing a pre-engagement ring. Not what she expected, but close enough! The next day she receives a phone call from the Las Vegas one-night stand, Luke, claiming she's already married to him¬-and he faxes...

(this is more of bunch of random thoughts today) (me and my books at young age, even back then I had TBR piles! btw i swear every Asian kid has that same exact bowl haircut style with the bangs from the age of 1-3) Growing up Asian American has been difficult at times. I was one of the very few AA kids in my grade, and throughout my entire 13 years in public school, I can remember probably less than 75 kids all together who were Asian. Therefore if you were Asian, you stood out. I would get teased constantly about my eyes, all the way up to middle school. People would come up to me and pull their eyes and go "Chinese, Japanese, Siamese" at me. I seriously do NOT get the point at that. So my eyes are a little bit more squintier than Caucasian eyes. It does not mean I see less than they do. I also was the barometer for being tan in high school. People would hold their arm up to me and compare th eir skin with mine. There would always be exclamations of "I'm almost...

Throughout the month, I've been discussing about the importance, significance and other items that relate to Asian American Heritage Month. For the next few days, I'm going to talk about my own personal experiences about being Asian American. I get this question all the time "So where are you from?" I reply "Well I live in No. Va now, I grew up in Hampton Roads, but I was born in Roanoke, VA". Their re sponse is "No, I mean where are you REALLY from?" I reply again "um...the US?" The response to that is "No, wha t is your background, your ancestors?" It's like they're not satisfied until I admit that my family is not from the US. I also have been told I speak really good English. Um...why wouldn't I ? So to satisfy anyone out there who has been asking, my mother is from Malaysia but her family is Chinese. My father is from Burma (Myanmar) and is part of the Chin ethnic group. We call ourselves Burmese-Chinese but ...

Ray Quinn is a tough, quick-witted homicide detective in love with his partner, Trisha Willis. She gives Ray something to live for—something to hope in. Until a barrage of bullets leaves Trisha murdered and Ray crippled. Struggling with his new physical disability and severe depression, Quinn turns to whiskey, scorn, and a job as a night watchman to numb the pain. But when a pastor and dancer are found dead in an apparent murder-suicide, the pastor’s sister approaches Quinn for help. Reluctantly, Quinn takes the case and is plunged into the perilous Orlando. Soon he discovers that, not only was the pastor murdered, but the case may be linked to his and Trisha’s ambush. Torn between seeking revenge or responsibility, Quinn is thrust into the case of his life. Author Mark Mynheir gives readers his most profound police thriller to date with The Night Watchman (first book in The Night Watchman Private Detective Agency Series). Readers of all ages will devour this gripping murder mystery t...

Another thing that's great about Asian American Month, is learning from people who are Americans who have been able to experience true Asian culture first hand. Today we have a guest blog from Shannan from Shannan Loves Books who talks about her trip to South Korea (I've never been before, so jealous!) My trip to Korea started with a 16 hr trip form Atlanta to Incheon. After arriving at the airport my husband met me and we took a bus back to Tonducheon, where he was staying. Tonducheon was quite different from what I was accustomed too in the states. As we pulled up to the gate at Camp Casey I got my first experience of being in a foreign country as the security guards came to the car and started checking ID cards all the while speaking Hongul (Korean). After getting on post my husband took me to his quarters and there I saw how he had been living for the previous six months. I expected worse but it wasn't that bad being that he had TV, Fridge, stove and bathroom. T...

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Jillian Dare: A Novel Revell (May 1, 2009) by Melanie M. Jeschke ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melanie Morey Jeschke (pronounced jes-key), a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from University of Virginia as a Phi Beta Kappa with an Honors degree in English Literature and a minor in European and English History. A free-lance travel writer, Melanie contributed the Oxford chapter to the Rick Steves’ England 2006 guidebook. She is a member of the Capital Christian Writers and Christian Fiction Writers as well as three book clubs, and taught high-school English before home-schooling most of her nine children. Melanie lectures on Lewis and Tolkien, Oxford, and writing, and gives inspirational talks to all manner of groups, including university classes, women’s clubs, young professionals, teens, and school children. A fourth generation pastor’s wife (her father Dr. Earl Morey is a retired Presbyt...

How much of an impact can an animal have? How many lives can one cat touch? How is it possible for an abandoned kitten to transform a small library, save a classic American town, and eventually become famous around the world? You can't even begin to answer those questions until you hear the charming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer , Iowa . Dewey's story starts in the worst possible way. Only a few weeks old, on the coldest night of the year, he was stuffed into the returned book slot at the Spencer Public Library. He was found the next morning by library director, Vicki Myron, a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm, a breast cancer scare, and an alcoholic husband. Dewey won her heart, and the hearts of the staff, by pulling himself up and hobbling on frostbitten feet to nudge each of them in a gesture of thanks and love. For the next nineteen years, he never stopped charming the people of Spencer with his enthusiasm, warmt...

My Friend Amy , who brought us Book Blogger Appreciation Week has a new carnival in the works, the Faith 'n Fiction Saturday . Each week she will post a blogging prompt, which participating bloggers will answer on their own blogs. Then they head back to the original post and sign Mister Linky! This way we can all come to know each other more closely. Today's Question: A lot of us are reviewers which means we consume books at a rate that blows the minds of others. As a result, we might start seeing the same thing over. and over. and over. What are some cliched phrases or plot devices in Christian fiction that you'd like to see go? Maybe it's because I'm a history major but I've noticed A LOT of cliched storylines used in Christian historical fiction. Just things that while they may be enjoyable to read, they weren't exactly true. I could name several authors that use the EXACT same plot in their stories, they just change the setting and the characters. peo...

Today I'm just focusing on some of my favorite Asian food. No commentary needed. Just enjoy.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Deceptive Promises Barbour Publishing, Inc (2008) by Amber Miller ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hi, I'm Amber, but my friends call me Tiff, short for Tiffany, my first name. I am in my 30's, married the love of my life in July 2007, live in Colorado and just had an incredibly beautiful daughter named Victoria. I love to travel and visit new places. Ultimately, my dream is to own horses and live in a one-level rancher or log cabin nestled in the foothills of the mountains. For now, I will remain where I am and do what I love—design web sites and write. I got involved with web design in 1997, when I was asked to take over running the official web site for the television series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. That eventually led to a series of negotiations where I was offered the job of running world-renowned actress Jane Seymour's official fan site. That has branched into doing web sites for a variety of clients, including: author...

If anyone is a fan of authors Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt (co-authors for Christian chick lit and YA) and Shelley Adina (Christian YA) tomorrow Faithwords is having a BlogTalk Radio show where you can call in and ask them questions. You'll be able to listen to interview live tomorrow starting at 12 online: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FaithWords/2009/05/22/Live-interview-with-Christian-YA-Authors-Shelley-Adina-Anne-Dayton-May-Vanderbilt I plan on calling in!