The Hachette Book Group is celebrating Asian Heritage Month with another great giveaway and I am one that will never turn down a chance to do a contest. So we’re giving away another 5 sets of books. Check out these great titles:
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
“Competence can be a curse.” So begins Min Jin Lee’s epic novel about class, society, and identity. Casey Han’s four years at Princeton have given her many things: “a refined diction, an enviable golf handicap, a popular white boyfriend, an agnostic’s closeted passion for reading the Bible, and a magna cum laude degree in economics. But no job and a number of bad habits.”
Casey’s parents, who live in Queens, are Korean immigrants working in a dry cleaner, desperately trying to hold onto their culture and identity. Their daughter, on the other hand, has entered into the upper echelon of rarified American society via scholarships. But after graduation, Casey’s trust-fund friends see only opportunity and choices while Casey sees the reality of having expensive habits without the means to sustain them. As Casey navigates Manhattan, we see her life and the lives of those around her: her sheltered mother, scarred father, her friend Ella who’s always been the good Korean girl, Ella’s ambitious Korean husband and his Caucasian mistress, Casey’s white fiancé, and then her Korean boyfriend, all culminating in a portrait of New York City and its world of haves and have-nots.
Trail of Crumbs by Kim Sunée
When Kim Sunée was three years old, her mother took her to a marketplace, deposited her on a bench with a fistful of food, and promised she’d be right back. Three days later a policeman took the little girl, clutching what was now only a fistful of crumbs, to a police station and told her that she’d been abandoned by her mother.
Fast-forward almost 20 years and Kim’s life is unrecognizable. Adopted by a young New Orleans couple, she spends her youth as one of only two Asian children in her entire community. At the age of 21, she becomes involved with a famous French businessman and suddenly finds herself living in France, mistress over his houses in Provence and Paris, and stepmother to his eight year-old daughter.
Kim takes readers on a lyrical journey fromKorea to New Orleans to Paris and Provence, along the way serving forth her favorite recipes. A love story at heart, this memoir is about the search for identity and a book that will appeal to anyone who is passionate about love, food, travel, and the ultimate search for self.
The Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer Lee
If you think McDonald’s is the most ubiquitous restaurant experience in America, consider that there are more Chinese restaurants in America than McDonalds, Burger Kings, and Wendys combined. New York Times reporter and Chinese-American (or American-born Chinese). In her search, Jennifer 8 Lee traces the history of Chinese-American experience through the lens of the food. In a compelling blend of sociology and history, Jenny Lee exposes the indentured servitude Chinese restaurants expect from illegal immigrant chefs, investigates the relationship between Jews and Chinese food, and weaves a personal narrative about her own relationship with Chinese food. The Fortune Cookie Chronicles speaks to the immigrant experience as a whole, and the way it has shaped our country.
Transparency by Frances Hwang
With a deceptively simple yet graceful style, and in the tradition of Lara Vapnyar, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Gish Jen, Frances Hwang captures the thousand minor battles waged in the homes of immigrants–struggles to preserve time honored traditions or break free of them, to maintain authority or challenge it, and to take advantage of modern excesses without diluting one’s ethnic identity.
In “Garden City,” a weary Chinese couple, struggling to evict their deadbeat tenant, is forced to face the aftermath of their teenage son’s death from cancer. And in “The Old Gentleman,” a daughter becomes alienated from her father when he finds love–or what he thinks could be love–in his old age. Frances Hwang is a powerful talent, and TRANSPARENCY not only showcases her myriad gifts, but also announces the arrival of an exciting new voice.
Strangers from a Different Shore by Ronald Takaki
In a blend of narrative history, personal recollection, and oral testimony, Ronald Takaki presents a sweeping history of Asian Americans. He writes of the Chinese who laid tracks for the transcontinental railroad, of plantation laborers in the canefields of Hawaii, of “picture brides” marrying strangers in the hope of becoming part of the American dream. He tells stories of Japanese Americans behind the barbed wire of U.S. internment camps during World War II, Hmong refugees tragically unable to adjust to Wisconsin’s alien climate and culture, and Asian-American students stigmatized by the stereotype of the “model minority.” This powerful and moving work, now updated with a new preface and new closing chapter, has resonance for all Americans, who together make up a nation of immigrants from other shores.
So here’s the details for the contest:
As with all of my contests, there’s a question for you to answer. If you want a chance for the books, you should have to work a little for it, right? Either way, it’s an easy question. All I’m asking is for you to answer one of these questions: Are you fascinated with any of the Asian cultures and why? Have you ever traveled to Asia?
I have 5 sets of these books to give away. So there’ll be 5 lucky commentators at the end of the month. The contest will run from May 1st to midnight on May 31st. I’ll contact the winners on June 1st and they’ll have one week to get back to me. I do apologize to my international readers, the contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.
As always, if you want more chances to win, you can post about today’s contest on your blog, social network, or anywhere you can. Digg it, stumble it, twit it, share it with the world. Wherever you share it, make sure you add a link to it along with your answer (yes LE is now on Twitter as well!). The more places you share it, the more entries you get.
Join the Literary Escapism Facebook page and you’ll get an additional entry (for each page). Make sure you leave a comment so I know that’s why you’re joining. Only new readers to the group will be considered.
For 2 additional entries, subscribe to Literary Escapism’s newsletter in the sidebar. This is for new subscribers only.
For 2 more entries, purchase anything through LE’s Amazon store sometime during May and send a copy of the receipt VIA email for your purchase to: myjaxon AT gmail DOT com. I’ll give 2 entries for every book purchased.
I’ll determine the winner with help from the Research Randomizer. All entries must be in by midnight on May 31st.
And, I’m a new Subscriber!
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
I love Korean culture (I think I was Korean in a past life)! I have never gone to Korea, but I have gone to Japan (and want to go back…the trip was way too short!!!). Maybe the reason why I love Korea is because they somehow remind me of my own American culture. They do have a rich ancient history that I am far too ignorant of. But what has really drawn me in is their current entertainment. I do admit their popular music and TV are very much influenced by the west, but Korea is Korea. I highly recommend Korean TV dramas/miniseries to anyone. They are very family friendly, full of drama and Korean culture. You will soon learn Koreans like their sad endings, and loan sharks seem to be ever present hounding our poor protagonist. I love Asian cultures, and TV seems to be easy access for the hesitant. Books also are an easy way to view a different culture gradually, which is how I first became interested in Japanese culture.
Asian culture is so different from ours, it is a wonderful discovery-I loved Indu Sundaresen’s books, you could see the colors and envision what she was describing. I had yet to be to India when I read her book, however once I was there it was as I imaged.
I’m from Asia! I’ve grown up half in the US and in the Philippines. I left the Philippines when we were under Marcos’s dictatorship and was in the US during the nonviolent revolution. I’ve always loved learning about my home country and about the neighboring Asian nations.
Japan, China and India have such unique and old cultures. I studied East Asian History and the History of India while in college. The more we would learn about these countries, they seemed even more different and fascinating. Their political systems, cultures and religions are different that I particularly enjoy discovering where we differ and how these differences came about.
I’ve been fascinated by the Indonesian culture for several years because we once had a beautiful Indonesian lady living with us.
I’ve never traveled to Asia. What fascinates me most about the Asian cultures are the beautiful women, the gorgeous silk clothing, all the tradition and the wonderful china & pottery. There is so much more that is interesting that I cannot begin to list them all here.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com
My husband and I are both fascinated with the Japanese culture. We’d love to travel there someday. The food, the people, the traditions.. I’d love to experience a genuine tea ceremony and see the temples. He’d probably be more interested in finding a geisha (lol kidding =) )
Thanks!
I don’t really know why I have always been so fascinated by Asian culture; I suppose the beautiful architecture, the cherry blossoms and the landscape (which is simply divine) is a big part of it. It seems like such a peaceful way of life.
I haven’t had the opportunity to travel to Asia yet, but my husband and I hope to do travelling when he retires in about 20 years or so…such a long wait *sighs*
I would absolutely love to win these books!!
Thanks for hosting!
-Bobbie
Hi
I’m interested in the Japanese culture. The reasons are that I’m a second degree black belt in shotokan karate and also because I’ve taken a third year anthropology class in Japanese culture.
Oh and because my daughter is half Asian.
Count me in for the giveaway.
Cheers
MarionG
polo-puppy-fluffy AT hotmail Dot com
I’ve never been to Asian, but dream of visiting Japan—ideally during the cherry blossom season. Cliché, I know, but sakura is one of the rule-breakers for me: I don’t like pink, I’m not big on flowers, (I don’t even like cherries!) but I adore sakura blossoms with such a passion. And I figure that the other things I’d like to see, shrines and temples and parks and bookstores and restaurants, are open year ’round or else even better in the spring.
And I’d love to be entered. ^_^
Good luck with the contest!
The Fortune Cookie Chronicles sounds particularly interesting to me, but I would like to check the others out as well. Thanks for the book giveaway.
Are you fascinated with any of the Asian cultures and why? Have you ever traveled to Asia?
Yes, the Korean culture. Because I was born there but they sent me to Boston to grow up with an American family. I went back for the first time in 2004 and visited Seoul, and my birth place. I was looking for medical records, but they said the files were burned in a fire.
Such is life, thanks for having this contest.
I am fascinated by the south Pacific culture. I have never traveled to Asia.
I am fascinated by Asian cultures because they are so old and have contributed so much to the world, and yet we know so little about them. I would like to learn more!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I have not yet traveled to an Asian country, but I aspire to doing so. Asian culture fascinates me, particularly that of China. This is such an ancient country with such a long heritage from which we have much to learn. I am a practitioner of feng shui and have found it valuable in my life. I am also a big fan of Chinese cuisine.
Lived in Korea for 2 years many years ago. Would love to visit Japan.
I’ve never been to Asia but my hubby spend 3 years in the Air Force in Okinawa Japan and that got me interested in the culture
I’m not especially fascinated with any Asian cultures, but most of them do interest me in one way or another. I’ve never had a chance to travel to Asia.
Always looking for good Asian literature, thank you!
I have not traveled to Asia. I have always wanted to. When I was 7, my aunt moved to Japan for a year with her husband. They came back with amazing stories and tons of pictures. Everything was so lovely and exquisite. And this may sound odd, but I love Japanese horror films. I don’t even watch them with subtitles. The just get me. :) Thank you for a wonderful giveaway opportunity.
I also twetted your giveaway: http://twitter.com/kellyblackwell/status/1954154387
The last time I was in Asia was when I left at age 2 to be adopted by my parents in MI. I left Korea for a new life in the US and have always been facinated by my homeland ever since.
I have been fascinated with Asian culture since I was in the third grade. My teacher was crazy about anything Chinese so she made us learn to speak some chinese.
My interest continued and chinese food is my favorite cuisine as well. Thank you very much!
I have always been fascinated by Japan. Asia is the only continent that I have not traveled to. My husband has been to China, Vietnam (not his choice), Japan, etc. I want to go, but my health will not allow me to travel for that many hours so I will never be able to. SOOOOO I would love to read all these books.
I tweeted your giveaways at ccqdesigns
I signed up to follow your blog.
I’ve always loved Japanese culture, it’s always so out there. Plus, I could get video games a lot quicker if I lived there (and could speak Japanese :p ) As I grew, I started getting more fascinated with Korea, China, the Middle East, South Asia. There’s so much culture there. I’d love to visit one day.
~ Popin