By Barbara Yau, AsAmNews Staff Writer
Curling up with a good book can be the perfect way to spend a winter day, especially since many of us are still spending a lot of time self-entertaining at home these days. Some of us are adept at choosing the books they would like to read, but for others it can be challenging to find the perfect book to satisfy the needs and desires of the moment.
Fortunately, Lucy Yu, the owner of the first female Asian American New York City-based bookstore called Yu and Me Books, has offered to share her thoughts on how Asian American stories can help us get through challenging times. She also gives some book recommendations for different types of readers and occasions.
As a true bibliophile who aims to read 100 books a year and loves generational fiction novels with lyrical prose, Yu has been very busy since the store’s grand opening in New York City’s Chinatown in December 2021. Offering a wide range of Asian and Asian American books with focus on writers of color and immigrant stories, Yu stated that she has been incredibly supported by the Asian American community who is warmly welcoming her books and space.
Yu believes the wide range of books she curates represents diverse voices that need to be shared with the public. She also feels that reading these books at this time can reap added benefits that we can use during these trying times.
“Oftentimes, trauma is what is being presented at the forefront especially in minority communities so I find that also bringing joy through some of the stories here is also a form of resistance. Of course, books help educate, but that’s not the only format they offer. They also offer companionship, comfort, and lightness,” said Yu.
While the store offers books in every genre, Yu has noted that memoirs in particular have been flying off the shelves.
“I think it says something about how hungry we are to read stories similar to ours now that we don’t have to search so hard for them,” stated Yu.
According to Yu, the book titles that have been selling well include:
Beautiful Country: A Memoir of An Undocumented Childhood by Qian Julie Wang
The Loneliest Americans by Jay Caspian Kang
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Hong Park
The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Seeing Ghosts: A Memoir by Kat Chow
The Making of Asian America: A History by Erika Lee
No matter who you are, there is likely a book for you. Here are Yu’s favorite books and recommendations that she has shared with AsAmNews readers:
Favorite fiction book you’ve read recently:
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
Favorite nonfiction book you’ve read recently:
Beautiful Country: A Memoir of An Undocumented Childhood by Qian Julie Wang
Book that every Asian American adult should read:
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Hong Park
Book that every Asian American child should read:
Eyes the Kiss at the Corners by Joanna Ho
Book that every person in the world should read:
Tough to choose just one! One of my favorite poetry collections is An American Sunrise: Poems by Joy Harjo.
Best books to read while quarantining:
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
Best book for those with limited attention span:
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Best book to gift someone you love:
All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks
Yu and Me Books is located at 44 Mulberry Street, NYC 10013.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our new Instagram account. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story or making a contribution.
