Many thanks to Jee Yoon Lee of George Washington University and Georgetown University on her blog Writing Like an Asian for this interview.
Review of Love Love in Hyphen
Thank you to Alison Yee of Hyphen Magazine for reviewing my second novel — many years ago, they published a short story of mine.
Vox: Why I’m too selfish to have children
I wrote a little essay about the lack of children in my life for Vox. Warning: reading this might get you a little depressed.
4/17/16 1pm: West Windsor Arts Council — “Home Is Where” — Workshop and Reading
I’ll be conducting a workshop and delivering a reading at the West Windsor Arts Council in Princeton, NJ! You can find out all about it at their website and also below. Hope to see you there!
4/6/16 6pm: Wells College Reading
I’m returning to beautiful Aurora, NY this Wednesday! It’s for Wells College, which I often refer to as my second alma mater. If you are in the area, please come on by.
Visiting Authors Series Hosts Two Speakers Feb. 11
An announcement from Inside Warren, whose purpose is to be your best source for local goodness. So it has been decreed — this is local goodness!
Thursday, February 11, 2016 7:30pm
Visiting Authors Series
Warren County Community College
Washington, NJ
with Michael Broek
Upcoming Events
I’ll be making the rounds again this winter and spring with my second novel Love Love in tow. On deck is my hometown reading at the Warren County Community College! Fitting that the reading will happen on Valentine’s Day week.
Thursday, February 11, 2016 7:30pm
Visiting Authors Series
Warren County Community College
Washington, NJ
with Michael Broek
And when spring comes around, I’ll visit these two fine institutions.
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Wells College Visiting Writers Series
Wells College
Aurora, NY
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Writing Workshop (1-3:30pm) [registration]
Reading and Q&A (4-4:45pm)
West Windsor Arts Center
West Windsor, NJ
All of these events are, thankfully, within driving distance. No need to break out the Google Maps itinerary doohickie this time.
Haiku and Review: Anomalisa, The Big Short, 45 Years, Carol
The Golden Globes are tonight, and to celebrate, here are four more haiku and reviews.
Strange, funny, and sad
Through puppets, many Noonans
It’s a Kaufman film.
The dream sequence is the highlight of this one. Synecdoche, New York, was better.
A curious film
that tries hard to make sense of
the nonsensical.
Can’t really say I enjoyed this one. Bale does what Hugh Laurie did for years on House; Carell is his usual schlub, except angrier.
a frozen body
kept alive through memory
a rebound marriage
This movie is a gem. The scene in the attic and the final scene are unforgettable.
Therese and Carol
Loving through glances, windows
Heatrbreaks and triumphs.
Best film of the year. Brooklyn is a close second, but this one has the benefit of two extraordinary performances. The final scene here is one of the most moving I’ve ever experienced in cinema.
What a fine year in movies. My favorite 4:
Carol
Brooklyn
Creed
Mad Max: Fury Road
Many others I enjoyed:
I’ll See You in My Dreams
45 Years
Spotlight
No Escape
Youth
Inside Out
Clouds of Sils Maria
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
Love and Mercy
Far from the Maddening Crowd
Spy
Fast and Furious 7
Cinderella
Ex Machina
Gifts from 2015: BookDragon’s Top 25, NYT’s The Year in Illustration
I missed these two nice mentions before 2015 came to an end:
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s BookDragon named Love Love as one of its top 25 of 2015. Here’s what it had to say about it:
Love Love by Sung J. Woo proves that jaw-dropping dysfunction can make for some spectacular Schadenfreude.
Over at The New York Times, they picked a handful of best graphics for their The Year in Illustration list and guess what was there…
None other than the fantastic artwork by Jun Cen for my Opinionator piece back in April.
Thank you, 2015. You were the gift that kept giving until the very last day.
Favorite Songs of 2015
“I hope the world sees the same person that you’ve always been to me / And may all your favorite bands stay together”
Here’s a list of my top songs for this year, in an order that might be surprisingly mixable. These are not necessarily from 2015; I just happened to have heard them in the last twelve months.
When We Were Young, by Adele on 25
Budapest, by George Ezra on Wanted on Voyage
Jealousy, by Pet Shop Boys on Behaviour
I Can Change, by Brandon Flowers on The Desired Effect
Clearest Blue, by Chvrches on Every Open Eye
Want to Want Me, by Jason Derulo on Everything Is 4
Fire Under My Feet, by Leona Lewis on I Am
Queen of Peace, by Florence + the Machine on How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
All Your Favorite Bands, by Dawes on All Your Favorite Bands
Karen Don’t Be Sad, by Miley Cyrus on Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz
Farmer’s Road, by Telekenisis on Ad Infinitum
Capable of Anything (8 Chamber Rock Song Featuring yMusic), by Ben Folds on So There
Superheated, by New Order on Music Complete
Talk About You, by Mika on No Place in Heaven
Just Like Me, by Betty Who on Take Me When You Go
Cradle to the Grave, by Squeeze on Cradle to the Grave
Crystals, by Of Monsters and Men on Beneath the Skin
Wherever Is Your Heart, by Brandi Carlile on The Firewatcher’s Daughter
Missing You, by All Time Low on Future Hearts
Nobody, by Selena Gomez on Revival
The snippet under the heart up there is from Dawes’ “All Your Favorite Bands,” whose lyrics seem apt to mention as my own favorite band, New Order, pretty much broke up forever this year (they put out a new album, but without one of their key founding members). Musically, the highlight this year is Mika’s “Talk About You,” which never fails to put a smile on my face.