Story Insights

"China Men" by Maxine Hong Kingston is a fascinating tale of Chinese people living all throughout the US. This novel is somewhat a follow-up to her book "The Woman Warrior" which is full of tales from her mother. These two books are full of history, legend and myths. Honestly, I didn't know what to make of it all. Like Maui, the trickster, trying to trick people, really? Immigration judges are demons apparently. What's with all that? Then speaking to some friends in China about this book I gained another perspective on it. I don't mean to say I agree with recording history like this but I grew to sympathize with this view and type of recording of history a bit more. As always I'd love to hear from you.
Buy: https://bookshop.org/a/117636/9780679723288 
Let's connect: https://bookchatwithyou.podbean.com/p/contact-page/ 
 

Hello New Yorkers,
Today we look at "Miss Cynthie" by Rudolph Fisher. Miss Cynthie is 70 years old and she has never been fifty miles away from her home. She has also never been madam before. She came by invitation of her grandson David though she doesn't know how he is. It turns out he has a surprise for her. She doesn't know that and assumes her grandson may have a decent career like an undertaker. He has something better than to show her. Have you ever been to Harlem? Miss Cynthie has never been, but she recognized it immediately. I asked some people earlier if they have been to Harlem and how fast they would know they're there and said pretty instantly. This story barely predates Civil Rights Era literature though could probably fit in that category.
Read online: https://archive.org/details/cityofrefugecoll00fish_1/page/n9/mode/2up (my online classes used archive.org so I will too)
Buy: https://bookshop.org/a/117636/9780316380317 or https://bookshop.org/a/117636/9780826218124 
Let's connect: https://bookchatwithyou.podbean.com/p/contact-page/ 

Hello travelers,
"Fern" by Jean Toomer comes from chapter 10 of his novel Cane. "Fern" or Fernie May Rosen is a peculiar woman. She is beautiful and seems approachable, but really is not so approachable. The main character tries. He thinks about her quite a bit. He finally takes the leap and goes up to her. Gosh, he had been thinking about her a lot. He traveled from up north, so why not strike up conversation with an attractive woman? So, he goes for it. He had already been thinking about her pose at her front porch. Though, their one and only stroll together turns out to be very, extremely, awkward. Listen and read all about it. I'd love to hear from you.
Buy: https://bookshop.org/a/117636/9780871402103 
Read: https://scalar.lehigh.edu/jean-toomers-cane-1923/fern or https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/60093/pg60093-images.html#FERN 
Listen: https://youtu.be/x3GAS8MJzKs?t=1981 (story starts at 33:00)
Let's connect: https://bookchatwithyou.podbean.com/p/contact-page/ 

Hello Snow Vacationers,
"Let it Snow" is a short story by David Sedaris in which he tells of time in which school was cancelled due to snow, then another day, again, and repeated. Finally his mom kicks him and three of his sisters outside. They try to come back inside, they play, they wander, then then mom storms after them to shoo them back inside, but why? This question answered plus more. As always I am curious about what you think. Let's chat books.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZqsEgwKAJ0&pp=ygUZbGV0IGl0IHNub3cgZGF2aWQgc2VkYXJpcw%3D%3D (missing first paragraph)
read: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/12/22/let-it-snow 
buy: https://bookshop.org/a/117636/9780316010795 
let's connect: https://bookchatwithyou.podbean.com/p/contact-page/ 

Hello listeners, 
Today we're looking at the stories I read in August along with Letter 3 from Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke. A few of these stories will haunt me for a while & Rilke's letter has had a special place in my heart for a long time. What you read matters too and I'd love to hear about what you've read. 
Check out the previous podcasts
Listen to Letters to a Young Poet: https://youtu.be/39D8QS4CtrI?t=913&is=YSl_U10LWdfg8yTd
Read Rilke: https://rilkepoetry.com/letters-to-a-young-poet/letter-three/
Buy: https://bookchatwithyou.podbean.com/p/contact-page/
Let's connect: https://bookchatwithyou.podbean.com/p/contact-page/
 

Hello Socialites,
This Saturday I want to you invite you to a reading of "Invitations" by Carol Shields. I know, I know, you have tons of other things to do. So does this lovely narrator of this story. Will she go to a gallery of drawing, cocktail party, buffet, fine dining? She hasn't made up her mind and with each passing day there is a new invitation. Will she go? Also, she received a new book Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. Decisions, decisions. What would you do?
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-PL3byOQk0&t
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1AEonhBqIk&t
Buy: https://bookshop.org/a/117636/9780060762049 
Read: https://sd41blogs.ca/dubes/files/2020/05/Eng12SS_Invitations.pdf 
Let's connect: https://bookchatwithyou.podbean.com/p/contact-page/