Bad Asians Author Discusses Craft
Lillian Li appeared on the Books and Boba podcast to discuss her sophomore novel "Bad Asians," which centers on four young adults who move back with their parents during the 2008 financial crisis and become part of a viral YouTube documentary. Li described her journey from elementary school fan fiction to MFA programs, emphasizing the importance of finding mentors at the right time.
- Lillian Li's debut novel, "Number One Chinese Restaurant," was named one of NPR's Best Books of 2018 and was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction. The inspiration for the book came from a summer Li spent working long shifts at a Peking duck restaurant. - "Bad Asians" explores themes of friendship, family pressure, and the impact of social media and the internet on the lives of its characters. The novel is described as a coming-of-age story that wryly captures a generation shaped by the rise of the internet and the end of the American dream. - In a guest post, Li explained that she wrote "Bad Asians" to explore the dynamics of friendship breakups and why they can be as significant and painful as romantic breakups. - Li holds a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University and a Master of Fine Arts in fiction from the University of Michigan's Helen Zell Writers' Program. - Before becoming a novelist, Li worked as a bookseller at Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan. - The "Books and Boba" podcast is a book club that focuses on books written by Asian and Asian American authors, covering a wide array of genres.
