Becoming AppalAsian
Becoming AppalAsian by Lisa Kwong is a poignant exploration of identity, published by Glass Lyre Press in April 2022. This 48-page work delves into Kwong’s experiences as a Southern woman of Asian descent, reflecting on her heritage and the influences of her upbringing in Appalachia. The book serves as a tribute to her parents, ancestors, and the landscapes that have shaped her life, from her time in Radford, Virginia, to her academic pursuits in Bloomington, Indiana.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of poetry that articulates the complexities of cultural identity and the nuances of living between worlds. Kwong’s writing draws on her experiences as a Chinese immigrant’s daughter, navigating the challenges of stereotypes while embracing her unique heritage. The themes of regional and cultural identity, as well as the experiences of women authors, resonate throughout her work, providing fresh language to express the multifaceted nature of belonging.
Official synopsis Publisher
Becoming AppalAsian is a homage to Lisa Kwong’s parents, ancestors, ancestral land, homeland, and chosen land. China influences the cadence through which she experiences all spaces, whether that be Radford, Virginia where she worked as a waitress in her parents’ restaurant or in Bloomington, Indiana as an artist and academic in a predominantly white University town. Lisa carries the pride of her father’s quest to achieve the American Dream as a Chinese immigrant as well as the triumph and turmoil of defying stereotypes in a western landscape. She is AppalAsian: a Southern woman of Asian descent raised in Appalachia who lays claim to soul food, a Southern drawl, chicken feet, and dumplings. Her poetry offers fresh language to express the complexities of her identity.
-Ciara Miller, author of Silver Bullet and founder/CEO of Miller’s Learning Center (Chicago)
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