My Asian Era
A curated journey through Asian literature
Thoughtful Reviews. Quiet Stories. Literary Depth.
For the past two years, I’ve been reading, reviewing, and steadily building a curated archive of books by Asian authors, mostly translated fiction, contemporary literature, and underrepresented voices that often get missed by mainstream reading lists.
What started as a personal reading habit has evolved into a full platform: a growing collection of spoiler-free reviews, thematic roundups, and quiet reflections meant to help more readers discover the emotional and cultural depth of Asian literature.
You’ll find:
Honest reviews from across Asia: Korean, Japanese, Southeast Asian, South Asian, Chinese, and Asian authors writing from around the world
Mini features for short books and chapbooks
Book club picks with community conversation prompts
Emotional clarity over academic critique
A calm space to discover books that you may have missed otherwise
This is a living archive, part ongoing project, part reflective journal.
I’m in the process of centralizing older reviews and continuing to explore both contemporary releases and classic titles from across the region.
If you're tired of the same dozen titles getting recycled across book feeds, you're in the right place.
Welcome.
P.S. If you're looking to read along, I host a quiet book club through Fable. It's casual, thoughtful, and open to anyone curious about Asian literature.
Search Titles, Authors, Keywords, Themes
Café. Waiting. Love. Review:
I expected another café book built from loosely connected stories. Instead, Café. Waiting. Love. let me stay with Si-ying long enough to watch her grow up.
Meet the Translator: Shanna Tan
I first noticed Shanna Tan because of how enthusiastically she champions the books she translates. Then I looked at my shelves and realized just how many of her translations I had already read. For Women in Translation Month, I asked Shanna about working with authors, creative freedom, translator credit and the work behind the books.
The Memory Bookshop
The cover and the comps promise cozy. A woman seven years into depression, deciding whether she wants to be alive, is something else. My honest take on Song Yu-jeong's The Memory Bookshop, translated by Shanna Tan.
