Siel Ju's Blog, page 13

The Book Drop: Handpicked reads delivered from an indie bookstore

If you’re like me, you love reading shelf talkers at independent bookstores — You know, those handwritten notes from the booksellers recommending books they love. These shelf talkers often pique my interest enough to pick up books I’ve never heard of before — and more often than not, I end up loving those books too.

Now, you can get those little notes — along with the recommended books — delivered to your doorstep, thanks to The Book Drop.

The Book Drop’s a monthly book subscription box prog...

Thank you Brooklyn and Philadelphia

Thank you to Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn for hosting the Red Hen Press reading earlier this month — with a wine reception, no less!

This gorgeous neighborhood bookstore was such a fun place to read — and it was an honor to get to read with two of my fellow Red Hen authors, Ellen Meeropol and Amy Hassinger.

We had a mini Vermont Studio Center reunion at the bookstore. So great to see you Christina, Celeste, and Kiley (left to right)!

Sara, whom I met at Tin House Winter Writing Works...

Cake Time on Newport Mercury’s summer reading list

It’s already summer — or at least it feels like it — and the summer reading lists are coming out! I’m overjoyed that Cake Time is on Newport Mercury’s list — Fictional encounters: 12 books to take you away this summer:

Wendy Fontaine writes that “Ju’s writing is witty, blunt and entirely unsentimental, which makes this book a lot of fun to read.” Thanks Wendy! I’m honored to be in such great company — with Edan Lepucki (who blurbed Cake Time!), Elizabeth Strout, and George Saunders!

If you...

Five firsts: Samantha Dunn on salsa, self-love, and success

Every month, I interview an author I admire on her literary firsts.

April���s featured author is Samantha Dunn, author of Faith in Carlos Gomez: A Memoir of Salsa, Sex, and Salvation.

This memoir is funny, irreverent, and heartfelt. It��starts with the newly divorced, thirty-something Samantha���s introduction to salsa ��� via a lover who quickly becomes an ex lover because he turns out to have other lovers ��� then quickly spirals down to her sleeping with her very short salsa instructor ���...

Taste New York in L.A.: 5 new restaurants

I’ve declared June New York month because I’m in New York right now on my east coast book tour!

I’ve been so excited about this trip that before flying out, I actually prepped by checking out New York restaurants that recently opened in Los Angeles. Apparently the west coast is the place to be if you’re a chef, because a whole bunch of new yummy spots have sprung up. Here’s how my pre-NYC tasting tour went:

by chloe. 2520 Glendale Blvd., Silver Lake.

I’d put by chloe on my list of places to...

May book reviews: Rules and emotions

Brief reviews of books by contemporary authors I read this month — along with photos of what I ate while reading. The list is ordered by the level my enjoyment:

The Rules of Inheritance: A Memoir by Claire Bidwell Smith (Hudson Street, 2012)

“Even in the moments when you don’t think you are moving forward, you really are.”
*
The Rules of Inheritance is about the deaths of both Claire’s parents from cancer — and the painful aftermath of twenty-something Claire’s coming to terms with her loss...

June giveaway: Samantha Dunn’s Faith in Carlos Gomez

I’ve been blogging about salsa dancing the last few weeks — so fittingly, this month’s giveaway is a salsa memoir!

Samantha Dunn’s book Faith in Carlos Gomez: A Memoir of Salsa, Sex, and Salvation starts with the newly divorced, thirty-something Samantha’s introduction to salsa — via a lover who quickly becomes an ex lover because he turns out to have other lovers — then quickly spirals down to her sleeping with her very short salsa instructor — then spins into a heartwarming story of her ac...

5 trendy spots for healthy meals on the go in Los Angeles

Don’t have time to nori-wrap your tempeh bulgogi or to slice-n-bake sweet potato toasts for your paleo tartine? Indulge your love of health fads and fusion food alike at these healthy to-go spots this spring.
__

Kye’s. Santa Monica: 1518 Montana Ave.

This sunny spot is the home of the Kyerito — which is basically a leaf or nori-wrapped breadless burrito. A special slip wrap keeps the warm stuff from touching the wrap part, so nothing gets soggy.

I loved the Tempeh Bulgogi Kyerito — a Korea...

Pen Center USA: Bookish cocktails and literary community

How to enjoy your favorite book as a cocktail: Go to a PEN Center USA party at The Edison!

At the Member Mixer last week, book lovers drank In Cold Blood (a black Manhattan), The Sound and the Fury (mezcal margarita), and The Age of Innocence (gin, prosecco, and elderflower) — while supporting a literary nonprofit.

I actually gave my drink tickets away — Hope you enjoyed your cocktails, Laura and Julia! — and had a fun time! Here I am with Libby Flores, PEN’s director of literary programs....

Cake Time on the East Coast (and one reading in LA!)

The West Coast tour happened in April, but the East Coast mini Cake Time tour is still coming up!

But first, I have one reading in Los Angels before flying east. I’ll be one of the guest readers at Lauren Eggert-Crowe’s Bitches of the Drought Chapbook Release Party. It’s free, it’ll be fun, and all sales of chapbooks will go to support progressive causes:

Bitches of the Drought Chapbook Release Party
Monday, June 5, 2017, 8 pm
Stories Books and Cafe, 1716 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles

Then I’ll...