Words Matter: Conversations With Asian American Writers (Intersections, Asian and Pacific American Transcultural Studies)

Following an introduction by Cheung (English and Asian American studies, UCLA), are interviews with Jessica Hagedorn, Paul Stephen Lim, S.P. Somtow, Meena Alexander, Myung Mi Kim, Le Ly Hayslip, Janice Mirikitani, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Al Robles, Philip Kan Gotanda, David Wong Louie, Gish Jen, Russell Leong, Amy Uyematsu, Li-Young Lee, Wendy Law-Yone, Gary Pak, Karen Tei Yamashita, Hisaye Yamamoto, and Wakako Yamauchi. Topics include the expectations attached to the label "Asian American", the burden of representation shouldered by ethnic artists, and the different demands of "mainstream" and ethnic audiences. Interviews are preceded by a short introduction to the interviewee. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)