Notes and Links to Lillian Li’s Work

Lillian Li is the author of the novel Number One Chinese Restaurant, which was an NPR Best Book of 2018, and longlisted for the Women’s Prize and the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize. Her work has been published in the New York Times, Granta, One Story, Bon Appetit, Travel & Leisure, The Guardian, and Jezebel. Originally from the D.C. metro area, she lives in Ann Arbor.

At about 1:30, Lillian talks about her mindset as Pub Day is a day away, and she shares heartening feedback she’s received on Bad Asians

At about 3:00, Lillian talks about her early relationship with language and literature, including Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club, and coins a great term, a “Borders Kid”

At about 4:40, Lillian describes growing up in a Chinese-American and Asian-American community in connection with ideas of representation

At about 6:30, Lillian reflects on “growing pains” with Joy Luck Club and having ambivalent feelings towards the book’s lasting impact

At about 8:50, Lillian highlights How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder as a standout text she’s reading currently

At about 10:10, Lillian highlights Literati Bookstore as a great place to buy her book and interesting tour events coming up

At about 12:05, Lillian gives background on starting the book with a map

At about 13:10, Lillian talks about North Potomac, MD, and growing up there

At about 14:50, Pete sets the book’s exposition through discussion of the Prologue, and Lillian comments on her interest in the experience of those who have gone viral

At about 16:30, Grace as the “golden child” is discussed in terms of Lillian’s childhood seeing comparison and "competitive friendships”

At about 18:10, the two continue to describe the book’s opening and main characters

At about 21:40, Lillian describes the original video that Grace recorded that morphs into the foundation for the “Bad Asians” viral video(s)

At about 23:00, Lillian responds to Pete’s asking about a middle-of-the-book scene with a caring/boundary-overstepping teacher

At about 25:20, Grace and her gilded rich girl life is described

At about 27:20, Lillian and Pete describe the ways in which the friends like Errol and Justin feel “unburdened” and free in filming with Grace, but also how Grace gets some controversial footage

At about 28:55, “Going to the Mall on Molly” and its ramifications is discussed

At about 30:40, Lillian describes how Vivían’s phone call leads to Grace “running away” to LA

At about 32:25, Lillian gives background on the plan that the group hatches in collaboration with Carrie Yang

At about 35:00, Vivían and Errol and their post-vows life and rave culture are discussed by Lillian; she talks about MDMA as a sort of emotional regulation

At about 36:30, Lillian talks about the scenes in the book as emblematic of the 2008 recession and recovery in Detroit

At about 37:20, Lillian riffs on “self-medication,” with regards to an article she read about overdoses in the Asian-American community/rave culture

At about 38:40, Errol’s dangerous “pranks” are analyzed

At about 40:00, Lillian discusses the “gilded cage” and “success trap” for Grace and her creative pursuits

At about 42:10, the two discuss the notoriety that comes with leaked cell phone footage from the New York

At about 42:45, Lillian talks about Justin’s sexuality and provides background on her research on bisexuality, intimacy and love for his character

At about 46:00, Pete compliments the ending of the book, and Lillian expands on her mindset in ending the book that way

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Please tune in for Episode 325 with Grant Ginder, the author of the novels Let’s Not Do That Again, Honestly, We Meant Well, The People We Hate at the Wedding, Driver’s Education, and This is How It Starts, a few of which have been made into movies. His latest is So Old, So Young.

The episode airs on February 20, three days after Pub Day for So Old, So Young.

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