🏖️ 📚 Imposter syndrome

Also: Reading suggestions from a GrubStreet writing instructor [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  This newsletter is supported by [Beacon Hill Books]( a new independent bookstore. What book are we bringing to the beach this week? [Yellowface by R.F. Kuang.]( If you’ve been on #Booktok, you’ve definitely seen this stark yellow cover floating around. Yale University PhD student Kuang brings us this novel that touches on tokenism, jealousy and ethics. Back of the cover: At the start of the novel, June, a white writer who wants to revive her lackluster career, is hanging out with Athena, her successful Chinese peer with book deals, awards, a new TV deal and another unreleased novel in the works. In the throws of celebration, a freak accident occurs, killing Athena. Amid the chaos, June sees Athena’s transcript for her latest novel sitting right on the table. June takes it and claims it as her own. The novel, about Chinese laborers, ends up making June an overnight success. But fame also gives June a front row seat to some of Athena’s hardships, including death threats and social media harassment. Why I like it: Depending on your worldview, this novel can read as a cool fantasy thriller or an on-the-nose commentary of the racial dynamics within the publishing world. It takes you on a journey with fast-paced prose. If you can keep up, it’s worth the ride. Read this if... You kept up with the Caroline Calloway [debacle]( of 2019. That means you love drama surrounding who gets credit for what work, parasitic relationships and a little envy. Pairs well with: Some sort of frozen Trader Joe’s meal. That’s what I assume June was eating before the success of “her book.” Happy reading, Christian Burno Arts & Culture contributor [Follow]( Support the news Tell us: What book are you breezing through? It could be fiction or nonfiction, funny or scary. Reply to this email to share your favorite read and why you like it (so we can all add it to our beach book reading lists). Ask An Expert This week, I talked to [Zinnia Smith]( a GrubStreet writing instructor and program coordinator. We chatted about her favorite beach reads so far this year and what it’s like teaching writing to the locals. Christian Burno: What are some of the books you’ve been enjoying this summer? Zinnia Smith: My summer obsession is Mariana Enríquez's “Our Share of Night.” A novel of the occult, it's some of the most beautiful and grotesque prose I've come across, a gorgeous combination for horror fans. Other summer reading favs: Kelly Link's “White Cat, Black Dog” (adapted fairy tales) and Thich Nhat Hanh's “The Art of Communicating” (my commute read). What qualifies a book as a Beach Read for you? ZS: I like to read a novel that feels like you have a secret. Nobody else on the beach knows. You might share a secret and a sandwich with a seagull, but then again, maybe not. What’s your favorite part about teaching writing? ZS: The classroom space is blessed to me because there aren't many places like it. We have the opportunity to support each other artistically; the opportunity to connect with writers across the table, across time, across borders. It's an opportunity for honesty. So together, we can create a care-centered and encouraging space, and that in itself is important. Any other fun tidbits to share? ZS: My upcoming writing classes range in subject from "the color blue" to "haunted houses." I keep a copy of Mary Oliver's "Don't Hesitate" at my writing desk, and I think you should go read it today. Seen While Scrolling This is a super sweet pic that I found while scrolling on Twitter. It’s from Here and Now associate producer Kalyani Saxena moderating a Q&A with author R. F. Kuang at the Harvard Book Store this spring!  From The Archives [In The Poppy War Series, R.F. Kuang Asks: 'What If Mao Was A Teenage Girl?']( The third volume in Kuang's Poppy War series is out now. She grounded the story in history, both her own and China's; it follows a passionate, ruthless young woman who becomes a military leader. [Read more.]( [In The Poppy War Series, R.F. Kuang Asks: 'What If Mao Was A Teenage Girl?']( The third volume in Kuang's Poppy War series is out now. She grounded the story in history, both her own and China's; it follows a passionate, ruthless young woman who becomes a military leader. [Read more.]( 📘 The 'BUR Beach Blanket 🏖️ When asked about their favorite genres "Fiction for escape, historical fiction to learn something new." Mary, a Beach Books reader  😎 Forward to a friend. 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