Susan Blumberg-Kason
@susanbk.bsky.social
Author of BERNARDINE'S SHANGHAI SALON (Post Hill Press, 2023), WHEN FRIENDS COME FROM AFAR (University of Illinois Press, 2024), GOOD CHINESE WIFE (Sourcebooks, 2014) and co-editor of HONG KONG NOIR (Akashic Books, 2018). Book reviewer, too!
Reposted by Susan Blumberg-Kason
Great review by @susanbk.bsky.social of the new novel from Kristen Loesch #fiction #China #BookSky 📚💜
Today in the ARB: Susan Blumberg-Kason reviews “The Hong Kong Widow” by Kristen Loesch @penguinbooksusa.bsky.social asianreviewofbooks.com/the-hong-kon...
October 1, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Great review by @susanbk.bsky.social of the new novel from Kristen Loesch #fiction #China #BookSky 📚💜
Reposted by Susan Blumberg-Kason
Happy birthday to Bernie Wong, cofounder of Chinese American Service League and the subject of @susanbk.bsky.social's biography, WHEN FRIENDS COME FROM AFAR!
go.illinois.edu/f24blumberg
go.illinois.edu/f24blumberg
UI Press | Susan Blumberg-Kason | When Friends Come From Afar
At once intimate and broad in scope, When Friends Come from Afar uses one woman’s life to illuminate a bedrock Chicago institution.
go.illinois.edu
October 24, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Happy birthday to Bernie Wong, cofounder of Chinese American Service League and the subject of @susanbk.bsky.social's biography, WHEN FRIENDS COME FROM AFAR!
go.illinois.edu/f24blumberg
go.illinois.edu/f24blumberg
Reposted by Susan Blumberg-Kason
. @susanbk.bsky.social on @josephtorigian.bsky.social's 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑦’𝑠 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡: "Torigian reflects on Xi Zhongxun’s post–Cultural Revolution years—a single paragraph that encapsulates his decades-long career in the CCP..."
⧉ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡 & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: chajournal.com/2025/07/16/x...
⧉ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡 & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: chajournal.com/2025/07/16/x...
December 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM
. @susanbk.bsky.social on @josephtorigian.bsky.social's 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑦’𝑠 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡: "Torigian reflects on Xi Zhongxun’s post–Cultural Revolution years—a single paragraph that encapsulates his decades-long career in the CCP..."
⧉ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡 & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: chajournal.com/2025/07/16/x...
⧉ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡 & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: chajournal.com/2025/07/16/x...
Reposted by Susan Blumberg-Kason
'Tender, melancholic and evocative.' Lovely review of Elisa Shua Dusapin's new novel, THE OLD FIRE (tr. by Aneesa Abbas Higgins). Thank you, SBK and @asianreviewofbooks.bsky.social ! THE OLD FIRE is out later this month and you can pre-order here dauntbookspublishing.co.uk/book/the-old...
January 2, 2026 at 11:57 AM
'Tender, melancholic and evocative.' Lovely review of Elisa Shua Dusapin's new novel, THE OLD FIRE (tr. by Aneesa Abbas Higgins). Thank you, SBK and @asianreviewofbooks.bsky.social ! THE OLD FIRE is out later this month and you can pre-order here dauntbookspublishing.co.uk/book/the-old...
I'll be signing books at Printers Row this Sunday! For anyone in Chicago, please stop by!
September 3, 2025 at 3:33 AM
I'll be signing books at Printers Row this Sunday! For anyone in Chicago, please stop by!
I review 3-4 dozen books for the Asian Review of Books each year and this is one of my favorites so far in 2025: asianreviewofbooks.com/rabbit-moon-...
“Rabbit Moon” by Jennifer Haigh
A midnight phone call can mean one of three things: a wrong number, a robocall or a terrible emergency. When suburban Bostonian, Claire Litvak receives a phone call from someone at the American con…
asianreviewofbooks.com
June 15, 2025 at 10:32 PM
I review 3-4 dozen books for the Asian Review of Books each year and this is one of my favorites so far in 2025: asianreviewofbooks.com/rabbit-moon-...
Barbara Demick's new book is so compelling and eye-opening. Saying that I had fun reviewing it would be misleading. It's a depressing book, but one that's so important in this era of women losing our rights around the world.
New review at @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social by @susanbk.bsky.social on a new book by Barbara Demick & the 10th anniversary reissue of one by @letahongfincher.bsky.social lareviewofbooks.org/article/daug... cc @chinarhyming.bsky.social @nuvoices.bsky.social
Daughters Are Not Like Spilled Water | Los Angeles Review of Books
Susan Blumberg-Kason reviews recent books about the aftermath of China’s one-child policy and the experience of women in contemporary China.
lareviewofbooks.org
June 15, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Barbara Demick's new book is so compelling and eye-opening. Saying that I had fun reviewing it would be misleading. It's a depressing book, but one that's so important in this era of women losing our rights around the world.
I had so much fun writing this! If you love Hong Kong, crime fiction, or just a fast-paced novel full of bright lights and big cities, you'll love Rented Grave by Charles Philipp Martin. Also the other books I mention that came before his in the world of Hong Kong crime fiction.
[𝗡𝗘𝗪 @asiancha.bsky.social 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦]
In her piece on Charles Philipp Martin’s 𝑅𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒, @susanbk.bsky.social explores Hong Kong’s rich legacy in crime fiction & considers whether the genre can endure in a changing cultural landscape.
⧉ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: chajournal.blog/2025/06/11/g...
In her piece on Charles Philipp Martin’s 𝑅𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒, @susanbk.bsky.social explores Hong Kong’s rich legacy in crime fiction & considers whether the genre can endure in a changing cultural landscape.
⧉ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: chajournal.blog/2025/06/11/g...
June 15, 2025 at 10:29 PM
I had so much fun writing this! If you love Hong Kong, crime fiction, or just a fast-paced novel full of bright lights and big cities, you'll love Rented Grave by Charles Philipp Martin. Also the other books I mention that came before his in the world of Hong Kong crime fiction.
Reposted by Susan Blumberg-Kason
"It was an era defined by visionary filmmakers like John Woo, Tsui Hark, and Johnnie To, who brought police dramas vividly to life on the big screen."
@susanbk.bsky.social on the tradition and prospect of Hong Kong crime fiction.
@susanbk.bsky.social on the tradition and prospect of Hong Kong crime fiction.
[𝗡𝗘𝗪 @asiancha.bsky.social 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦]
In her piece on Charles Philipp Martin’s 𝑅𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒, Susan Blumberg-Kason explores Hong Kong’s rich legacy in crime fiction & considers whether the genre can endure in a changing cultural landscape.
⧉ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: chajournal.blog/2025/06/11/g...
In her piece on Charles Philipp Martin’s 𝑅𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒, Susan Blumberg-Kason explores Hong Kong’s rich legacy in crime fiction & considers whether the genre can endure in a changing cultural landscape.
⧉ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: chajournal.blog/2025/06/11/g...
June 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM
"It was an era defined by visionary filmmakers like John Woo, Tsui Hark, and Johnnie To, who brought police dramas vividly to life on the big screen."
@susanbk.bsky.social on the tradition and prospect of Hong Kong crime fiction.
@susanbk.bsky.social on the tradition and prospect of Hong Kong crime fiction.
Reposted by Susan Blumberg-Kason
@susanbk.bsky.social Congratulations!
Over the MOON to see two of my @illinoispress.bsky.social -- fully one-third of the list -- on this wonderful roundup of "required reading" from @chicagoreader.bsky.social. Huge congrats to authors Susan Blumberg-Kason and Matthew Ehrlich. Check them out! chicagoreader.com/books/book-r...
Required reading - Chicago Reader
For local history buffs and nonfiction fans of many stripes, I offer up nonfiction recommendations written by or about Illinoisans.
chicagoreader.com
December 19, 2024 at 2:47 PM
@susanbk.bsky.social Congratulations!
Reposted by Susan Blumberg-Kason
Reposted by Susan Blumberg-Kason
“Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas’s salon is but one of the backdrops of Robert Archambeau’s new novel, an ingenious whodunit with a who’s who of 1920s Paris literati.”
— @susanbk.bsky.social reviews “Alice B. Toklas is Missing” by @robertarchambeau.bsky.social evergreenreview.com/alice-b-tokl...
— @susanbk.bsky.social reviews “Alice B. Toklas is Missing” by @robertarchambeau.bsky.social evergreenreview.com/alice-b-tokl...
Review: Alice B. Toklas is Missing
Evergreen Review
evergreenreview.com
March 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
“Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas’s salon is but one of the backdrops of Robert Archambeau’s new novel, an ingenious whodunit with a who’s who of 1920s Paris literati.”
— @susanbk.bsky.social reviews “Alice B. Toklas is Missing” by @robertarchambeau.bsky.social evergreenreview.com/alice-b-tokl...
— @susanbk.bsky.social reviews “Alice B. Toklas is Missing” by @robertarchambeau.bsky.social evergreenreview.com/alice-b-tokl...
Reposted by Susan Blumberg-Kason
ICYMI: @susanbk.bsky.social discusses #AAPIMonth & her new book, WHEN FRIENDS COME FROM AFAR: The Remarkable Story of Bernie Wong and Chicago’s Chinese American Service League on @abc7chicago.bsky.social!
abc7chicago.com/post/chicago...
abc7chicago.com/post/chicago...
Our Chicago: AAPI Heritage Month & Cultural Voices
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Chinese American Service League is hosting an inaugural event in its Cultural Voices series.
abc7chicago.com
May 5, 2025 at 8:00 PM
ICYMI: @susanbk.bsky.social discusses #AAPIMonth & her new book, WHEN FRIENDS COME FROM AFAR: The Remarkable Story of Bernie Wong and Chicago’s Chinese American Service League on @abc7chicago.bsky.social!
abc7chicago.com/post/chicago...
abc7chicago.com/post/chicago...
Reposted by Susan Blumberg-Kason
New review at @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social by @susanbk.bsky.social on a new book by Barbara Demick & the 10th anniversary reissue of one by @letahongfincher.bsky.social lareviewofbooks.org/article/daug... cc @chinarhyming.bsky.social @nuvoices.bsky.social
Daughters Are Not Like Spilled Water | Los Angeles Review of Books
Susan Blumberg-Kason reviews recent books about the aftermath of China’s one-child policy and the experience of women in contemporary China.
lareviewofbooks.org
June 5, 2025 at 2:19 PM
New review at @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social by @susanbk.bsky.social on a new book by Barbara Demick & the 10th anniversary reissue of one by @letahongfincher.bsky.social lareviewofbooks.org/article/daug... cc @chinarhyming.bsky.social @nuvoices.bsky.social
I am so honored to have a review in the latest issue of World Literature Today of Yardena Schwartz's brilliant book, Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict www.worldliteraturetoday.org/2025/march/g...
Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict by Yardena Schwartz
Union Square. 2024. 432 pages.
www.worldliteraturetoday.org
February 21, 2025 at 1:16 AM
I am so honored to have a review in the latest issue of World Literature Today of Yardena Schwartz's brilliant book, Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict www.worldliteraturetoday.org/2025/march/g...
So excited about this event tomorrow in Highland Park, IL!
December 13, 2024 at 6:10 PM
So excited about this event tomorrow in Highland Park, IL!
I love all these photos of Bernardine back in Shanghai at all the places she used to frequent! A huge thanks to Historic Shanghai for taking these photos!
October 21, 2023 at 4:28 PM
I love all these photos of Bernardine back in Shanghai at all the places she used to frequent! A huge thanks to Historic Shanghai for taking these photos!
The audio of my new book is now available for pre-ordering. I’m so thrilled Nancy Wu is reading the audio, which comes out 11/7, the same day as the paperback. www.audiobooks.com/promotions/p...
September 22, 2023 at 3:31 PM
The audio of my new book is now available for pre-ordering. I’m so thrilled Nancy Wu is reading the audio, which comes out 11/7, the same day as the paperback. www.audiobooks.com/promotions/p...
Seven more weeks until my biography of Bernardine Szold Fritz is out in the world!
September 21, 2023 at 4:12 PM
Seven more weeks until my biography of Bernardine Szold Fritz is out in the world!