How Does a Single Blade of Grass Thank the Sun?: Stories

by Doretta Lau Narrated by Andrea Bang, Yuta Takenaka

Overview

An updated and whimsical new take on what it means to be Canadian.

Featuring the Journey Prize-shortlisted story, “How Does a Single Blade of Grass Thank the Sun?”

When asked in an interview about the Shanghai Sharks, the team that shaped his formative sporting years, Chinese basketball star Yao Ming responded, “how does a single blade of grass thank the sun?”. This collection of stories explores the personal and political histories of young Asian Canadian characters to explain their unique perspectives of the world, artfully fusing pure delusion and abstract perception with heartbreaking reality.

Doretta Lau's stories feature the children and grandchildren of immigrants, transnational adoptees and multiracial adults who came of age in the 1990s - all struggling to find a place in the Western world and using the only language they know to express their hopes, fears and expectations.

Bespeak Audio Editions brings Canadian voices to the world with audiobook editions of some of the country's greatest works of literature, performed by Canadian actors.

Editorial Reviews

JUNE 2020 - AudioFile

Narrators Andrea Bang and Yuta Takenaka add refreshing vitality to the voices in this eclectic collection of stories showcasing the perspectives of young Asian-Canadians. Bang’s spritely tone gives her voice a youthful innocence that creates an interesting contrast when she spits out crisp expletives in a story called “God Damn, How Real Is This?” With precise articulation she portrays a movie starlet in a story called “Rerun.” Takenaka infuses liveliness into the title story, and his deep, resonant voice provides the perfect contrast to Bang’s treble. Both Bang and Takenaka’s spot-on pronunciations of various Asian words capture the characters in their elements. Overall, solid performances by Bang and Takenaka turn these engaging slices of life into provocative listening experiences. M.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2020 - AudioFile

Narrators Andrea Bang and Yuta Takenaka add refreshing vitality to the voices in this eclectic collection of stories showcasing the perspectives of young Asian-Canadians. Bang’s spritely tone gives her voice a youthful innocence that creates an interesting contrast when she spits out crisp expletives in a story called “God Damn, How Real Is This?” With precise articulation she portrays a movie starlet in a story called “Rerun.” Takenaka infuses liveliness into the title story, and his deep, resonant voice provides the perfect contrast to Bang’s treble. Both Bang and Takenaka’s spot-on pronunciations of various Asian words capture the characters in their elements. Overall, solid performances by Bang and Takenaka turn these engaging slices of life into provocative listening experiences. M.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177080147
Publisher:	ECW
Publication date:	05/20/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged

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