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🇨🇦🇬🇧 Dad of 2 | Brown guy
Spotlighting brilliant South Asians/🇨🇦/underrepresented people across arts✨📚🎤🎧🎬
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On Canada's 158th birthday (Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦!), a chance to celebrate *some* of the many Canadian authors of South Asian origin. This is not even close to a complete list - just a small handful of the authors we can celebrate as having ties here.

There are so many more talented South Asian/POC writers to discover (of Canadian and other nationalities).

#bookrecommendations #SouthAsianAuthors #Bookstagram #DiverseVoices #MustRead2025
#southasiantrailblazers #goodreads #booksofinstagram #southasianreads #canlit #readmorebooks#booksofinstagram #bookish #southasianreads #canlit #readmorebooks #booksofinstagram #bookishcommunity #bookshelf #brownguyreading by @brownguyreading

PART 2: Still so many more authors out there. On Canada's 158th birthday (Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦! ), a chance ot celebrate *some* of the many Canadian authors of South Asian origin. This is not even close to a complete list - just a small handful of the authors we can celebrate as having some ties here.

There are so many more talented POC writers to discover (Canadian and other nationalities).

#bookrecommendations #SouthAsianAuthors #Bookstagram #diversevoices #mustread2025
#southasiantrailblazers #goodreads #booksofinstagram #southasianreads #canlit #readmorebooks#booksofinstagram #bookish #southasianreads #canlit #readmorebooks #booksofinstagram #bookishcommunity #bookshelf #brownguyreading by @brownguyreading

PART 3: Nowhere near as comprehensive as I wish it was but hopefully you discover a few. Happy to take suggestions for other authors to feature.

On Canada's 158th birthday (Happy Canada Day! ), a chance ot celebrate *some* of the many Canadian authors of South Asian origin. This is not even close to a complete list - just a small handful of the authors we can celebrate as having some ties here.

There are so many more talented POC writers to discover (Canadian and other nationalities).

#bookrecommendations #SouthAsianAuthors #Bookstagram #DiverseVoices #MustRead2025
#southasiantrailblazers #goodreads #booksofinstagram #southasianreads #canlit #readmorebooks#booksofinstagram #bookish #southasianreads #canlit #readmorebooks #booksofinstagram #bookishcommunity #bookshelf #brownguyreading by @brownguyreading

Congratulations to the World Series Champions, the Milwaukee Brewers!! It feels unreal to say that. The last time the Brewers were in the World Series (1982), I was living in Milwaukee with my family, as a young kid. Around that time, I made this as part of a school project. And 44 years later, I'm happy to display it proudly.
#brewers #worldseries #worldserieschamps #worldserieschampions #milwaukeebrewers by @brownguyreading

Last night, I had a chance to attend Rachel Phan's book launch for her book, 'That Asian Girl Is A Problem' - a self-reflective memoir based on Rachel's perception of who she had to be.

The launch event, at It's Ok Studios, was wonderful with Rachel opening up about her childhood, her upbringing, and her eye opening move to Toronto. And the panel showed a real sense of friendship and camaraderie amongst them all.

A few additional things made the event incredible. Rachel's parents showed up - a four hour drive - the ultimate 'we love you and we support you' message (If you know, you know). The panel filled with Asian heritage writers including Hannah Sung, Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio, Mai Nguyen, Leanne Toshiko Simpson, Liann Zhang, and of course Rachel - I don't think I could have imagined seeing an all Asian panel when I was growing up, and now in the span of a few months, I've seen that and the South Asian panel event I attended. The banh mi (sorry, not sorry) from Cheeseora Bakery. And importantly, the book community - the room was absolutely packed and it was lovely to see some familiar faces!!

Such a great evening! by @brownguyreading

Happy publication day, Rachel! Congrats on the launch of That Asian Girl Is A Problem. Can't wait to celebrate at your (SOLD OUT!) launch later!

I read Rachel's first book, Restaurant Kid (review still to come) but it was gripping (can I say that without sounding like an AI bot?!) so I am really looking forward to reading her latest memoir! by @brownguyreading

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of Salma Hussain's young adult book, 'It's Not Over Yet' (out today!!).

The story is about Wali, a 15 year-old film lover (Bollywood specifically), who is the youngest of three kids in his family (with a sizeable gap between him and his twin sisters).

For much of Wali's life, he has felt ill at moments, putting his headaches and upset stomach down to nerves and stress about grades. Then, in Grade 10, Wali finds out he has a (most likely benign) tumour. Wali needs surgery but that likely means losing some of his hearing because of where the tumour is located.

It's Not Over Yet is equal parts hopeful and uncertain. It's so well-written, and relatable, and really does capture the realistic mindset (fear, frustration, 'why me?') of a son of immigrant parents (and the internalised expectations that go along with that) going through a life altering health issue. Wali's parents and sisters are loving and trying their best, but they don't always see what Wali actually needs.

Reading this book as a dad, I realised I probably need to think more about what my two might be keeping to themselves in an effort to protect me.

I'd really recommend reading this book and then sharing it with your kids.

And, as an aside, for anyone in Toronto, it's a real treat to read about so many familiar places, and to hear about the 'issues' that Torontonians have faced (The Beach vs. Beaches commentary is a particular favourite moment).

#ItsNotOverYet #SalmaHussain #CanLit #CanadianAuthors #TorontoAuthors #YAbooks #ComingOfAge #southasianauthors #DiverseReads #DiverseVoices by @brownguyreading

A Fine Balance is my favourite book, and running into @pappajiwrotepoetry while watching it at Crow's Theatre brought me out of hiding (again).

The play was EXCELLENT. Adaptations are notoriously hard, but the team did an absolutely incredible job of pulling this off. I cannot recommend enough how much you should go see this play.

The Canadian 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 cast includes: Husein Madhavji, Anand Rajaram, Zorana Sadiq, Siddharth Sharma, Sugith Varughese. and Ben Yoganathan. All are phenomenal. by @brownguyreading

THE MOONLIGHT DETECTIVE cover reveal! So happy for Yosha Gunasekera on the cover reveal of her second book, The Moonlight Detective, coming out on May 4, 2027.

Support to authors in the form of preorders can make or break a launch so please consider preordering here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/801319/the-moonlight-detective-by-yosha-gunasekera/

(Brief description: TMD follows Siri and Amaya (both introduced in Yosha's debut novel) as they help an aspiring writer accused of murder. As with Yosha's debut, The Midnight Taxi, this book is set in NYC!).

I can't believe Yosha is writing while having just become a mom. But that's what authors of today seem to do. They just get on and do what they need to - its truly inspiring!!

#DiverseReads #southasianauthors #authors #coverreveal #bookrecommendations by @brownguyreading

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of Vermilion Legacy by Godhuli Chatterjee Gupta (which was released earlier this year). This book is a great reminder of sacrifice women in the South Asian culture (and, I'm sure other cultures), routinely make - both directly and through quiet, unspoken sacrifices. This series of poems explores both those sacrifices of older mothers (our mothers and grandmothers, as well as recent mothers).

The poems explore sacrifices that most men, in a patriarchal South Asian society, will likely never have had to experience. Whether that's leaving family behind to move to a new city or across the world, feeling guilty about bringing a daughter rather than a son into the world, or countless other forms of sacrifice. This collection also pays tribute to the women whose sacrifices enabled the next generation to free themselves from some of the archaic traditions that had become 'normal.'

As a dad of a daughter and a son, this was really 'powerful' and encouraged me to keep looking for active ways to break that cycle for both of them.

#southasianreads #DiverseReads #DiverseVoices #southasianauthors #immigrantstories by @brownguyreading

I don't love "ominous"/vague posts, but I owe an apology to authors who trusted me with ARCs I haven't posted about yet.

I've been quiet here the past few months, apart from easy reshares and event posts. This is an attempt to catch up, with more to come in late August (I'm way behind!).

And for those who know me, I don't post out of self-importance, or think people are waiting on me. I'm just here to help elevate voices as much as I can.

#diversereads #booksbooksbooks #southasianauthors by @brownguyreading

The Beaches Jazz Festival is always a highlight of the Toronto summer. This year's Street Fest this past weekend was a particular highlight.

#beachesjazzfest #toronto #torontoevents #jazz #jazzfest by @brownguyreading