Episode #99: Letting Go!
Welcome to our ALMOST 100th episode! #99: Grace and Alvina discuss situations and objects that they've had difficulty letting go of. They also touch on recent events including the rising instances of anti-Asian hate crimes in the US. As usual, the book friends catch up on each other’s lives and share what they’re grateful for.
“How have you been?”
Alvina had a nice week of vacation and celebrated Stephen’s birthday. They went to do a few “normal” things like visiting the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Museum.
Grace has been busy with Hazel because she has a break from her school (and her pod). She’s been growing more concerned about the jumps in Anti-Asian racism. Grace would like to re-visit the topic for an entire episode as there is so much to discuss. They agree to “let go” of the loaded topic for now.
Letting go!
Letting go of physical things: As widows and moving on with their lives, Grace and Alvina talk about what to do with the physical things they must let go of somehow. Big and small items such as wedding and engagement rings, architectural drawings, and clothes are just a few of the things that they’re not sure what to do with. This conversation was inspired by a friend who is getting divorced and not sure what to do with her rings.
Alvina recently found this message while moving some furniture around. It was written by her deceased husband, Greg. She had no idea it was there. What do you do with these kind of relics?
Letting go of non-physical things: Grace talks about letting go of her need to master the Chinese language in order to validate her being Asian enough. Also related to identity, she’s been letting go of being a specific type of author she thought she should be. Alvina lets go of trying to become someone who knits! The hardest thing to let go of is that she may never become a biological mother.
Fortune Cookie Segment:
Clothes! The book friends talk about clothing that they love right now. Grace loves Gudrun Sjoden and Alvina is into the Phenomenal Woman campaigns and the “Ambitious” sweatshirt she’s wearing now.
“What are you grateful for?”
Grace is grateful for rainbow cake and coconut jello! Alvina is thankful for shows like Money Heist, Derek DelGaudio In & Of Itself , and Little Big Women.
A listener’s grateful!: “I am so grateful for my critique partners. They inspire me, celebrate with me, and lift me up when I’m feeling down. This writing journey would be impossible without them.
Thank you for tuning in! Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alex at Pacyworks Studio. Be sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and tell a friend about us. (Use the hashtag #bookfriendsforever.)
You can find Alvina @Planetalvina on Twitter and @Alvinaling on Instagram
You can find Grace @Pacylin on Facebook and Instagram
*If you’re a patron, don’t forget to check out this week’s Random Questions feed! Grace Lin and Tracy Baptiste answer, Would you rather only be able to whisper or only be able to yell everything? Click here to listen! If you’re not a patron already, join today!
