Taipei Story
with R.F. Kuang
Hosted by Kate Heartfield
Special Presentation In Person Streaming Fiction
Katabasis’ shines with devastatingly real characters and absorbing world building.
We are thrilled to welcome R.F. Kuang, the acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author of Katabasis and Yellowface, back to Ottawa with her latest novel, Taipei Story, a wryly humorous and profoundly moving coming-of-age novel that grapples with grief, language, and culture shock—all set against the backdrop of an unforgettable summer in Taipei.
PLEASE NOTE: In Person tickets include a pre-signed, deluxe limited-edition copy of Tapei Story. The "Book and Two Tickets" option includes one book and admission for two.
College freshman Lily Chen is off to spend the summer in Taipei at an intensive language program like so many Chinese American students before her, hoping to connect with the culture she inherited but never fully understood. But a promising start quickly unravels. Her classes are grueling, her roommate is driving her insane, and a reckless trip to the hot springs with a guy she barely knows soon has her classmates viciously gossiping. She feels adrift, a foreigner in a country she thought would feel like home.
Then shocking news arrives: Lily’s grandfather has passed away. The loss forces her to grapple with now-unanswerable questions about her family history. As Lily grieves, she’s drawn into a journey of self-discovery—piecing together memories, stories, and silences over a series of hilarious and devastating attempts at connection.
Taipei Story asks: What if the diaspora fantasy of homecoming never comes true? What if learning a language can’t bring you any closer to the people you’re trying to reach? What if you search for your family’s history, but your family doesn’t want to share? What if you wait too long to ask the right questions? As Lily struggles for answers, her summer becomes a poignant search for understanding—of herself, her family, and the meaning of home.
Backlist titles and extra copies of Taipei Story will be available on-site from our friends at Perfect Books.
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