Taipei Story: R. F. Kuang’s Novel about Learning Chinese – S6 - Bonus
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PocketCasts Key Takeaways
- This bonus episode features a crossover with the podcast Books on Asia, co-hosted by Formosa Files' John Ross.
- John Ross and co-host Amy discuss Taipei Story, the 2026 novel by bestselling author R. F. Kuang.
- The novel follows Lily Chen, a Chinese American student spending a summer in Taipei to study Mandarin and connect with her roots.
- Taipei Story draws partly on R. F. Kuang's own real-life experiences studying the Chinese language in Taiwan.
- The episode also explores another popular Taiwan-set novel, Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen.
As a bonus, we’re featuring an episode from Books on Asia, another podcast co-hosted by Formosa Files’ John Ross. In this episode, John and Amy discuss Taipei Story, the latest novel by bestselling author R. F. Kuang. Published in 2026, Taipei Story follows Lily Chen, a young Chinese American student who spends a summer in Taipei studying Mandarin and trying to reconnect with her cultural roots. The novel draws partly on Kuang’s own experiences studying Chinese in Taiwan. The episode concludes with a look at a similar novel, Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is R. F. Kuang's novel Taipei Story about?
Taipei Story follows Lily Chen, a young Chinese American student who spends a summer in Taipei studying Mandarin and trying to reconnect with her cultural roots.
Is Taipei Story based on R. F. Kuang's own life?
Yes, the novel draws partly on the author's own real-life experiences studying Chinese in Taiwan.
Which podcast is featured in this bonus episode?
This episode features content from Books on Asia, another podcast co-hosted by Formosa Files' John Ross.
What other book is discussed alongside Taipei Story?
The episode concludes with a look at a similar novel, Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen.