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extra curricular

Steven Simmermon wearing white tshirt behind a marimba

Forthcoming: Interview with a Percussionist Who Made Drum Corps

The next Forthcoming interview is with Steven Simmermon, a percussionist at UCA. For those of you who don’t…

by serenapuang November 10, 2020

College Resources / Forthcoming

Forthcoming: A New Blog Series

When I was in high school, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer. This was partly because…

by serenapuang August 21, 2020

Serena Puang

Serena is a freelance journalist who writes about accessibility, culture, language, education, and their intersections. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Teen Vogue, NBC, and more. You can contact her at contact@dearyall.net

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What I’m reading:

After failing to see the Hangang Drone Light Show

After failing to see the Hangang Drone Light Show (canceled bc weather) last week, watching 1000 drones make a book in the sky was low key magical. This was definitely the best part of the show🤗 Was it worth the one travel time+1 hour sitting around waiting for it to start for the 10 minute show? Yes, as a novelty experience and with the right company, but I wouldn’t necessarily make the hike a third time. The reality behind the IG photos is that it’s a TON of people, the stage is pretty small, and if you don’t get there super early, it’s hard to see the performances before the drone show so bring a friend (or a book) and a picnic blanket! Check out @interesting.kr for more info/scheduling. The show runs through October! 📍435 Jayang-dong Gwangjin-gu Seoul

Recent Netgalley approvals//TBR!! Books featured

Recent Netgalley approvals//TBR!! Books featured in this reel: ✨How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang (the screenwriter of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation and director of forthcoming adaptation of Beach Read 😮😮) ✨The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia who also wrote Mexican Gothic ✨The Mother Act (oops sorry I messed this up in the voice over) - a debut set in the theater world about a mother who refuses to give up her career and the daughter she abandons instead QOTD: what is on your radar? . . . . . #bookstagram #bookish #booksbooksbooks #onmyradar #twosomeplace #bookloversalways #emilyhenry #debutauthors #2024releases #readers #readersofinstagram #seoulcafe #kindlegirly #kindlebooks #netgalley #arc #arcreader #bookreviewer #tbr #digitaltbr #readwithme #bookaddict #seoulkorea #seoullovers #sophomorenovel

My non bookish friend guesses the titles of books

My non bookish friend guesses the titles of books based on the covers! I’ve been seeing this trend going around, and I had to try it myself. The guess for the Love Hypothesis was actually kind of close😂😂 Thanks to my friend for playing along with this 🤗 . . . . . #guessbooksbytheircovers #guessbooktitles #booklover #bookmemesofinsta #bookloversalways #bookobsessed #booksbooksbooks #bookworms #bookcozy #bookengagement #bookishuplift #booksbytheircover #altcovers #booksta #bookishlove #bookishlife #readerlife #readersgonnaread #readingtime📖 #booklifeupdate #bookcozy #bookstagramengagement

The Sky is Everywhere by @jandy.Nelson’s Korea c

The Sky is Everywhere by @jandy.Nelson’s Korea cover is so colorful and fun! . . . . . #internationalbookstore #bookish #booksta #koreanbooks #bookish #readersofig #jandynelson #readmorebooks #yareads #bookaddict #bookcoverseries #bookcoversofinstagram #bookloversalways #seoulkorea #koreanbookstore #booklifeupdate #booknerd #aestheticbooks #theskyiseverywhere

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jiyoung, a career woman turned stay at home mom who lives in Korea with her husband and daughter has started inhabiting the personas of other women she knows: her college friend, her mother, etc. So her husband takes her to see a psychiatrist to try to figure out what’s happening. The psychiatrist listens to and documents her life story in sections/periods of her life. That’s the conceit of the book: files from a doctor’s office, complete with citations, narrated in the third person in a detached and matter of fact way. This book tapped into an anxiety I think all women living in patriarchal societies feel. The things Jiyoumg struggles with such as the tension between career and family, health mental health complications after childbirth, and a toxic work environment are things that I worry about as I think about those phases of my life. There’s no flashy plot, it’s about the mundane and entrenched sexism that women deal with and society, and there are also many things specific to the Korean context/East Asian culture that kind of made me want to scream. This book came out in 2016 and was inspired by the author’s actual experiences. According to the BBC, it sparked a lot of controversy at the time of its release in Korea and again in 2019 when it was adapted into a film. The same kinds of accusations currently being thrown against the Barbie movie (that it demonizes men/“anti men”/ somehow “sexist against men”), were also put forward about this book years ago, and that’s something we should pay attention to. Continued in the comments . . . . . #kimjiyoungborn1982 #translatedfiction #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookreview #latetotheparty #groupread #booklover #booknerdlife #booklife #kindle #libby #librarybooks #koreanliterature #korealife #bookstagramengagement #kindlepaperwhite #kindlereads #bookcozy #readersgonnaread #readmorebooks #bookrecommendations #fivestars #fivestarreads #justfinished #tbr

Happy Friday!! This week was my first full week of

Happy Friday!! This week was my first full week of school, and it honestly flew by. I’m still figuring out rhythms/time management/posting schedule, but I’ve been reading Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982. Like a lot of people, I’m exhausted by everything women have to go through just to…have a normal life. But the thing I’m thinking about a lot is how I don’t really remember seeing this book recommended a lot during the Barbie craze earlier this summer, and if I had read this before that movie came out, I definitely would have pushed this book because it deals with a lot of the same themes. I’ll post full thoughts when I’m done (80% according to kindle!), but it’s a lot to think about especially because I’m living in Korea right now. I’ve always been interested in the kinds of books that break into international markets and become like the ~canonical books~ in the minds of people who otherwise have little experience with the country in which the book was written. If you’re Korean and have read this book, I’d be really interested in your thoughts on it! QOTD: What are your plans this weekend? . . . . . #book #bookstagramengagement #kimjiyoungborn1982 #booksintranslation #womenintranslation #koreanfiction #koreanbook #whatthisweek #cafesofseoul #readingtime📖 #booklifeupdate #lifeupdate #readersgonnaread #bookishlove #bookishcommunity #bookaddict #booklover #seoulkorea

This cafe makes great egg tarts and has good vibes

This cafe makes great egg tarts and has good vibes. Idk what else one can ask for🤷🏻‍♀️ WHAT THIS WEEK: Currently reading: Kim Jiyoung: Born 1982, Night Parade, and a handful of other books. Currently listening to: Beasts of Prey Excited about: this is potentially the nerdiest thing ever but one of my favorite authors put out the class reading list for the college writing class she teaches, and I think I’m going to try to read through the 50 books on it 👀👀 Stay tuned for a post on that. QOTD: what are you excited about this week? 📍38, Donhwamun-ro 11da-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul . . . . . #cafes #seoul #travel #whatthisweek #readingtime #whattoread #kimjiyoungborn1982 #bookstagram #bookcozy #cafevibes #readersofinstagram #readersgonnaread #booklover #teajouse #tealover #nightparade #audiobook #nerdy #bookworm #readwithme #tourisminseoul #seoullovers #cafehopping #seoulkorea #seoulgood #eggtartlover #eggtarts #whatimreading #currentlyreading #tbr

Check out my kindle tbr with me! Netgalley and my

Check out my kindle tbr with me! Netgalley and my kindle have really changed my mood reading life because now I can carry around what feels like an unlimited number of books at the same time. Other people see me calmly chilling on a tablet, and I’m actually switching books every 10 minutes to try to find my next pitch. Sorry for the bad quality of some of the book cover photos (often a better photo was not available). Check out these forthcoming books in my tbr! 🧋Relative Strangers by @ahkim.writer 🧋Expiration Dates by @rebecca_serle 🧋The Catch by @amyleabooks 🧋Behind you is the Sea by @susandarraj 🧋What We Kept to Ourselves by @njooyounkim 🧋One Hundred Days by Alice Pung 🧋The Refugee Ocean by @toutonghi 🧋Stockholm by Noa Yedlin 🧋Come and Get it by @kileyreid 🧋The Real Americans by @rrrrrrrachelkhong . . . . . #netgalley #digitalbooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookish #kindle #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyreviews #readers #readingtime📖 #bookcozy #bookishuplift #bookloversalways #bookishcommunity

Meerkat Friends is more mini zoo than cafe. It’s

Meerkat Friends is more mini zoo than cafe. It’s a more hands on experience than I thought, but I’m not mad at it 😂 Look at the squishes!!! Meerkat Friends is 16k Won for entry (15k if you pay cast), and you can stay as long as you want as long as you don’t break the rules. The staff is super nice, and it’s a good time! QOTD: what cafe should I go to next? 📍20, Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Zip Code)04040 . . . . #meerkatfriends #meerkats #notabookcafe #sepulcafes #travel #touristythings #thingstodoinseoul #seoultravel #trending #travelgram #travelling #traveladdict #animalcafe #animallovers #meerkatsofinstagram #meerkatmanor #seoulkorea #seoulcafetour #seoultravel #cafestagram #travelblogger #travelcommunity

This book cafe in Seoul is my new favorite study s

This book cafe in Seoul is my new favorite study spot 😍 I need to come back for the sunset. CC (it won’t let me add a sticker for some reason??): Come with me to @check_grow a book cafe with an amazing view of the Han River. It’s a 9 story cafe full of books which is a perfect place to study or to read. Each floor has a different vibe. One is all cozy reading nooks, another is a cafe, I think floor 5 serves all day brunch. A lot of it was closed for an event when I was there, but I can’t wait to visit again! . . . . #booklover #bookstagram #studyspot #seoulkorea #cafesinseoul #bookloversalways #booksta #bookish #booknerd #bookaddict #bookcafe #readingnook #travel #hanriver #viewsofseoul #seoulcafe #readersgonnaread #readersofinstagram #bookishfeatures #bookcommunity #bookupdate #bookishcommunityofig #cafelife #cafe

#whatmademehappytoday My review of Happiness Falls

#whatmademehappytoday My review of Happiness Falls was featured as People Magazine’s Book of the week this week! In the early pandemic, I found Angie Kim’s first book, and it kind of unironically changed my life. Not just bc it was amazing (it was), but I had so many feelings about it, I actually cold emailed @angiekimask after reviewing the book on goodreads, and she was so so kind. She probably doesn’t remember, but she thanked me for writing my review and told me about her WIP. Her email meant so much to me—I hadn’t emailed an author before, and getting a response made the world of books which I had spent my whole life loving, seem accessible to me. This small interaction helped me gain the confidence to write reviews professionally, and now 😭😭😭here we are! So thrilled to have gotten to read Happiness Falls early, so thrilled for Angie to have her second book out, and so thrilled for all of you who get to experience it for the first time. . . . . . #bookstagram #happinessfalls #angiekim #booksbooksbooks #newreleases #bookreview #bookworm #disability #augustreleases #arcreader #reviewer #tbr #bookrecommendations #bookaholic #bookloversalways #bibliophile #bookaddict #bookcozy #asianamericanwriters #asianamericanstories

✨The Reader Challenge✨ tagged by @ts.tbr Than

✨The Reader Challenge✨ tagged by @ts.tbr Thanks for the thinking of me 🤗 📚 What GENRE do you normally read? Realistic fiction! ⏰ What TIME do you normally read? During my commute//down time which usually ends up being afternoon or right before bed. 📱 What FORMAT do you prefer? Physical books but…that kindle life is calling to me recently. I love annotating, but the searchable notes and portability is a strong pull. 🎶 Do you LISTEN to music while you read? Noooo I can’t do that. I get way too distracted 😂 I wish though! 📖 What reason would you DNF a book? Deep confusion. Sometimes I get like half way through, and I’m like where is this going? Why am I reading this? Who are these people, why do I care? I usually read many books at a time, and if I get to a paling where I’m just not reading one anymore, I drop it from the rotation 🙈 🏃🏼‍♀️💨 What’s the FASTEST you’ve finished a book? LOL when I’m on a deadline, I can finish a 300 page book in less than a day. And when I’m finishing a thriller, time is just a construct. For me, I feel like the question shouldn’t be “how fast have you finished a book?” bc I read 20 pages for vibes and then don’t pick the book back up for weeks, rather it should ask, “how fast can you finish the last 130 pages of a book?” 😂 I’m tagging some book friends, but if you see this consider yourself tagged! #reader #meetthebookstagrammer #booksta #bookish #readreadread #book #bookworms #coexmall #bookcozy #librarylife #librarylove #libraryfun #bookish #bookishchallenge #bookishtag #readersgonnaread #lovebooks #bookaholic #booklifeupdate

Seoul in August was a lot of kindle lunch dates, c

Seoul in August was a lot of kindle lunch dates, cafes, and getting my life together. So grateful for the friends I’ve made and the people who have graciously helped me out as I’ve stumbled my way into adulthood. QOTD: What is your favorite August memory? . . . . #august #seoul #bookstagram #kindle #travelgram #seoultravel #augustrecap #starfieldlibrary #food #seoullovers #seoulfood #cafesinseoul #bookish #coexmall #booksbooksbooks #readerlife #booklifeupdate #booklifeisagoodlife #bingsu #sunset #citylife #cityscape #dessert #dessertlove

KOREAN COVERS OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS! Books in this

KOREAN COVERS OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS! Books in this reel: - Anxious People by @backmansk - Miracle Creek by @angiekimask - Pachinko by Min Jin Lee I feel like these are the books I come back to over and over again no matter where I am in the world, and now, I’ve found the covers in 3 different countries! I think it’s fascinating to look at them to see what publishers will entice people to read a book in each country. What parts of the book get emphasized, what’s the color palette? For example, Miracle Creek is all warm tones and cheery here. Anxious people’s cover has more to do with the slightly chaotic elements of the book, and Pachinko has butterflies. It’s ~marketing~ and I don’t get it, but that won’t stop me from looking at books I don’t know how to read (yet??)😂 QOTD: what books should I look for next? . . . . . #bookstagram #booksintranslation #books #foreignbooks #bookstores #goodvibes #bookrecommendations #bookcover #coverart #pachinko #miraclecreek #angiekim #bookworm #readersgonnaread #seoul #korea #koreanbooks #reading #koreantranslation #anxiouspeople #fredrikbackman

I’ve seen this library all over bookstagram, but

I’ve seen this library all over bookstagram, but it took me a week and change to finally make it out to the iconic Starfield Library in Korea. It was packed today probably because it was POURING outside, and the selection is a lot more (korean) reference books than I expected. It’s def more of an Instagram/tourism spot than a place where people actually read books which was a little disappointing. That being said, I loved being there. I want to go back when it’s less crowded for the vibes. Maybe the many many tour groups were just rerouted there bc of the near typhoon level rain?? QOTD: do you like doing touristy things? . . . . #starfieldlibrary #bookstagram #walltowallbooks #booksbooksbooks #bookishfeatures #bookworm #books #dream #aesthetic #library #libraries #coexmall #seoul #seoultravel #koreatrip #tourism #bookishengagement #bookishupdates #booklifeupdate #koreanfiction #booksta #readersofinsta #readersgonnaread

IMPOSTER SYNDROME by Kathy Wang This was the firs

IMPOSTER SYNDROME by Kathy Wang This was the first book I read in Korea/first book I read on Kindle Unlimited! It’s about a Russian spy (Julia) who ends up being one of the most powerful people in Silicon Valley as COO of a Facebook/Google-esc social media empire and Alice, an Asian American employee of said company who is underemployed and on to her. Given the premise, the actual book is different than I expected. But I really enjoyed the backstories of the characters and the glimpses into their rationale for doing things. More than an action packed book, I feel like this is a story about relationships: between Julia and her handler, Julia and Alice, Julia and herself//her image projected to the rest of the world, Alice and her cousin, etc. At the same time, it’s also an interesting exploration of parasocial relationships and social media. It really made me think about how much data companies have about us and how we can really think we know someone/be dependent on them without actually knowing anything about them. It was a fun world to be in, and I wasn’t expecting it to end so soon. I literally gasped when I clicked to flip page and that was it. I think it ended a beat earlier than I expected but then made total sense. Would recommend! . . . . #impostersyndrome #kathywang #booksta #kindlegirlie #kindleunlimitedbooks #kindleunlimited #kindlereads #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #bookloversalways #travelread #readingtime #readersgonnaread #siliconvalley #booksaboutsocialmedia #airportreading #asianamericanauthors #kindlepaperwhite #kindlegram #bookstagramfeature #bookishcommunity #booklifeupdate

What this week: after 10.5 days, I’m feeling a l

What this week: after 10.5 days, I’m feeling a little more settled, so I will hopefully be posting more reviews soon! Today, I hope to finish imposter syndrome and start something else on my physical TBR! Also pictured: - cute things! - sunset from a book cafe - bingsu!! QOTD: whats on the top of your tbr? . . . . #bookstagram #bookishlifeupdate #tbrstack #whatthisweek #readinggoals #whattoread #theapology #thefamilychao #bestiary #feelfree #allmyrage #nightparade #fivestarweekend

Cafes in Seoul are definitely worth the hype. I’

Cafes in Seoul are definitely worth the hype. I’ve never lived in a city that has so many different places to get drinks with such different vibes. SO many places to read and take photos of books, but I’m also gonna need a new line item in my budget 😂😂 Pictured are: - the cafe my roommate and I sat down and got our crap together for living here - the cafe we took our placement test for Korean class (yes, that is an entire pineapple) - the view from the cafe in which I did my first interview for radio! QOTD: what’s your favorite cafe? . . . . #bookstagram #bookloversalways #studywithme #cafehopping #seoul #travel #studyabroad #teatime

Bookstagram brings so much joy in my life, I just

Bookstagram brings so much joy in my life, I just do it for fun rn. I think I need some hobbies I’m not trying to monetize (and this is already very job adjacent for me😂). That said, I wouldn’t be opposed if this could literally be my job 👀👀 Also, this is one of my favorite new spots! It’s a coffee shop called Arc and Book! They didn’t have English books that I saw, but they have a great vibe and big tables you can study at. QOTD: what are your non monetized/non side hustle-y hobbies? Also dad, if you’re reading this, it’s a JOKEEEEE CC for accessibility: a man’s voice says “here’s how I make $5000 a month in passive income.” There’s a cut and he says “I don’t!” Music starts and in a jingle, he sings, “I literally don’t do that, I don’t even know what that means” . . . . . #bookstagram #passiveincome #studyspots #seoullife #bookworm #bookstore #bookish #booklive #aesthetic #bookcozy #studygram #bookstores #bookishupdates #booklifeupdate #bookaddict #booknerdlife #bookwall #bookstagram #booksta #booksbooksbooks📚

A peak into my first week in Seoul ft. food, books

A peak into my first week in Seoul ft. food, bookshops, and my bad Korean 😅 The days don’t line up but the vibes do. Also, I’m going to be posting my travel related content on @serena_journals (with bookish content still living here) so if you want to see that, give that account a follow! . . . . . #travel #bookstore #seoul #food #travelvlog #coffee #koreanfood #travelgram #travelblogger #booklover #plane

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