We schedule six to eight books a year, one a month from September through May. The book discussion chairs select well-written, challenging books about Asia written by Asian authors or other authors who have expertise in a particular Asian country’s culture. We look for books that reveal attitudes, customs, and significant historical events. Books from a variety of Asian countries are selected, usually including at least one and sometimes two from India and China. Mysteries, memoirs, historical novels, and classical books may be selected. Occasionally, an author residing in the area is invited to join the discussion. Each discussion has a host in a member’s home. A moderator is selected to lead the discussion and also present information about the author. The discussions tend to have between fifteen to twenty participants. The book discussions are very popular with members, who are urged to sign-up for a discussion on a link in the monthly newsletter in order to secure a place.
Our complete book list is found here: AAF Booklist 1994-2026
2026-2027 BOOK LIST
The books are arranged in the approximate order in which they are scheduled for the next book discussion season. The actual date, moderator, and host will be announced in the first newsletter. All discussions are scheduled for either a Monday or a Tuesday.
September 14, 2026: Family, Ba Chin
October 5, 2026: In the Country, Mia Alvar
November 2, 2026: Mother Mary Comes to Me, Arundhati Roy
January 11, 2027: When We Fell Apart, Soon Wiley
February 1, 2027 : South of the Border, West of the Sun, Haruki Murakami
March 1, 2027: This is Where the Serpent Lives, Daniyal Mueenuddin
April 5, 2027: The Last Emperor of China, Paul French (to be published in the U.S. in November)
May 3, 2027: American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee (to be published at the end of September)