Rebecca F Kuang's 'Taipei Story': A Personal Novel of Grief and Language

Rebecca F Kuang, the prolific 30-year-old author of fantasy and literary fiction, has published 'Taipei Story', a realist novel drawing on her own experiences of intensive language study in Taipei and the death of her grandfather. The novel follows Lily Chen, a Chinese American undergraduate who enrolls in a ten-week Chinese language summer school in Taipei, hoping to connect with her heritage and grandparents. However, her grandfather's sudden death forces her to confront her grief and identity. In an interview with Another Magazine, Kuang discusses how writing helped her process her loss, the role of language in diaspora identity, and the novel's exploration of desire and family dynamics. Kuang notes that language is not a magical solution to belonging, but requires effort and vulnerability. The novel also touches on the pressures of being the 'invisible child' in a family with a sibling struggling with mental health, and the disconnect between idealized and real sexual experiences. 'Taipei Story' is published by The Borough Press and is now available. Kuang will participate in a panel on 'The Future of Education' at the Southbank Centre's 'Letters To The Future' weekend from 18–20 September, part of the centre's 75th anniversary.