Book Talk with Translator Jenna Tang: “Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise”

Join us for a lecture by translator Jenna Tang on the book, “Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise.”

Abstract:

Taiwanese author Lin Yi-Han’s (1991-2017) novel, Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise, was published in the spring of 2017. The author’s only book addresses various topics that haven’t been discussed enough in Taiwan, including sexual violence and grooming within long-established educational settings, societal neglect of mental health issues, and gender stereotypes that have long been imposed on women. Starting in 2018, the novel has been translated into a dozen languages, including Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Polish, Russian, and more. Despite its convoluted timeline, Lin’s storytelling has made Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise one of the most iconic literary works associated with Taiwan’s #MeToo movement, which surged in 2023 and beyond. The novel has resonated with other literary works around the world and continues to give a voice to those who hope to challenge gender-related stereotypes about trauma. In this talk, translator Jenna Tang will discuss the novel in the context of gender awareness in Taiwan and the transnational journey of the #MeToo movement.

Speaker Bio:

Jenna Tang is a Taiwanese writer, educator, and translator who translates between Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, French, and English. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from The New School. Her translations and essays are published in The Paris Review, Lit Hub, Latin American Literature Today, AAWW, Catapult, Mcsweeney’s, and elsewhere. She translated Lin Yi-Han’s novel, Fang Si-Chi’s First Love Paradise, one of the most iconic #MeToo movement titles from Taiwan.

This event is made possible by the Taiwanese Ministry of Culture.