Literature is, and always will be, a valuable tool in learning about the lives of others. Reading can connect us to cultures different and unique from our own. As the month of May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, it’s a perfect time to read books written by those of Asian descent while remembering to keep in mind the importance of reading these books year-round. Here are a few books to pick up this May:

“On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” is a 2019 debut novel from Vietnamese poet Ocean Vuong. At 246 pages, it’s not necessarily a short novel and has poetic prose throughout. The novel is a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read and is an honest exploration of class and race. Vuong writes about people trying to survive while finding joy along the way.

Another book from 2019, “Trust Exercise” by Susan Choi was the winner of the years’ national book award for fiction. Choi’s novel is set in an American suburb in the early 1980s, featuring students at a highly competitive performing arts high school. The characters of this novel face the outside world of family life, economic status and academic pressure in a shocking spiral of events.

First published in 2018, “The Incendiaries” by R.O. Kwon is 214 pages and follows Phoebe Lin and Will Kendall. “The Incendiaries” features a fractured love story as Phoebe is drawn into a cult tied to North Korea that is committing acts of domestic terrorism. Kwon’s novel is an examination of culture and the minds of extreme terrorists.

Michelle Zauner’s “Crying in H Mart” was widely read in 2021 when it was first published. A memoir, Zauner tells of growing up as an Asian American kid in Oregon. She examines struggling with high expectations, her relationship with her mother and their shared love of food and how her life changed when her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Described as vivacious and plainspoken, “Crying in H Mart” is rich and powerful – a novel to cherish and reread.

The 64th Annual Grammy Awards were held April 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. It was a night of high anticipation, as the awards for artist, album and song of the year were to be announced. Going into it, expectations were high for Olivia Rodrigo who had several nominations and was being considered for the top awards. BTS – the Korean pop boy band – was probably the most anticipated performance of the night. Although incomparable to the drama at this year’s Oscars, the Grammy Awards was full of their own memorable moments.

It ended up being a big night for Oliva Rodrigo, going home having won three Grammys – Best New Artist, Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album. Silk Sonic, a duo made of Burno mars and Anderson Paak, also found a lot of recognition, especially for their song “Leave the Door Open,” which won Record of the Year and Song of the Year. 

Jon Batiste’s album “We Are” was awarded Album of the year. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance went to Doja Cat and SZA for their song “Kiss Me More,” beating out BTS as the fan favorite. Glass Animals lost out to Olivia Rodrigo in the Best New Artist category, another award not given to the fan favorite of the night. A notable win was Baby Keem for his song “Family Ties”, featuring Kendrick Lamar, proving his spot as an up-and-coming name in the rap industry.

In between the awards were performances from many well-known names. On their big night, both Silk Sonic and Oliva Rodrigo performed towards the beginning of the ceremony. BTS performed their popular English-language hit “Butter,” once again dazzling audiences with their perfected dance moves. 

Released in late 2021, “The Tragedy of Macbeth” was a hidden gem. The film was produced by A24, the same studio responsible for films such as “Midsommar” and “Uncut Gems.” Fans of A24 know that some of their films can be hit or miss – the indie company releasing films that sometimes end up being a little too weird for the mainstream. But “Macbeth” slid under the radar, and is a film I consider to be truly a masterpiece.

The film follows the story of William Shakespeare’s play of the same name and features Denzel Washington as Lord Macbeth. The acting in the film was phenomenal, and it had to be. As a film based on a play, much of the story is dependent on the dialogue and subtle actions of the characters. There was a lot of potential for the film to get boring due to the sheerpure amount of dialogue and seemingly lack of action, but the action is in the subtleties of the film. Overall, and the actors do an amazing job of keeping your attention. 

It was also just a great film to watch because of the visual experience. “Macbeth” was minimalistic, with the whole film shot in black and white. Because of the lack of color, there was a higher emphasis on shadows and light, punctuating the film in a unique way and providing a beautiful cinematographic experience. The general aesthetic of the film was also given great attention. It didn’t feel old or difficult to watch. While it was obviously a Shakespeare play, there was a modern spin on it with the minimalistic attributes of the sets adding a crispness to the film. 

“The Tragedy of Macbeth” was extremely enjoyable – one of my favorite movies I’ve seen in a while. For those who can’t enjoy a Shakespeare play, it may be hard to get into. But for those curious about it, I definitely recommend giving it a shot.

Comfortably nestled in Pendleton Heights, PH Coffee delivers on both fronts important to a successful coffee shop – coffee and aesthetics. It’s an unassuming place that you might accidentally drive by if you’re not aware of where you are going, but once you find it, you won’t be disappointed.

The interior of PH Coffee gives off aesthetically pleasing industrial vibes with exposed brick walls and beautiful hanging metal chandeliers. A perfect place to do homework or catch up with friends, PH Coffee has a variety of seating choices including the coveted window seats overlooking the street outside.

As far as drinks go, PH features everything you would expect – espresso, lattes, teas, matcha, hot chocolate and chai. They also have specialty drinks including the Mayan mocha, a mocha with a dash of cayenne pepper and chai tea. Besides the drink menu, PH has a large variety of food options including a few gluten-free and vegan options. 

The last time I went to PH, they had new drinks featuring autumn flavors. I ordered a mint matcha and was delighted with it. I also ordered a savory scone filled with bacon, cheddar and chives. While the combination of the flavors seemed uncomplimentary, it was the perfect mix of light matcha and salty bread. 

After visiting a couple of times and never being disappointed, I would recommend PH Coffee to anyone in a heartbeat – and now would be a great time to go. Until Halloween, PH is featuring a pop-up bar with craft cocktails, mocktails and live entertainment. The drinks available will rotate each weekend but all of the drinks were created by the baristas of PH. A gem of Kansas City, PH Coffee is more than worth the visit.