In this deeply personal episode, we explore Overseas Bride, a short story by Wong Yi that captures the emotional toll of migration, language loss, and the fragile ties between love and belonging. Set against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s shifting identity, the story asks: What does it mean to leave home when home is a language?

Wong Yi reads an excerpt in Cantonese (followed by the whole story English), and joins Julia for a conversation about:

• Mother tongue as sacrifice – Why losing Cantonese can feel more devastating than physical displacement.
• Marriage as escape – How the story subverts romantic tropes with a pragmatic proposal.
• Hong Kong’s cultural paradoxes – Is the city truly a "cultural desert," or a place of vibrant artistic resilience?
• Writing in Cantonese vs. English – The challenges and joys of weaving colloquial idioms into literary fiction.

Featured work:

• Overseas Bride by Wong Yi (trans. Jennifer Feeley) – Read the story here.
• Companion essay: Mother Tongue Overseas – Wong Yi’s reflections on the story’s global resonance. Read here.

Where to Find Wong Yi: Follow her on Instagram @wongyiwrites

Challenge for listeners: Can you spot the theme linking this month's "Local Linguo" Cantonese phrase with the ones featured in Episodes #1 and #2? Tell us on Instagram @hongkonglitclub!

Subscribe for next month’s episode with Dr Antony Huen.

Host: Julia Besnard

Would you break the law for a taste of home?

In this episode, we explore dystopian food culture, sibling bonds, and the power of culinary memory through Rinkoo Ramchandani’s Pushcart Prize-nominated short story A Fistful of Feet. Set in a near-future New York where meat is illegal, the tale follows rule-following accountant Jane Chan as she risks prison to dine at an underground "eateasy" – and reconnect with her estranged brother.

In the "Deep Dive" interview section of the show, Julia and Rinkoo discuss the author's inspiration behind this speculative story, family dynamics when confronted with opposing values, comfort foods, and Hong Kong's literary communities.

Our "Local Linguo" section focusses on the Cantonese phrase 同枱食飯，各自修行 - "Eating at the same table, but walking separate paths".

About the Author: Rinkoo Ramchandani is an executive coach, creative writer, and committee member of Hong Kong Women in Publishing Society.

About the Host: Julia Besnard is a librarian and creative writer based in Hong Kong. Learn more about the podcast here.

Malaysian author Maureen Tai reads her prose poem Life We Can No Longer See, a text both poignant and lighthearted about a teenager grappling with the ageing of his beloved grandfather. The poem was inspired by the many evocative sounds of Hong Kong. In the discussion that ensues, In the conversation that ensues, Maureen and Julia delve into the complexities of caring for elderly loved ones, cultural attitudes towards death, and the evolving use of technology in maintaining human connections. The writer shares personal insights, the importance of being present, and the influence of diverse cultural backgrounds on her storytelling. Additionally, the episode emphasises using smartphones creatively and fostering a love for reading and literature among young people.

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Who is behind this episode?

Host: Julia Besnard

Find out more about the Hong Kong Lit Club Podcast here.

Guest: Maureen Tai

Read Maureen's featured story, Life We Can No Longer See, here.

Check out Maureen's website: https://maureentai.com/