Tag: Asian American Literature

Book review: ‘The Girl from Wudang’ by PJ Caldas

‘The Girl from Wudang: A Novel About Artificial Intelligence, Martial Arts and Immortality’ by PJ Caldas. Photo: Amazon

PJ Caldas, a.k.a PJ Pereira, the author of multiple best-selling novels in Brazil, was named one of the most important writers of the 21st century by the Dictionary of Brazilian Literature. He published four books inspired by the mythology carried to the country by the African diaspora and reached the top five best-selling titles multiple times. PJ is also a martial artist with 40 years of experience in combat sports, including kempo, karate, tai chi, and Brazilian jiu jitsu. In 2023 he was named Jury President of the Artificial Intelligence Awards at the Art Director’s Club and curated a Global immersive exhibit of designers collaborating with AI, called ADC101+1, as a way to explore the use of this emerging technology as a creative tool. His new book “The Girl from Wudang” is a story about immortality, martial arts, and AI that will change the way you look at life, science, and the crazy times we are living in.

“The Girl from Wudang” – My Name is Tigress and I am immortal. This is my story. Embark on a mind-bending journey with Tigress as she navigates the confusing jumps of conscience that throw her between tender moments of her childhood practicing Tai Chi in China, the most violent cage fights in California, and a secret lab where scientists experiment with her brain. She was raised in a traditional Chinese setting, immersed in Tai Chi and the Dao, but life soon takes her to California where she gets involved in professional fighting, which she loves. The story begins with an internet Blackout and Tigress is watching it unfold on television in her Oakland home and then decides to go for a jog around the neighborhood. Trouble always seems to find her, or she goes looking for it, but either way, she gets involved in a brutal street fight. Then there is a flash and she is transported to another location. This is Tigress’ life, and she shares her experiences as well as the journey that completely changes her life.

In “The Girl from Wudang,” PJ Caldas gives readers a look into the life of a confident, strong, and self-reliant fighter who evolves from a street fighter to a selfless immortal being. She is a trained fighter, and at first she is smug, but her intent is to teach women to fight: “When it comes to fighting, here’s the difference between a guy and a girl: we know they underestimate us. And I love to make them regret that.” Searching for a way to alleviate her chronic headaches, she allows herself to be part of an experiment and that is where cutting edge technology steps in. Tigress is telling her story, so it is in the first person point of view and the narration, especially the fight scenes, are highly descriptive: “My heels smash his sternum, making a crack and a puffing sound, though momentum and idiocy keep pushing his hips forward.” At first, the footnotes seem out of place, but they become useful when explaining Chinese culture and the author’s thought processes and other background information. The action is fast paced but the sudden jumps in location can seem confusing and some of the fight action is bloody and violent. Regardless, this speculative science fiction novel expertly combines ancient traditions, modern day technology/science, spirituality, and martial arts. It is a must read for fans of cyberpunk and science fiction thrillers by William Gibson and Stieg Larsson.

“This strange dimension where I live, this place nerds call ‘the cloud’ isn’t the Dao of my ancestors. Though, from where I stand, I can hear everything.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Book review: ‘My Goodbye Girl’ by Anna Gomez

‘My Goodbye Girl’ is a contemporary romance novel by Anna Gomez. Photo: Amazon

Anna Gomez is a hopeless romantic who writes about real life, flawed characters and the saving grace of unconditional love. Her experience of living and growing up in a foreign country plays a large part in her stories. Her full-time career and ability to travel extensively also add flair and individuality to the vividly written settings in her books. They transport the reader to faraway places and make them feel like they have been there before. Anna’s inspiration stems from the people she meets and the places that she has seen. Her stories are realistic and honest, thought-provoking and impactful. Her love for poetry is evident in her writing style. She also has written under the pen name Christine Brae and six books of her books have won literary awards and ranked as bestsellers upon release. In her latest novel “My Goodbye Girl” Tessa must let go of the past and determine once and for all if love is truly more powerful than the pain of goodbye. (Amazon, 2023)

“My Goodbye Girl” – This contemporary romance begins when Tessa Talman first meets Simon Fremont as they are both waiting to board a plane bound for La Guardia. Not only is she attracted to him, she is intrigued by how different their lives are. He is a dedicated scientist, practical, pragmatic, and grounded. She is a head-in-the-clouds romance author. As their relationship grows, they meet in places around the world, while continuing to live in different countries. Though their feelings for each other deepen, their priorities remain the same. Simon is in a hurry to be financially sound and settle down, but Tessa is enjoying her freedom and newfound success. Neither is willing to give in, but as each goodbye gets harder, Tessa begins to wonder whether fame is the path to happiness, or if she has everything she needs in Simon. Just as Tessa finds the courage to go after her own happily ever after, the unthinkable happens, separating them in ways she never imagined.

Romance novels are usually a guilty pleasure because they are predictable and include a ‘happily ever after’ plot. The two main characters in this story are so different from each other and meet at predetermined sites around that world that it is impossible to picture them having a serious future together. Tessa is a free spirited author who enjoys traveling around the world while Simon is a serious scientist who is ready to settle down. The first part is just about them meeting in different places and then hurriedly saying goodbye. Because there is little development or depth to these characters, they are not relatable, so it is hard to be concerned about what happens to them. The real action does not take place until the end of the first part, in Chapter 35, and by then, it feels rushed. Regardless, it is an easy read and since it is heavily dialogue driven, with descriptive language and short chapters, the story flows through the pages. Tessa and Simon’s story takes place through the years as they experience the harsh reality of life – no spoilers! Far from original, “My Goodbye Girl” is still an easy and enjoyable read about two people who are polar opposites yet are involved in a whirlwind romance that takes them around the world. It is recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary romance, women’s fiction, and multicultural romances and appreciate emotional plot twists.  

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Upcoming book release: ‘The Girl from Wudang’ by PJ Caldas

PJ Calas’ new novel ‘The Girl from Wudang’ will be released October 17, 2023. Photo: Amazon

The author of multiple best-selling novels in Brazil, PJ Caldas, a.k.a PJ Pereira was picked by the Dictionary of Brazilian Literature as one of the most important writers of the twenty-first century. There, he published four books inspired by the mythology carried to the country by the African diaspora, and reached the top five best-selling titles multiple times. PJ is also a martial artist with 40 years of experience in combat sports, including kempo, karate, tai chi, and Brazilian jiu jitsu. In 2023 he was named Jury President of the Artificial Intelligence Awards at the Art Director’s Club, and curated a Global immersive exhibit of designers collaborating with AI, called ADC101+1, as a way to explore the use of this emerging technology as a creative tool. His new book “The Girl from Wudang: A Novel About Artificial Intelligence, Martial Arts and Immortality” is a story about immortality, martial arts, and AI that will make you change the way you look at life, science, and the crazy times we are living in. It will be released Tuesday, October 17, 2023. (Meryl Moss Media Group, 2023)

“The Girl from Wudang” – Tigress is immortal. This is her story. Yinyin, called Tigress, was raised in the sacred mountains of Wudang, where her life was about Tai Chi, the Dao, and trying to balance her yang with yin. She had never heard of Artificial Intelligence or neuroscience. But then her overpowering yang sets her on a course to the Bay Area to become a professional fighter.

For as long as she could remember, Yinyin had been told she was poised to become part of something big, but what “big” turned out to be was beyond her imagining: a scientific experiment that would allow her to connect her brain to a “Brainternet” and become unbeatable. Bonus: the suicidal headaches that had plagued her all her life would cease.

But nothing comes without a price, and this connection would give others access to family secrets Yinyin has sworn to protect. Secrets that, at large and in the wrong hands, could be a very dangerous.

Fans of the legendary cyberpunk novels and gritty sci-fi thrillers of William Gibson and Stieg Larsson will be captivated by this new techno-thriller–a fast-paced blend of action, neuroscience, spirituality, and martial arts.

“A superlative new novel by one of Brazil’s most innovative writers. A mesmerizing clash between Eastern and Western beliefs about mind and body.” —Bruce Dean Willis, literature professor, University of Tulsa

“An interdisciplinary brewing of ideas and imagination, packed with futuristic brain science tech, martial arts action, and Asian culture.” — Professor Paul Li, author and faculty in cognitive science, UC Berkeley

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‘The Girl From Wudang’ release date