An Otherworldy Murder Mystery: The Ghost Bride with Special Guest Yangsze Choo Artwork

Of the Earth 本土

Of the Earth is a podcast created by Cortney Chaffin and Ellen Larson, two art historians who have dedicated themselves to the study of over 5,000 years of material culture from China. The program’s title comes from the Chinese word 本土 (bentu), meaning “native soil.” In each episode, Of the Earth digs into a wide range of topics, introducing listeners to the many connections, complexities, and contradictions of Chinese art and culture, across time and space.

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Of the Earth 本土

An Otherworldy Murder Mystery: The Ghost Bride with Special Guest Yangsze Choo

October 31, 2021 • Cortney Chaffin & Ellen Larson • Season 1 • Episode 5

Just in time for Halloween, Cortney & Ellen sit down with New York Times Bestselling author Yangsze Choo to talk about her debut novel The Ghost Bride. We dig deep into the origins of this ghostly murder mystery that takes us on a journey from late 19th century Malaya into the Plains of the Dead and beyond. How would you feel if you received a proposition to marry a ghost? Why are offerings to the dead so important in Chinese culture and Chinese diaspora cultures? How do modern death rituals relate to those of the past? Tune in to find out!

This episode was produced in collaboration with Bound to Happen Books in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Bound to Happen Books was founded in April of 2021 when Nicole, Rachel, and Lyn recognized a need in the Stevens Point community. A few, actually: a need for a bookstore to provide new releases and popular titles; a need for a store that prioritizes authors, experiences, and stories not represented in the community; and a need for a rad space for folks to come together and do more together than each of us could do as individuals.

Through a partnership with Process General Store, Bound to Happen Books was able to open the collective doors of 1008 Main Street in Stevens Point in June of this year, and they are continuing to grow and add new chapters to their story.

You can support Bound to Happen Books at the following website: https://boundtohappenbooks.com/. Check out the Of the Earth curated list of must read books by AAPI authors here: https://bookshop.org/lists/of-the-earth-curated-list-must-read-books-by-aapi-authors. Thanks for supporting independent bookstores!

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