Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso Author and Critic Hua Hsu (The New Yorker) ‘Stays True’
Oct 8, 2023
Hua Hsu, a Staff writer and critic at The New Yorker and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir Stay True, delves into his rich life experiences. He reflects on his Taiwanese immigrant roots and the mixtapes crafted by his father that shaped his musical landscape. Hsu shares the profound bond formed with his late friend Ken during their college years at UC Berkeley and the tragic night that changed everything. He explores the complex relationship between memory, friendship, and the act of writing, ultimately surrendering to joy as a tribute to Ken.
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Past Illuminates The Future
- Hua Hsu reframes his memoir as not just about the past but about imagining a future shaped by memory.
- He realized the future gives meaning to why we care about the past and reframed the book around that idea.
Parents' Records As Education
- Hua Hsu learned about his parents' lives through books and records rather than direct conversations.
- Their possessions and cultural interests taught him how to read and listen before they explained anything.
Mixtapes On Auto-Reverse
- Hua Hsu's first musical exposure was in car rides where his father made auto-reverse mixtapes to hear favorite songs again.
- His father's favorite was The Animals' "House of the Rising Sun," which felt like a window into different lives.
