ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13 People & Places Books Humor, pathos in genocide ‘Skinship’ tells tales of newcomer Americans By Ashley Duong kinship’ by Yoon Choi (Alfred A. Knopf) ‘S With fi ne attention to detail, Yoon Choi’s fi ctional debut “Skinship” welcomes readers into the lives of immigrant and fi rst-generation Korean Ameri- cans. The collection of short stories examines characters of various circumstances. From a school-aged student making her fi rst friend in America to an autistic piano teacher, each chapter is a different take on how life, culture and language interact as characters navigate unfamiliar places. Choi opens with a piece on disillusionment and longing. Readers follow a young Soo as she reunites with her husband, Jae, in New Jersey after several years apart. Soo remained in Korea as Jae attempted to forge a better life for the couple in the new coun- try. Soo’s excitement fades on a long car ride from the airport to a run-down convenience store — “Our store,” Jae tells her. An older Soo later won- ders about the life she would have had if she had chosen to stay in Korea and marry some- Choi one other than Jae. Each chapter takes on a distinct voice and per- spective, highlighting the intimacies perhaps known only by those who straddle the fence of two worlds. Through Sae-Ri, a mother who leaves her son in Ko- rea for an arranged marriage to an American, Choi In this March 7, 2010, fi le photo, actor Ed Asner arrives during the 82nd Academy Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Asner, the blustery but lovable brings into focus the clashes between the ways of Sae- Lou Grant in two successful television series, has died. He was 91. (AP) Ri’s home country and the new one she fi nds herself living in. These differences become more distinct after she reveals the truth of her son to her American fam- ily. The chapter, told mostly through Sae-Ri’s imper- Obituary fect English, includes her observations of how love and marriage seem to mean different things and are performed in different ways in each place. Choi’s writing closely details the emotions and in- ner lives of her characters; they feel real in a way that A prolifi c actor who became a star in middle age rings true, even when the truth is a little ugly. Her collection is a fresh take on the experience of newcomers to America — stories of love, disappoint- ment and sacrifi ce. Asner, TV’s blustery Lou Grant, dies ❑ ❑ ❑ LOS ANGELES, Aug 30, (AP): Ed “I’d say most people are probably in end in the seventh season with a hilari- “Gone for Good” by Joanna Schaffhausen (Mi- Asner, the burly and prolifi c charac- that same boat, old people, and it’s a ous fi nale in which all of the principals notaur) ter actor who became a star in middle shame,” he said. were fi red except for the bumbling When Grace Harper is found hogtied and strangled age as the gruff but lovable newsman As Screen Actors Guild president, Baxter. to death on her kitchen fl oor, it appears that Chicago’s Lou Grant, fi rst in the hit comedy “The the liberal Asner was caught up in a Asner went immediately into “Lou “Lovelorn Killer” has returned after being dormant for Mary Tyler Moore Show” and later in political controversy in 1982 when Grant,” his character moving from nearly twenty years. the drama “Lou Grant,” died Sunday. he spoke out against US involvement Minneapolis to Los Angeles to become Chicago PD Detective Annalisa Vega had been ob- He was 91. with repressive governments in Latin city editor of the Tribune, a crusading sessed with the Asner’s representative confi rmed America. “Lou Grant” was canceled newspaper under the fi rm hand of Pub- the case ever since her high school boyfriend’s the actor’s death in an email to The during the furor that followed and he lisher Margaret Pynchon, memorably mother was murdered in a similar fashion. Now, in Associated Press. Asner’s offi cial did not run for a third SAG term in played by Nancy Marchand. “Gone for Good,” it’s on Vega to end the reign of ter- This cover image released by Knopf Twitter account included a note from 1985. Although the show had its light mo- ror — unless the killer hunts her down fi rst. his children: “We are sorry to say that Asner discussed his politicization in ments, its scripts touched on a variety The novel is the fi rst in a planned series about Vega shows ‘Skinship,’ stories by Yoon Choi. (AP) our beloved patriarch passed away this a 2002 interview, noting he had begun of darker social issues that most series by Joanna Schaffhausen, author of four previous morning peacefully. Words cannot ex- his career during the McCarthy era and wouldn’t touch at the time, including thrillers featuring Boston PD detective Ellery Hatha- press the sadness we feel. With a kiss for years had been afraid to speak out alcoholism and homelessness. Asner way. At fi rst blush, Hathaway’s personal experience on your head- Goodnight dad. We love for fear of being blacklisted. remained politically active for the with serial killers was even worse than Vega’s. As a you.” rest of his life and in 2017 published teenager, Hathaway and been held prisoner and tor- Then he saw a nun’s fi lm depicting tured by one. Built like the football lineman he the cruelties infl icted by El Salvador’s the book “The Grouchy Historian: An A serial killer suddenly reappearing after being dor- once was, the balding Asner was a jour- government on that country’s citizens. Old-Time Lefty Defends Our Consti- neyman actor in fi lms and TV when he tution Against Right-Wing Hypocrites mant for decades is an overused trope of both crime Character novels and TV cop shows. So is having the detec- was hired in 1970 to play Lou Grant and Nutjobs.” tive on the case targeted by the killer. In other words, on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” “I stepped out to complain about our Asner, born in Kansas City, Mis- Schaffhausen’s new book starts off with two strikes For seven seasons he was the rumpled country’s constant arming and fortify- souri, in 1929, almost became a news- against it. When the book’s climactic confrontation boss to Moore’s ebullient Mary Rich- ing of the military in El Salvador, who man in real life. He studied journal- takes place in an abandoned mental hospital — some- ards (He called her “Mary,” she called were oppressing their people,” he said. ism at the University of Chicago until thing else we’ve seen too many times before — that him “Mr. Grant”) at the fi ctional Min- Former SAG President Charlton a professor told him there was little neapolis TV newsroom where both Heston and others accused him of money to be made in the profession. seems like strike three. King Jr Oates And yet, there is a lot to like about this novel. worked. Later, he would play the role making un-American statements and He quickly switched to drama, de- Harper, the latest victim, was a member of The for fi ve years on “Lou Grant.” of misusing his position as head of buting as the martyred Thomas Becket Gravediggers, a group of amateur sleuths obsessed The part brought Asner three best their actors union. in a campus production of T.S. Eliot’s with cold cases. Her notes on her investigation of “The Variety supporting actor Emmys on “Mary Ty- “We even had bomb threats at the “Murder in the Cathedral.” Lovelorn Killer,” interspersed with the main narrative, ler Moore” and two best actor awards time. I had armed guards,” Asner re- He eventually dropped out of are an artful touch. on “Lou Grant.” He also won Emmys called. school, going to work as a taxi driver Schaffhausen builds the suspense chapter by chap- GAINESVILLE, Fla: A diner at a north for his roles in the miniseries “Rich The actor blamed the controversy and other jobs before being drafted in ter, and the tale’s clever twists will keep readers Florida restaurant gathered the staff of 10 Man, Poor Man” (1975-1976) and for ending the fi ve-year run of “Lou 1951. He served with the Army Signal guessing, often wrongly, till the end. together to thank them for their hard work “Roots” (1976-1977). Grant,” although CBS insisted declin- Corps in France. before leaving them a $10,000 tip to share. He had more than 300 acting cred- ing ratings were the reason the show Returning to Chicago after military Her prose style, which has always been precise and It happened last Tuesday night as the clear, has taken a leap in this book, turning both grit- its and remained active throughout his was canceled. service, he appeared at the Playwrights man, his wife and son fi nished their dinner Asner’s character had caught on tier and, occasionally more lyrical. And, as usual, she at the Wahoo Seafood Grill, the Gainesville 70s and 80s in a variety of fi lm and TV Theatre Club and Second City, the excels at character development — even with minor Sun reported. roles. In 2003, he played Santa Claus from the fi rst episode of “Mary Tyler famed satire troupe that launched the characters. Shawn Shepherd, who owns Wahoo, in Will Ferrell’s hit fi lm “Elf.” He was Moore,” when he told Mary in their careers of dozens of top comedians.