August 4, 2025 • 34 mins
In this episode, I chat with Lucy Yu, founder and owner of Yu & Me Books. Trained as a chemical engineer, her life took an unexpected turn during the pandemic when grief from losing a close friend led to deep reflection about her purpose. "I'm here on earth to do art and foster love," she realized, and from this epiphany, You and Me Books was born—the first female Asian American-owned bookstore in New York City's historic Manhattan Chinatown.
Yu's vision of creating a genuine community space resonated deeply in a time when people were starved for connection. The bookstore became more than just a place to buy books—it transformed into a sanctuary where diverse voices are celebrated and where customers feel so at home they comfortably take naps in the chairs.
The journey hasn't been without heartbreak. In July 2023, a devastating fire ravaged the bookstore, forcing Yu to watch helplessly as her dream literally went up in smoke. But what followed was nothing short of miraculous. A GoFundMe campaign raised over $360,000 from 6,000 individual donors, fellow bookstore owners offered their spaces, and community members rallied with practical and emotional support. This outpouring of love affirmed Yu's belief that "chasing love and art will never let you down."
You and Me Books stands today as a testament to resilience, the power of community, and the vital role that independent bookstores play as third spaces where people can gather, connect, and belong. Lucy's story reminds us that books aren't just products—they're vessels for connection that show us we're never alone in our experiences.
Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder, Gabor Maté
Transcending Trauma: Healing Complex Ptsd with Internal Family Systems, Frank Anderson
Asymmetry, A Novel, Lisa Halliday
Grief Is the Thing with Feathers, Max Porter
Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America’s Civil Rights Revolution, Peniel E. Joseph
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Hi, my name is Mandy Jackson-Beverly and I'm a
bibliophile.
Welcome to the Bookshop Podcast.
Each week, I present interviewswith authors, independent
bookshop owners and booksellersfrom around the globe and
publishing professionals.
To help the show reach morepeople, please share episodes
with friends and family and onsocial media, and remember to
(00:33):
subscribe and leave a reviewwherever you listen to this
podcast.
You're listening to episode 301.
You and Me Books is the firstfemale Asian American-owned
bookstore in New York City,located in historical Manhattan
Chinatown.
Owner Lucy Yu's focus is on thestrong, diverse voices of her
(00:57):
community, with a highlight onimmigrant stories.
Her carefully curated books andupcoming offerings of beer,
wine and coffee cultivate a safecommunity space to sip, read
and foster some amazingconversations.
Hi, lucy, and welcome to theshow.
Hi, mandy, how are you?
I'm good.
How are you?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I am rather exhausted .
Yeah, I think that's pretty onthe nose and I just got done
with.
May is AAPI month and we alwaysjoke.
Every Asian business owner isso exhausted because it's a
month that you're supposed tocelebrate your heritage.
But what happens in, like youknow, capitalism framework is
(01:40):
like we're working overtime andwe're so tired and it's our
busiest month and then we'relike crawling to the end of it
and then by the time June comesaround, we're like, oh my god,
we can't even celebrate pridebecause we're so tired.
The gay Asians are tired.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
You know, I've never thought about that before, but
you're absolutely right, youmust be exhausted.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, it's interesting because it's like
you know we're, it does help ourbusiness and it brings a lot of
business in.
But I, you know, it's like I'mAsian 12 months.
We could, we could spread itout a little bit.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Oh, dear.
Well, I can already tell we'regonna have a fun chat today.
Thank you so much for beinghere, dear.
Well, I can already tell we'regoing to have a fun chat today.
Thank you so much for beinghere, lucy.
Thank you for having me here.
I'm excited to chat.
When I was looking over yourbio and then the history of the
bookshop, I thought maybe wewant to start a couple of years
ago and move on through that andthen go backwards.
But I decided no, we'll get tothat, but what we'll do is start
(02:44):
by learning about you, becauseyou trained as a chemical
engineer and worked as a supplychain manager for a food company
before opening you and me books.
So what led you to consider acareer change and why did you
choose to open a bookshop?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I think I'm someone that is always open to change
and I think a linear career pathwas never something that was in
the works for me.
But in particular, I think,going through the grief of the
pandemic, especially when griefwas so widespread, I was dealing
with my own loss.
I'd lost one of my best friends.
I was just managingunderstanding where my
(03:24):
priorities in how I wanted tolive each day really lay.
I think that when youexperience that much grief, you
really try to understand, likewhat are the things that I love
the most and what are the thingsthat are most important to me.
And I realized, like I'm hereon earth to, you know, do art
(03:45):
and foster love.
And I couldn't really think ofanything else that was driving
me forward.
And I mean, especially duringthat time, like I felt like I
needed to focus on something sodesperately to manage the grief.
The grief was so overwhelmingthat I the only thing that kind
(04:05):
of got me through was focusingon on the love and art that I
poured into the bookstore.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
And why did you decide to pour all your
creativity into a bookshoprather than any other kind of
creative business?
Speaker 2 (04:20):
I am a really creative person and I do a lot
of art on the side, but I cannothave that be my full-time job.
I think that for me personallyit removes a little bit of the
enjoyability out of it, and so Ineed a lot of structure and I
need to be building towardssomething that's separate from
(04:40):
the free-flowing creativity thathappens outside of work,
separate from the free flowingcreativity that happens outside
of work, and I I love, I loveamplifying people's art, like as
as an artist, I'm a bigconsumer of art and I love being
immersed in art.
And one thing that really got methrough the pandemic was
reading.
You know, 100 books a year tojust part of it was like a
(05:03):
little bit of dissociation, youknow a little bit of escapism,
and part of it was just a desireto be breathing in life again,
and breathing in lives sodifferent than mine and so
similar to mine.
And you know, in COVID ourlives were so small and so
separated, and so where could Igo but dive into the world in
(05:25):
books and so that together Ithink I'm, as an engineer, I'm
really intellectually stimulatedwith building things and
pushing kind of the envelope oninnovation and what that looks
like for humanity and what Iwant to see in the future of
like my own life and thehumanity that I dream of and
(05:48):
that is like a focus oncommunity.
I was desperate and I washungry for deep human connection
and I felt if I could immersemyself in art and feel safe in
that place to explore my ownlife, explore my own desires,
like I can kind of foster thatwith other people as well.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Well, first of all, I'm so sorry for your loss.
Thank you, that time was justso difficult for all of us.
Can you tell me a little bitabout the kind of art you do?
What medium do you work in, ormediums?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
kind of art you do.
What medium do you work in?
Or mediums, I'm kind of I justdo whatever comes to mind.
I just finished a poetrycollection and I do a lot of
visual art.
I used to be a painter and Iwas an art teacher many, many
years ago, but I've kind ofexplored recently a lot of
markers and I'm really wantingto get closer to the page that
(06:48):
I'm working on.
I think the hands-on approachis just allowing a little bit
more presence in my body.
So a little mix of everything.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
There's something that you said I don't want my
creativity to be my job.
I have a son that says the samething, and I know a lot of
friends who've said the same.
Lucy, looking back, how didyour first year of business
compared to what you envisionedin your original business
proposal, whether in terms ofgrowth challenges or community
(07:17):
reception?
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I really tried to not have any expectation past the
first four months of businessbecause I was just really unsure
if the business was going to beprofitable at all.
I was opening a bookstore inthe middle of a pandemic in this
digital age.
The metrics didn't bode wellfor my predicted success.
So I really was like I have afour-month runway to try to make
(07:43):
this work and I am open towhatever the universe throws at
me and I will try to remainadaptable.
So I think the biggest surprisewas the reception of it.
I really didn't expect morethan 10 people to come in a day
and I didn't expect to sell morethan 12 books a day, which was
(08:06):
my break-even point, and I justwas shocked.
I think immediately people weredrawn to my vision of this
community bookstore that Ihadn't even fully formed myself
and I think that really spoke tothe desperation of desiring
connection with people anddesiring in-person connection
(08:29):
with people when we were sodeprived of that.
Like I think when we're severedfrom that connection, we live
in this kind of ambiguous statewhere we're not as close to our
humanity as our actual soulsreally need to be, and I think
everyone started kind ofattaching their own vision to
what they ideally thought aboutcommunity.
(08:51):
So it's in the same way that,like when you produce an artwork
or you finish a book and it'sout in the world and it's no
longer yours, it's, you know,the interpretation of everyone
else's perception of this artand you had your original
intention for it.
But I think, as someone whocreated this bookstore, I'm so
(09:11):
grateful that other people havekind of taken it for themselves
and decided, like this is mythird space in this way and
that's really surprised me, butsurprised me in a really
wonderful way.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
And that leads into my next question.
Beautifully, because on yourwebsite you talk about the lack
of representation in theliterary space and your desire
to create a welcoming spacewhere people feel heard.
Can you expand on this thought,especially what you've observed
in terms of representation andhow your bookstore addresses
(09:45):
that?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I think the word representation has been reduced
a bit over time and I think alot of the publishing world and
also just our capitalistic kindof mindset in America right now,
thinking about representationbecomes a very narrow path of
what is the most convenient fora general audience for
(10:08):
representation to be.
Representation has become moregeneralized, I think, from a
like how to make moneystandpoint or what's our bottom
line standpoint, and my desirefor representation is the truest
sense of the word in that youare a person that can do
whatever you want with the artthat you make.
And I think a lot of AsianAmericans, people of color,
(10:31):
writers of color, children ofimmigrants that are working
within this creative space, theybecome forced to be educators
of their experience instead ofjust being someone that can be
an artist and having thefree-flowing flexibility of that
.
I think I experienced thatbecause I'm Asian American and I
opened a store and it wasimmediately labeled as an Asian
(10:52):
American bookstore, which is nottrue.
It's a bookstore and I'm AsianAmerican and I think that that
kind of lends itself to like thereduction of what
representation has done to thekind of audience that art can
reach, and so my goal is to be areally loud advocate for these
(11:12):
amazing artists and authors thatare coming to just share their
art and sharing who they are.
And it may not fit into ageneralized mold or any kind of
preconceived notions of whatsomeone expects, of whatever
someone expects, but I thinkthat is the ultimate goal of
representation is to kind ofshatter these boundaries of
(11:34):
outside perception.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
I enjoy reading translated books, as I've said
on the show many times.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Me as well.
I love translated lit.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
I think an issue that rose to the surface during the
pandemic was that there are manyspaces in publishing that were
disregarded, and one was thelack of translated books, and
it's one of the reasons why Ilove small and medium presses,
because they have the courage totake a chance on a different
kind of book, and this issomething that I really admire.
(12:06):
Something else you raised aswell that I'd like to talk about
I've lived in Australia,england and in the US, and I've
been lucky enough to travelquite a bit, and I'm constantly
discouraged about how theAmerican administration and much
of our leadership refuse to seethe importance of supporting
(12:27):
creative people.
It just breaks my heart and, ofcourse, with the current
administration here in America,grants are incredibly hard to
get now.
Yeah right, it's trulyheartbreaking.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
It's really painful, I think.
I mean you really nailed it andit's been really difficult to
see this country move furtherand further away from that.
I think the United States issuch a young country and they
haven't experienced quite thetension of full loss, uphold
(13:05):
that idea of exceptionalism.
That kind of feeds on whatcapitalism productivity is
prioritized right now versus theflourishing creativity and arts
in which feeds into thatquestioning of society and feeds
into a larger sense of selfwhen that doesn't really help
(13:27):
capitalism.
So I think it's the wholestructure of our country that is
not open minded to just kind ofyeah, I mean larger
representation, which kind offeeds back to your previous
question.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Yeah, I mean, here we are taking money away from
schools and the arts.
We are going to be a nation offollowers, not leaders and
problem solvers, because that'swhat the arts do they inspire
empathy and encourage us tothink out of the box.
I believe what we need rightnow are thinkers and dreamers,
people who have ideas thatthey're not scared to try, and
(14:06):
we need people with money tosupport these idea, creative
thinkers to help them succeed.
Oh, my goodness, I feel likeI'm ranting because I could go
on about that subject for hours.
Same same.
Okay.
Now, in the summer of 2023,there was a fire in the bookshop
.
Take us back to when you firstrealized the bookshop was on
(14:28):
fire and later to the extent ofthe damage.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
I was working there that day.
I was working at the store onJuly 4th of 2023 and smoke
started coming in, but I thoughtit was fireworks and one of the
customers had asked, like arewe safe?
And I was like, I think so.
I think it's just fireworks.
And then one of my neighborsfrom upstairs came down and she
(14:52):
was the one that notified methat there was a fire happening
upstairs and that we needed toevacuate.
And I had to just stand acrossthe street and watch it happen
and not do anything.
And as soon as I could, I wentback in probably too soon, and
(15:13):
it really it honestly messedwith my lungs a lot.
It was not the safest thing todo, but I just it's hard when
you see everything that youbuilt just destroyed in a moment
.
I just wanted to see what hadhappened and I tried to save as
many books as I could and I hada lot of friends that were there
that were planning on justhanging out with me at the store
that day and immediately theywere like they got tarps, they
(15:37):
got bags and they just we workedtogether to save, I think, like
about a couple, a couplehundred, a couple thousand books
.
I'm not even sure of the number, but we saved as many books as
we could and it just it was.
It was just so painful and theextent of the damage.
(15:59):
I remember the firefighting crew.
They were like I think it'lltake about a year to fix and I'm
such an overachiever try hardthat I was like on my watch.
It's going to take shorter, butthat comes with its own
consequences.
I think when you're managinggrief and you immediately go
into such intense action, youhave to suppress so much emotion
(16:20):
in which I'm kind of grapplingwith at this moment.
I am having the delayedreaction of that and and I have
needed to rely on my communityagain for that emotional support
and for me being in a state ofshaky mental health, like I've
had to be honest with that andbe vulnerable and open with that
(16:41):
as a business owner, which issomething that's it's it's just
really difficult to bevulnerable and I just I felt
like being myself and beinghonest with where I was was what
I encourage other people to do,and the only way that I could
lead by that is through example.
(17:02):
But it's so much harder to doit yourself and so much easier
to encourage it.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
I think it's really difficult to ask for help and in
some ways it's especiallydifficult for women, right?
I mean, I don't want to soundold fashioned in that, but I
think for many women it isreally difficult to accept help
and to be vulnerable.
I feel really emotional when Italk about this, so I think it
must trigger me a little.
(17:28):
You know, looking back at whatyou've been through, lucy, I'm
just so proud of you and it'snot like I know you or anything,
but what you've done isincredible the rebuilding,
keeping your community together.
But getting back to what youwent through, I'm so surprised
that the firemen let you intothe building as early as they
did.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
I am surprised too, honestly, and I really I've been
thinking a lot about what youjust said about how it's so hard
for me to accept help and askfor help and even when people
are willing to give it, I don'tthink I'm deserving.
And so much of that comes withthe hard work of understanding
(18:12):
my own self-value, understandingand having a better sense of
self, and that means accessingthe very ups and downs of
pulling the grief that I've beentrying to suppress and the
inconvenience of feelinguncomfortable in that grief.
So that is, it's all relatedbut it's really difficult to go
(18:33):
through and that is kind of mypriority right now and it's it's
hard to also run a businesswhile also prioritizing your
mental health, but that wassomething I always struggled
with working in a corporateenvironment, working as an
engineer working a lot of thetime as the only female engineer
and with my own business.
(18:55):
I want to figure out a way inwhich we can prioritize that and
me prioritize that and not haveall of that be put on my team
to work extra.
It's just we have to figure outa balance of the ecosystem,
which is a new equation everytime I look at it.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Yeah, I'm thrilled you're writing poetry.
It's a condensed version ofjournaling and or part of
journaling, and I'm sure it'shelping you get through
everything.
I'm curious was there ever amoment that you consider just
closing the door and walkingaway from your business?
I would love to know what keptyou motivated and was there a
(19:32):
turning point?
Speaker 2 (19:33):
I think for any small business owner, that thought
comes up.
There was never a moment duringthe fire, particularly where I
wanted to quit.
I think that I'm someone whohas such strong counter will
sometimes that if there'spressure or there's something
destroying something I reallybelieve in, like that counter
(19:55):
will will take over everything,including my mental and physical
health.
But you know, there are dayswhen I dream of like I'd love to
not be the steerer of the ship.
You know, I'd love to besomeone who isn't solely
responsible for every singleaspect of my life.
I'm responsible for myprofessional aspect, my personal
(20:16):
aspect, and there's so muchfreedom in that, but there's
also so much responsibility.
I'm not going to lie.
Sometimes I miss someone justtelling me what to do for the
day and being like, hey, at 5 PMI get to log off and watch a TV
show and um, but I ultimatelylike I lived that life and I
(20:38):
tried it out and there is a bitof ease.
But that loss of agency was sodepraving for my soul that I, um
, I had to choose this path andI keep reminding myself that, um
, I never really wanted to be aleader.
I never thought I was going tobe a good leader, but I am
(21:00):
someone who has always strivedto go to the beat of my own drum
with community and other people, and so I think that is the
path that I've been on and Idon't have any regrets about it.
I think it's just managing thevery true feelings of always
thinking of alternatives, andbut I think that's just what
(21:20):
we're always going to do.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Yeah, I agree.
Tell us about the GoFundMecampaign you launched and the
incredible response you receivedfrom the community.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I launched two GoFundMe campaigns.
The first one was to start thebusiness.
So I put $40,000 of my ownsavings into the business.
So I put forty thousand dollarsof my own savings into the
business and I had needed someextra support, which was really
scary to ask for.
But I reached, I think, fifteenthousand dollars on my first
gofundme campaign, which reallyallowed me the full amount of
(21:51):
money to open up the business.
And, um, after the fire, likeyou, it was so difficult for me
to ask for help.
I felt like, even though itwasn't my fault, obviously, it
just felt like I was responsible, like I was the one that wanted
to start this and then now it'sruined and I feel bad that I
have to now.
It was just a lot of thatself-doubt and I'm so lucky to
(22:15):
be surrounded by some of themost incredible people and
friends and they reallyencouraged me to ask for help
and I think within a day or twowe raised over $300,000.
Wow, that's fantastic campaign.
(22:43):
I think it was over $360,000,over 6,000 individual donors.
I obviously don't know 6,000people, so so many of these
people I don't even know and,honestly, it makes me speechless
to think about it and I do havemoments of self-doubt and I
have moments where I'm like youknow, what am I doing and is
what I'm doing really important?
(23:03):
And then I go back to thatGoFundMe and I read these
comments of people that believein this small bookstore that I
believed in and I dreamed up outof pure love for art and
community, and it kind of bringsme back and it keeps me
grounded in knowing that chasinglove and art will never let you
(23:26):
down.
And I'm just yeah, I reallylike I've never seen anything
like that.
I don't think I think I'vefilled such a range of human
emotions during the last, youknow, four years and it's yeah,
I'm just astounded by it andjust thank you to everyone
that's supported the store.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
I think what we have to remember is that people want
the indie bookshops and needthem in their communities and
it's just an honor for them tohelp you, just as you feel
honored to give them and topresent to them your indie
bookshop, the way you createyour store.
They feel that back to youagain.
(24:10):
Now you receive support fromother indie bookshops, authors
and musicians.
Can you share some of themoments and events the creative
community organized for you?
Speaker 2 (24:20):
There are so many examples of that from me just
literally crying outside of thestore on the day of the fire and
10 people showing up giving mewhiskey, giving me chicken wings
and going to their apartment toget some water, getting me
clean clothes.
(24:40):
Like it was so immediate forpeople to help and I've just
never experienced that like inmy life and it's it's honestly
that changes you as a person.
And after the fire, anotherindie bookstore in the city.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Books are magic oh, oh, that's Emma Straub.
She's been on the show, isn'tshe lovely?
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Emma, oh my God, sweet Emma, oh my gosh.
So she texted me immediately.
She gave me keys to herbookstore and she was like, use
this for a space whenever youneed.
This is like our shared spacefor the time that you need it.
And I just like that is someonewith such a big heart and care
(25:23):
for people around you.
And other stores, like GoldenDiner in the same neighborhood,
which I think is like one of themost popular restaurants in the
city, reach out immediatelybecause they had a fire.
And, um, the owner, sam, hetook me out to whiskey sour and
he was like, let's just talk itthrough and let's talk through
everything that you're feelingright now and let's see how I
(25:44):
can help.
And that's, I think, as someoneI mean I don't have immediate
family and like I, as someonewho experiences something like
that, like in a chosen familystructure um, especially growing
up with a family that doesn'tsupport that it's just, it's
(26:05):
completely, it's opened my hearteven more and like I think they
have allowed for boundless loveto exude through me because
they show that to me.
So it's just, it's a beautifulthing.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
It just warmed my heart reading all of the
articles about the help youreceived and the support given
to you throughout the rebuildingby your community.
How do you feel now, you and Me?
Books is settled back onMulberry Street.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
I am so happy to be back home.
I think that there's.
You know, the fire happened, ohmy God, it wasn't until you
said 2023.
That was like it's almost twoyears ago, and every July is
very difficult for me.
Um, july 2nd is the anniversaryof the passing of one of my
(26:46):
best friends that passed awayduring 2020, and July 4th is the
anniversary of the fire, and mybody knows before my brain
knows.
I think, heading towards thattime, I just feel a lot of
difficulty and um, but that hasgotten, it's gotten easier over
the years, just because I'veallowed myself to kind of melt
(27:07):
into the arms of my friends andcommunity and, um, it's, it's so
.
It's just blown my mind that thewillpower of me and everyone
around us to feed into love,feed into art and feed into
community has created even awider safety net for everyone.
(27:29):
I think that I go into thestore and I'm like people really
feel at home here and I cantell because people are taking
naps in the chairs and I justlike I love that and I think
that that's beautiful to be ableto go to a public space and be
(27:51):
like I feel so comfortable thatI'm going to pass out on this
chair right now.
I never thought that would bepossible.
It's a lot of emotion.
It's so much joy, so much love,so much grief, and I think I
used to think it wasinconvenient to feel all of
those things within 24 hours,but I'm riding the very human
(28:15):
tumultuous waves of feelingeverything in a day.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Yeah, and you're right.
I totally agree with you whenyou say your body knows a
certain date is coming up beforeyour brain.
That's happened to me so manytimes and I think that it just
is a reminder that we are morethan just this.
There is so much more tohumanity than that to our bodies
.
You know what are you currentlyreading and why did you choose
(28:42):
that book?
Speaker 2 (28:43):
I am definitely investigating some trauma right
now.
I am I just finished actuallythis morning Scattered Minds by
Gabor Mate and I was recentlydiagnosed with ADHD I think to
my friends, shocking to no onebut it's really, I think, part
(29:07):
of my journey ofself-understanding and creating
a better sense of self whichwill make me a better leader.
I really do believe that isinvestigating some of these
things that I've been holding mywhole life, that now I have a
name to, and I've really enjoyedunderstanding the
(29:27):
interconnectedness of ADHD andyour upbringing and what
attention deficit really meansfor attunement deficit for
emotions, and how that leadsinto addiction, either
workaholism, substance abuse,but also how that there's so
much room for recreating orcreating new brain paths that
(29:48):
allow for security and securerelationships and secure
relationships with self, and allof that gives me a lot of hope,
I think for me when I'minvestigating my trauma I need a
lot of context and if I havethat context I'm able to unpack
everything step by step and thathelps with the kind of
(30:08):
scattering of the brain that Iusually operate in and I can
actually kind of bring it outinto like a couple of neat
strings that I can really see.
But what that also means isthat I have to take the time to
grieve as well.
So I've been reading that.
I'm also reading TranscendingTrauma by Frank G Anderson.
(30:29):
I'm deep, I'm really in it.
I'm really in it.
But I also finished a reallywonderful poetry collection
called Asymmetry as well.
So I'm just, I'm digging, I'mspelunking in the noggin yeah it
sounds like it.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Have you had a chance to read Max Porter's?
Grief is a Thing with Feathers.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
I have it on my list.
I haven't read it yet.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Yeah, it's beautiful.
I've shared it with many peopleand they've all said how much
they gained from reading it.
Isn't it extraordinary that, nomatter what we're going through
emotionally in our life, we canfind a book to read about it?
Speaker 2 (31:10):
That's what we do, right?
I think that that's literallywhat I've dedicated my life to.
I think there was a JamesBaldwin quote where I'm going to
butcher it.
But it's like you think you'realone and then you start reading
.
That is so beautiful and youjust realize the depth of human
(31:30):
souls that have always existed.
And of course, there's someonein the existence of the world
that has felt what you have felt.
And I think, to prevent thepandemic of self-isolation,
reading can really open our eyesup to worlds of connection.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
I love that you mentioned James Baldwin because,
as you can see by this book, ohmy god, I love all the marked
up pages too.
I know.
Thank God for sticky notes.
Anyway, I'm rereading this bookfor an in-person event with
Peniel E Joseph on August 14th,and James Baldwin features in
this book.
It's just so beautiful.
(32:06):
It's called Freedom Season yes,freedom Season, how 1963
transformed America's civilrights revolution, by Dr Peniel
E Joseph.
It is absolutely remarkable.
Plus, one of the maincharacters I think I could call
him a character in a nonfictionbook is James Baldwin, and it's
(32:27):
full of his quotes, his humanity, oh, it's just beautiful.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
He's just such a tender, and true writer and
artist.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Yeah, a true creative Lucy.
It's been fabulous chattingwith you.
You're a gem.
Once again, I'm really proud ofyou for getting through what
you've gone through the fire,getting back on your feet again
and bringing what you love intothe community.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Thank you so much, mandy.
This really made my day talkingto you, and, um, just it's just
been such a joy to be inconversation with you, and if
you find yourself in chinatown,please stop by for a drink
you've been listening to myconversation with lucy you, the
founder and owner of you and mebooks.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
To help the show reach more people, please share
episodes with friends and familyand on social media, and
remember to subscribe and leavea review wherever you listen to
this podcast.
To find out more about theBookshop Podcast, go to
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review wherever you listen tothe show.
(33:36):
You can also follow me at MandyJackson Beverly on Instagram
and Facebook and on YouTube atthe Bookshop Podcast.
If you have a favorite indiebookshop that you'd like to
suggest we have on the podcast,I'd love to hear from you via
the contact form atthebookshoppodcastcom.
The Bookshop Podcast is writtenand produced by me, mandy
(33:58):
Jackson Beverlyeverly, thememusic provided by Brian Beverly,
and my executive assistant andgraphic designer is Adrian
Otterhan.
Thanks for listening and I'llsee you next time.
Thank, you.
Hi, my name is Mandy Jackson-Beverly and I'm a
bibliophile.
Welcome to the Bookshop Podcast.
Each week, I present interviewswith authors, independent
bookshop owners and booksellersfrom around the globe and
publishing professionals.
To help the show reach morepeople, please share episodes
with friends and family and onsocial media, and remember to
(00:33):
subscribe and leave a reviewwherever you listen to this
podcast.
You're listening to episode 301.
You and Me Books is the firstfemale Asian American-owned
bookstore in New York City,located in historical Manhattan
Chinatown.
Owner Lucy Yu's focus is on thestrong, diverse voices of her
(00:57):
community, with a highlight onimmigrant stories.
Her carefully curated books andupcoming offerings of beer,
wine and coffee cultivate a safecommunity space to sip, read
and foster some amazingconversations.
Hi, lucy, and welcome to theshow.
Hi, mandy, how are you?
I'm good.
How are you?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I am rather exhausted .
Yeah, I think that's pretty onthe nose and I just got done
with.
May is AAPI month and we alwaysjoke.
Every Asian business owner isso exhausted because it's a
month that you're supposed tocelebrate your heritage.
But what happens in, like youknow, capitalism framework is
(01:40):
like we're working overtime andwe're so tired and it's our
busiest month and then we'relike crawling to the end of it
and then by the time June comesaround, we're like, oh my god,
we can't even celebrate pridebecause we're so tired.
The gay Asians are tired.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
You know, I've never thought about that before, but
you're absolutely right, youmust be exhausted.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, it's interesting because it's like
you know we're, it does help ourbusiness and it brings a lot of
business in.
But I, you know, it's like I'mAsian 12 months.
We could, we could spread itout a little bit.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Oh, dear.
Well, I can already tell we'regonna have a fun chat today.
Thank you so much for beinghere, dear.
Well, I can already tell we'regoing to have a fun chat today.
Thank you so much for beinghere, lucy.
Thank you for having me here.
I'm excited to chat.
When I was looking over yourbio and then the history of the
bookshop, I thought maybe wewant to start a couple of years
ago and move on through that andthen go backwards.
But I decided no, we'll get tothat, but what we'll do is start
(02:44):
by learning about you, becauseyou trained as a chemical
engineer and worked as a supplychain manager for a food company
before opening you and me books.
So what led you to consider acareer change and why did you
choose to open a bookshop?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I think I'm someone that is always open to change
and I think a linear career pathwas never something that was in
the works for me.
But in particular, I think,going through the grief of the
pandemic, especially when griefwas so widespread, I was dealing
with my own loss.
I'd lost one of my best friends.
I was just managingunderstanding where my
(03:24):
priorities in how I wanted tolive each day really lay.
I think that when youexperience that much grief, you
really try to understand, likewhat are the things that I love
the most and what are the thingsthat are most important to me.
And I realized, like I'm hereon earth to, you know, do art
(03:45):
and foster love.
And I couldn't really think ofanything else that was driving
me forward.
And I mean, especially duringthat time, like I felt like I
needed to focus on something sodesperately to manage the grief.
The grief was so overwhelmingthat I the only thing that kind
(04:05):
of got me through was focusingon on the love and art that I
poured into the bookstore.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
And why did you decide to pour all your
creativity into a bookshoprather than any other kind of
creative business?
Speaker 2 (04:20):
I am a really creative person and I do a lot
of art on the side, but I cannothave that be my full-time job.
I think that for me personallyit removes a little bit of the
enjoyability out of it, and so Ineed a lot of structure and I
need to be building towardssomething that's separate from
(04:40):
the free-flowing creativity thathappens outside of work,
separate from the free flowingcreativity that happens outside
of work, and I I love, I loveamplifying people's art, like as
as an artist, I'm a bigconsumer of art and I love being
immersed in art.
And one thing that really got methrough the pandemic was
reading.
You know, 100 books a year tojust part of it was like a
(05:03):
little bit of dissociation, youknow a little bit of escapism,
and part of it was just a desireto be breathing in life again,
and breathing in lives sodifferent than mine and so
similar to mine.
And you know, in COVID ourlives were so small and so
separated, and so where could Igo but dive into the world in
(05:25):
books and so that together Ithink I'm, as an engineer, I'm
really intellectually stimulatedwith building things and
pushing kind of the envelope oninnovation and what that looks
like for humanity and what Iwant to see in the future of
like my own life and thehumanity that I dream of and
(05:48):
that is like a focus oncommunity.
I was desperate and I washungry for deep human connection
and I felt if I could immersemyself in art and feel safe in
that place to explore my ownlife, explore my own desires,
like I can kind of foster thatwith other people as well.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Well, first of all, I'm so sorry for your loss.
Thank you, that time was justso difficult for all of us.
Can you tell me a little bitabout the kind of art you do?
What medium do you work in, ormediums?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
kind of art you do.
What medium do you work in?
Or mediums, I'm kind of I justdo whatever comes to mind.
I just finished a poetrycollection and I do a lot of
visual art.
I used to be a painter and Iwas an art teacher many, many
years ago, but I've kind ofexplored recently a lot of
markers and I'm really wantingto get closer to the page that
(06:48):
I'm working on.
I think the hands-on approachis just allowing a little bit
more presence in my body.
So a little mix of everything.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
There's something that you said I don't want my
creativity to be my job.
I have a son that says the samething, and I know a lot of
friends who've said the same.
Lucy, looking back, how didyour first year of business
compared to what you envisionedin your original business
proposal, whether in terms ofgrowth challenges or community
(07:17):
reception?
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I really tried to not have any expectation past the
first four months of businessbecause I was just really unsure
if the business was going to beprofitable at all.
I was opening a bookstore inthe middle of a pandemic in this
digital age.
The metrics didn't bode wellfor my predicted success.
So I really was like I have afour-month runway to try to make
(07:43):
this work and I am open towhatever the universe throws at
me and I will try to remainadaptable.
So I think the biggest surprisewas the reception of it.
I really didn't expect morethan 10 people to come in a day
and I didn't expect to sell morethan 12 books a day, which was
(08:06):
my break-even point, and I justwas shocked.
I think immediately people weredrawn to my vision of this
community bookstore that Ihadn't even fully formed myself
and I think that really spoke tothe desperation of desiring
connection with people anddesiring in-person connection
(08:29):
with people when we were sodeprived of that.
Like I think when we're severedfrom that connection, we live
in this kind of ambiguous statewhere we're not as close to our
humanity as our actual soulsreally need to be, and I think
everyone started kind ofattaching their own vision to
what they ideally thought aboutcommunity.
(08:51):
So it's in the same way that,like when you produce an artwork
or you finish a book and it'sout in the world and it's no
longer yours, it's, you know,the interpretation of everyone
else's perception of this artand you had your original
intention for it.
But I think, as someone whocreated this bookstore, I'm so
(09:11):
grateful that other people havekind of taken it for themselves
and decided, like this is mythird space in this way and
that's really surprised me, butsurprised me in a really
wonderful way.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
And that leads into my next question.
Beautifully, because on yourwebsite you talk about the lack
of representation in theliterary space and your desire
to create a welcoming spacewhere people feel heard.
Can you expand on this thought,especially what you've observed
in terms of representation andhow your bookstore addresses
(09:45):
that?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I think the word representation has been reduced
a bit over time and I think alot of the publishing world and
also just our capitalistic kindof mindset in America right now,
thinking about representationbecomes a very narrow path of
what is the most convenient fora general audience for
(10:08):
representation to be.
Representation has become moregeneralized, I think, from a
like how to make moneystandpoint or what's our bottom
line standpoint, and my desirefor representation is the truest
sense of the word in that youare a person that can do
whatever you want with the artthat you make.
And I think a lot of AsianAmericans, people of color,
(10:31):
writers of color, children ofimmigrants that are working
within this creative space, theybecome forced to be educators
of their experience instead ofjust being someone that can be
an artist and having thefree-flowing flexibility of that
.
I think I experienced thatbecause I'm Asian American and I
opened a store and it wasimmediately labeled as an Asian
(10:52):
American bookstore, which is nottrue.
It's a bookstore and I'm AsianAmerican and I think that that
kind of lends itself to like thereduction of what
representation has done to thekind of audience that art can
reach, and so my goal is to be areally loud advocate for these
(11:12):
amazing artists and authors thatare coming to just share their
art and sharing who they are.
And it may not fit into ageneralized mold or any kind of
preconceived notions of whatsomeone expects, of whatever
someone expects, but I thinkthat is the ultimate goal of
representation is to kind ofshatter these boundaries of
(11:34):
outside perception.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
I enjoy reading translated books, as I've said
on the show many times.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Me as well.
I love translated lit.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
I think an issue that rose to the surface during the
pandemic was that there are manyspaces in publishing that were
disregarded, and one was thelack of translated books, and
it's one of the reasons why Ilove small and medium presses,
because they have the courage totake a chance on a different
kind of book, and this issomething that I really admire.
(12:06):
Something else you raised aswell that I'd like to talk about
I've lived in Australia,england and in the US, and I've
been lucky enough to travelquite a bit, and I'm constantly
discouraged about how theAmerican administration and much
of our leadership refuse to seethe importance of supporting
(12:27):
creative people.
It just breaks my heart and, ofcourse, with the current
administration here in America,grants are incredibly hard to
get now.
Yeah right, it's trulyheartbreaking.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
It's really painful, I think.
I mean you really nailed it andit's been really difficult to
see this country move furtherand further away from that.
I think the United States issuch a young country and they
haven't experienced quite thetension of full loss, uphold
(13:05):
that idea of exceptionalism.
That kind of feeds on whatcapitalism productivity is
prioritized right now versus theflourishing creativity and arts
in which feeds into thatquestioning of society and feeds
into a larger sense of selfwhen that doesn't really help
(13:27):
capitalism.
So I think it's the wholestructure of our country that is
not open minded to just kind ofyeah, I mean larger
representation, which kind offeeds back to your previous
question.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Yeah, I mean, here we are taking money away from
schools and the arts.
We are going to be a nation offollowers, not leaders and
problem solvers, because that'swhat the arts do they inspire
empathy and encourage us tothink out of the box.
I believe what we need rightnow are thinkers and dreamers,
people who have ideas thatthey're not scared to try, and
(14:06):
we need people with money tosupport these idea, creative
thinkers to help them succeed.
Oh, my goodness, I feel likeI'm ranting because I could go
on about that subject for hours.
Same same.
Okay.
Now, in the summer of 2023,there was a fire in the bookshop
.
Take us back to when you firstrealized the bookshop was on
(14:28):
fire and later to the extent ofthe damage.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
I was working there that day.
I was working at the store onJuly 4th of 2023 and smoke
started coming in, but I thoughtit was fireworks and one of the
customers had asked, like arewe safe?
And I was like, I think so.
I think it's just fireworks.
And then one of my neighborsfrom upstairs came down and she
(14:52):
was the one that notified methat there was a fire happening
upstairs and that we needed toevacuate.
And I had to just stand acrossthe street and watch it happen
and not do anything.
And as soon as I could, I wentback in probably too soon, and
(15:13):
it really it honestly messedwith my lungs a lot.
It was not the safest thing todo, but I just it's hard when
you see everything that youbuilt just destroyed in a moment
.
I just wanted to see what hadhappened and I tried to save as
many books as I could and I hada lot of friends that were there
that were planning on justhanging out with me at the store
that day and immediately theywere like they got tarps, they
(15:37):
got bags and they just we workedtogether to save, I think, like
about a couple, a couplehundred, a couple thousand books
.
I'm not even sure of the number, but we saved as many books as
we could and it just it was.
It was just so painful and theextent of the damage.
(15:59):
I remember the firefighting crew.
They were like I think it'lltake about a year to fix and I'm
such an overachiever try hardthat I was like on my watch.
It's going to take shorter, butthat comes with its own
consequences.
I think when you're managinggrief and you immediately go
into such intense action, youhave to suppress so much emotion
(16:20):
in which I'm kind of grapplingwith at this moment.
I am having the delayedreaction of that and and I have
needed to rely on my communityagain for that emotional support
and for me being in a state ofshaky mental health, like I've
had to be honest with that andbe vulnerable and open with that
(16:41):
as a business owner, which issomething that's it's it's just
really difficult to bevulnerable and I just I felt
like being myself and beinghonest with where I was was what
I encourage other people to do,and the only way that I could
lead by that is through example.
(17:02):
But it's so much harder to doit yourself and so much easier
to encourage it.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
I think it's really difficult to ask for help and in
some ways it's especiallydifficult for women, right?
I mean, I don't want to soundold fashioned in that, but I
think for many women it isreally difficult to accept help
and to be vulnerable.
I feel really emotional when Italk about this, so I think it
must trigger me a little.
(17:28):
You know, looking back at whatyou've been through, lucy, I'm
just so proud of you and it'snot like I know you or anything,
but what you've done isincredible the rebuilding,
keeping your community together.
But getting back to what youwent through, I'm so surprised
that the firemen let you intothe building as early as they
did.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
I am surprised too, honestly, and I really I've been
thinking a lot about what youjust said about how it's so hard
for me to accept help and askfor help and even when people
are willing to give it, I don'tthink I'm deserving.
And so much of that comes withthe hard work of understanding
(18:12):
my own self-value, understandingand having a better sense of
self, and that means accessingthe very ups and downs of
pulling the grief that I've beentrying to suppress and the
inconvenience of feelinguncomfortable in that grief.
So that is, it's all relatedbut it's really difficult to go
(18:33):
through and that is kind of mypriority right now and it's it's
hard to also run a businesswhile also prioritizing your
mental health, but that wassomething I always struggled
with working in a corporateenvironment, working as an
engineer working a lot of thetime as the only female engineer
and with my own business.
(18:55):
I want to figure out a way inwhich we can prioritize that and
me prioritize that and not haveall of that be put on my team
to work extra.
It's just we have to figure outa balance of the ecosystem,
which is a new equation everytime I look at it.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Yeah, I'm thrilled you're writing poetry.
It's a condensed version ofjournaling and or part of
journaling, and I'm sure it'shelping you get through
everything.
I'm curious was there ever amoment that you consider just
closing the door and walkingaway from your business?
I would love to know what keptyou motivated and was there a
(19:32):
turning point?
Speaker 2 (19:33):
I think for any small business owner, that thought
comes up.
There was never a moment duringthe fire, particularly where I
wanted to quit.
I think that I'm someone whohas such strong counter will
sometimes that if there'spressure or there's something
destroying something I reallybelieve in, like that counter
(19:55):
will will take over everything,including my mental and physical
health.
But you know, there are dayswhen I dream of like I'd love to
not be the steerer of the ship.
You know, I'd love to besomeone who isn't solely
responsible for every singleaspect of my life.
I'm responsible for myprofessional aspect, my personal
(20:16):
aspect, and there's so muchfreedom in that, but there's
also so much responsibility.
I'm not going to lie.
Sometimes I miss someone justtelling me what to do for the
day and being like, hey, at 5 PMI get to log off and watch a TV
show and um, but I ultimatelylike I lived that life and I
(20:38):
tried it out and there is a bitof ease.
But that loss of agency was sodepraving for my soul that I, um
, I had to choose this path andI keep reminding myself that, um
, I never really wanted to be aleader.
I never thought I was going tobe a good leader, but I am
(21:00):
someone who has always strivedto go to the beat of my own drum
with community and other people, and so I think that is the
path that I've been on and Idon't have any regrets about it.
I think it's just managing thevery true feelings of always
thinking of alternatives, andbut I think that's just what
(21:20):
we're always going to do.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Yeah, I agree.
Tell us about the GoFundMecampaign you launched and the
incredible response you receivedfrom the community.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I launched two GoFundMe campaigns.
The first one was to start thebusiness.
So I put $40,000 of my ownsavings into the business.
So I put forty thousand dollarsof my own savings into the
business and I had needed someextra support, which was really
scary to ask for.
But I reached, I think, fifteenthousand dollars on my first
gofundme campaign, which reallyallowed me the full amount of
(21:51):
money to open up the business.
And, um, after the fire, likeyou, it was so difficult for me
to ask for help.
I felt like, even though itwasn't my fault, obviously, it
just felt like I was responsible, like I was the one that wanted
to start this and then now it'sruined and I feel bad that I
have to now.
It was just a lot of thatself-doubt and I'm so lucky to
(22:15):
be surrounded by some of themost incredible people and
friends and they reallyencouraged me to ask for help
and I think within a day or twowe raised over $300,000.
Wow, that's fantastic campaign.
(22:43):
I think it was over $360,000,over 6,000 individual donors.
I obviously don't know 6,000people, so so many of these
people I don't even know and,honestly, it makes me speechless
to think about it and I do havemoments of self-doubt and I
have moments where I'm like youknow, what am I doing and is
what I'm doing really important?
(23:03):
And then I go back to thatGoFundMe and I read these
comments of people that believein this small bookstore that I
believed in and I dreamed up outof pure love for art and
community, and it kind of bringsme back and it keeps me
grounded in knowing that chasinglove and art will never let you
(23:26):
down.
And I'm just yeah, I reallylike I've never seen anything
like that.
I don't think I think I'vefilled such a range of human
emotions during the last, youknow, four years and it's yeah,
I'm just astounded by it andjust thank you to everyone
that's supported the store.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
I think what we have to remember is that people want
the indie bookshops and needthem in their communities and
it's just an honor for them tohelp you, just as you feel
honored to give them and topresent to them your indie
bookshop, the way you createyour store.
They feel that back to youagain.
(24:10):
Now you receive support fromother indie bookshops, authors
and musicians.
Can you share some of themoments and events the creative
community organized for you?
Speaker 2 (24:20):
There are so many examples of that from me just
literally crying outside of thestore on the day of the fire and
10 people showing up giving mewhiskey, giving me chicken wings
and going to their apartment toget some water, getting me
clean clothes.
(24:40):
Like it was so immediate forpeople to help and I've just
never experienced that like inmy life and it's it's honestly
that changes you as a person.
And after the fire, anotherindie bookstore in the city.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Books are magic oh, oh, that's Emma Straub.
She's been on the show, isn'tshe lovely?
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Emma, oh my God, sweet Emma, oh my gosh.
So she texted me immediately.
She gave me keys to herbookstore and she was like, use
this for a space whenever youneed.
This is like our shared spacefor the time that you need it.
And I just like that is someonewith such a big heart and care
(25:23):
for people around you.
And other stores, like GoldenDiner in the same neighborhood,
which I think is like one of themost popular restaurants in the
city, reach out immediatelybecause they had a fire.
And, um, the owner, sam, hetook me out to whiskey sour and
he was like, let's just talk itthrough and let's talk through
everything that you're feelingright now and let's see how I
(25:44):
can help.
And that's, I think, as someoneI mean I don't have immediate
family and like I, as someonewho experiences something like
that, like in a chosen familystructure um, especially growing
up with a family that doesn'tsupport that it's just, it's
(26:05):
completely, it's opened my hearteven more and like I think they
have allowed for boundless loveto exude through me because
they show that to me.
So it's just, it's a beautifulthing.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
It just warmed my heart reading all of the
articles about the help youreceived and the support given
to you throughout the rebuildingby your community.
How do you feel now, you and Me?
Books is settled back onMulberry Street.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
I am so happy to be back home.
I think that there's.
You know, the fire happened, ohmy God, it wasn't until you
said 2023.
That was like it's almost twoyears ago, and every July is
very difficult for me.
Um, july 2nd is the anniversaryof the passing of one of my
(26:46):
best friends that passed awayduring 2020, and July 4th is the
anniversary of the fire, and mybody knows before my brain
knows.
I think, heading towards thattime, I just feel a lot of
difficulty and um, but that hasgotten, it's gotten easier over
the years, just because I'veallowed myself to kind of melt
(27:07):
into the arms of my friends andcommunity and, um, it's, it's so
.
It's just blown my mind that thewillpower of me and everyone
around us to feed into love,feed into art and feed into
community has created even awider safety net for everyone.
(27:29):
I think that I go into thestore and I'm like people really
feel at home here and I cantell because people are taking
naps in the chairs and I justlike I love that and I think
that that's beautiful to be ableto go to a public space and be
(27:51):
like I feel so comfortable thatI'm going to pass out on this
chair right now.
I never thought that would bepossible.
It's a lot of emotion.
It's so much joy, so much love,so much grief, and I think I
used to think it wasinconvenient to feel all of
those things within 24 hours,but I'm riding the very human
(28:15):
tumultuous waves of feelingeverything in a day.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Yeah, and you're right.
I totally agree with you whenyou say your body knows a
certain date is coming up beforeyour brain.
That's happened to me so manytimes and I think that it just
is a reminder that we are morethan just this.
There is so much more tohumanity than that to our bodies
.
You know what are you currentlyreading and why did you choose
(28:42):
that book?
Speaker 2 (28:43):
I am definitely investigating some trauma right
now.
I am I just finished actuallythis morning Scattered Minds by
Gabor Mate and I was recentlydiagnosed with ADHD I think to
my friends, shocking to no onebut it's really, I think, part
(29:07):
of my journey ofself-understanding and creating
a better sense of self whichwill make me a better leader.
I really do believe that isinvestigating some of these
things that I've been holding mywhole life, that now I have a
name to, and I've really enjoyedunderstanding the
(29:27):
interconnectedness of ADHD andyour upbringing and what
attention deficit really meansfor attunement deficit for
emotions, and how that leadsinto addiction, either
workaholism, substance abuse,but also how that there's so
much room for recreating orcreating new brain paths that
(29:48):
allow for security and securerelationships and secure
relationships with self, and allof that gives me a lot of hope,
I think for me when I'minvestigating my trauma I need a
lot of context and if I havethat context I'm able to unpack
everything step by step and thathelps with the kind of
(30:08):
scattering of the brain that Iusually operate in and I can
actually kind of bring it outinto like a couple of neat
strings that I can really see.
But what that also means isthat I have to take the time to
grieve as well.
So I've been reading that.
I'm also reading TranscendingTrauma by Frank G Anderson.
(30:29):
I'm deep, I'm really in it.
I'm really in it.
But I also finished a reallywonderful poetry collection
called Asymmetry as well.
So I'm just, I'm digging, I'mspelunking in the noggin yeah it
sounds like it.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Have you had a chance to read Max Porter's?
Grief is a Thing with Feathers.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
I have it on my list.
I haven't read it yet.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Yeah, it's beautiful.
I've shared it with many peopleand they've all said how much
they gained from reading it.
Isn't it extraordinary that, nomatter what we're going through
emotionally in our life, we canfind a book to read about it?
Speaker 2 (31:10):
That's what we do, right?
I think that that's literallywhat I've dedicated my life to.
I think there was a JamesBaldwin quote where I'm going to
butcher it.
But it's like you think you'realone and then you start reading
.
That is so beautiful and youjust realize the depth of human
(31:30):
souls that have always existed.
And of course, there's someonein the existence of the world
that has felt what you have felt.
And I think, to prevent thepandemic of self-isolation,
reading can really open our eyesup to worlds of connection.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
I love that you mentioned James Baldwin because,
as you can see by this book, ohmy god, I love all the marked
up pages too.
I know.
Thank God for sticky notes.
Anyway, I'm rereading this bookfor an in-person event with
Peniel E Joseph on August 14th,and James Baldwin features in
this book.
It's just so beautiful.
(32:06):
It's called Freedom Season yes,freedom Season, how 1963
transformed America's civilrights revolution, by Dr Peniel
E Joseph.
It is absolutely remarkable.
Plus, one of the maincharacters I think I could call
him a character in a nonfictionbook is James Baldwin, and it's
(32:27):
full of his quotes, his humanity, oh, it's just beautiful.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
He's just such a tender, and true writer and
artist.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Yeah, a true creative Lucy.
It's been fabulous chattingwith you.
You're a gem.
Once again, I'm really proud ofyou for getting through what
you've gone through the fire,getting back on your feet again
and bringing what you love intothe community.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
Thank you so much, mandy.
This really made my day talkingto you, and, um, just it's just
been such a joy to be inconversation with you, and if
you find yourself in chinatown,please stop by for a drink
you've been listening to myconversation with lucy you, the
founder and owner of you and mebooks.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
To help the show reach more people, please share
episodes with friends and familyand on social media, and
remember to subscribe and leavea review wherever you listen to
this podcast.
To find out more about theBookshop Podcast, go to
thebookshoppodcastcom and makesure to subscribe and leave a
review wherever you listen tothe show.
(33:36):
You can also follow me at MandyJackson Beverly on Instagram
and Facebook and on YouTube atthe Bookshop Podcast.
If you have a favorite indiebookshop that you'd like to
suggest we have on the podcast,I'd love to hear from you via
the contact form atthebookshoppodcastcom.
The Bookshop Podcast is writtenand produced by me, mandy
(33:58):
Jackson Beverlyeverly, thememusic provided by Brian Beverly,
and my executive assistant andgraphic designer is Adrian
Otterhan.
Thanks for listening and I'llsee you next time.
Thank, you.
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