Gingko Season by Naomi Xu Elegant
This is such a special episode because, for the first time ever, I’m interviewing an author about their book, because it’s one of my favorite books! Gingko Season by Naomi Xu Elegant is a story about a young woman, Penelope Lin, who is moving through the world after her first big heartbreak and discovering herself while on the cusp between young adulthood and adulthood. The depiction of this time of life is just one of the things I loved about this book, and I was thrilled to be able to discuss it with Naomi!
Naomi Xu Elegant is a freelance journalist and the author of the novel Gingko Season. She lives in New York. Naomi’s writing has appeared in Monocle, Fortune, Atlas Obscura, Nikkei Asia, The Drift, and elsewhere. She is co-editor of Gully, an independent literary magazine, and she writes a monthly Substack called Luanqibazao.
I would love for you to read Gingko Season, check out this review from the New York Times!
Our drink this week is a Lychee Martini, which is featured in the book. As I found out during our discussion, including these martinis was an Easter egg for Naomi’s mom, because they’re her favorite cocktail. I asked if she’d be willing to share the recipe with us as a special addition to the episode, and she did! She said the secret is to blend whole lychees and lychee juice together, then strain the mixture through a sieve to get that lovely, milky color.
Lychee Martini Recipe
2 oz. vodka
2 oz. lychee juice
Shake in a cocktail shaker over ice.
Serve neat in a cocktail glass.
Garnish with a whole lychee (optional)
Naomi’s mom’s tip: Blend whole lychees with lychee juice (both canned), then strain through a sieve to get your juice. The blended fruit gives it that lovely, clouded look.
You can also add a bit of citrus or a dash of dry vermouth—lychee martinis are meant for everyone!
In This Episode
Garden State Film
Friday I’m In Love - Phoebe Bridgers Cover
Napoleon Film
Middlemarch by George Eliot
In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust
A Feather on the Breath of God by Sigrid Nunez
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
