Asian Heritage Month Staff Picks The Sense of Wonder by Matthew Salesses

 The Sense of Wonder by Matthew Salesses

I've recently become a fan of author Matthew Salesses, whose witty, unpredictable stories offer a unique perspective on issues of identity and race in America.  

Salesses’ latest novel, The Sense of Wonder, focuses on two Asian NBA stars, Won Lee, dubbed “The Wonder,” and his idol Powerball!. A trouble-making sports reporter and a television producer who creates popular Korean soap operas add extra drama to mix.      

Sense of Wonder skewers celebrity culture, modern relationships, and professional rivalry. You don’t have to be a basketball fan to enjoy this wry satirical tale.   

As an adopted Korean American, Matthew Salesses often writes about race in America. His essays on Asian American masculinity have appeared in Best American Essays 2020, NPR, The New York Times, The Guardian, VICE.com, and other publications. His best-selling nonfiction book, Craft in the Real World, encourages rethinking story structure and encouraging diverse points of view.  

Salesses’s 2021 novel Disappear Doppelgänger Disappear was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, and BuzzFeed named him one of 32 Essential Asian American Writers. 

If you enjoy discovering rising literary talents, you'll want to add Matthew Salesses to your TBR pile. 

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist
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