Off the Books is a show where emerging writers talk about the books that have influenced them. In this episode Elaine Castillo, author of the sexy debut AMERICA IS NOT THE HEART, talks about the unsentimental portrayal of whiteness in LUCY by Jamaica Kincaid; the power of detail in KITCHEN by Banana Yoshimoto; and the great Filipino tragedy of AMERICA IS IN THE HEART by Carlos Bulosan. She reads from the books before discussing to give you a delicious taste of these masterpieces. And to finish - a reading from her own work, which can only be described as the hottest sex scene we’ve ever been privy to. Discover wonderful books old and new and have your literary senses stimulated!