Elaine Hsieh Chou’s latest release is the story collection “Where Are You Really From.” A Southern California native, the author spoke with Michael Schaub about the book and she takes the Book Pages Q&A here.

Q: How do you decide what to read next?

I typically have a stack of books (looking at me imploringly from my desk) that I want to read and when it comes time to select one, I tend to choose by mood: Do I want to read something contemplative or thrilling or humorous?

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Q: Do you remember the first book that made an impact on you?

“Little Women.” I first read it when I was in the fourth grade (I ordered it from the Scholastic catalogue). I’m not sure why it captivated me so much but I

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