Susan Choi

Susan Choi is an American author of novels, short stories, and plays. She has received many prestigious awards for her work, including a National Book Award for her novel American Woman. Her writing often takes up themes of identity, history, and the ways in which these things shape our world and experience.

Born in 1969 in South Bend, Indiana, and raised in Houston, Texas, Choi had an early interest in writing and literature. She graduated from Yale University, receiving a bachelor's degree in English Literature, and went on to the University of Houston for her master's degree and the University of California, Irvine for her doctoral work. She is currently Professor of English at Princeton University in New Jersey.

Her first novel, The Foreign Student, was published in 1998 and was a finalist for the Asian American Literary Awards. The story follows a Korean student trying to assimilate into a small Midwestern college town. The novel was praised for its exploration of the immigrant experience, as well as its examination of identity and the ways it is shaped by the cultural forces around us.

Her second novel, American Woman, was published in 2003. It was awarded the 2004 National Book Award for Fiction and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. The story follows a young woman whose parents deeply disagree about their politics as she navigates her way through college. The novel deals with themes of American identity and family in a very honest and insightful way.

In addition to her novels, Choi has written a number of short stories, plays, and essays. Her short story collection, A Person of Interest, was published in 2008 and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Her plays include Office Hour (2016), which premiered at the New York Public Theater and was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award; and Trust (2018), which was produced at the Off-Broadway New York Theatre Workshop.

Choi also has written essays which have been published in various periodicals and journals, including The New York Times, The Believer, Granta, and The Threepenny Review.

In addition to her writing, Choi is an avid reader and enjoys discussing books and literature with others. She regularly appears at literary panels, bookstores, and universities to discuss her work and to answer questions about literature and the writing process. Through her work and her lectures, she has given many students and readers a better understanding of American literature and its diversity. She is an important fixture of modern literature, bringing thoughtful and moving stories to a variety of readers.