Writer's Treatment Shines Unflattering Spotlight On Larchmont

LARCHMONT, NY — A best-selling author, whose work is counted among former President Obama's list of his favorite books of the year and is included in the New York Times list of 100 Notable Books of 2021, said that a recent book tour stop sponsored by the Woman’s Club of Larchmont left her "heart broken."

Since author Qian Julie Wang took to social media to recount her experience at the Dec. 10, "Holiday Book and Author Luncheon" at the Orienta Beach Club in neighboring Mamaroneck, fellow authors from around the globe have voiced outrage and offered support.

Her memoir, "Beautiful Country," details her family's experience living as undocumented immigrants in New York City for five years after moving to the U.S. from Shijiazhuang, China when she was just seven years old.

"My heart is broken," Wang told her nearly 14,000 Twitter followers on Dec. 10. "Today I had one of those book events that authors of color warn each other early about, and that we hope no one else has to ever endure."

Among other slights at the event, Wang described the host mispronouncing her name after several failed attempts, despite Wang providing a phonetic pronunciation key of her name. She also alleged that servers were permitted to serve dessert during her speech, but were not allowed to interrupt the two other authors who shared billing at the event.

Perhaps most troubling of all, attendees offered remarks that ranged from insensitive to outright anti-Asian, according to Wang.

"During the signing, I talked to a line of people — some thoughtful, genuine and intelligent; many more who wanted me to know that their manicurist was Asian or that their sons were dating Asian women," Wang recounted. "Towards the end of that line was a woman who said she had no interest in reading my book. In fact, she had waited in line just to ask me: 'What do you illegals have to gripe about? Why are you always complaining about America? I know Blacks complain about being poor but you? You are lucky to even be here.'"

The author event should have been something of a triumphant homecoming for Wang, who now calls Larchmont home, but she described the welcome as less than welcoming.

"My speech was about how America made me feel small, erased. My book was about how America made me feel small, erased," Wang said of her recent Larchmont tour stop."Today, America prevailed yet again."

"It is unfortunate that Ms. Wang felt mistreated at our meeting, as evidenced by her social media messages," Woman's Club of Larchmont President Dorothy Rainier said in a formal statement issued to media outlets. "We regret that the person who introduced her inadvertently mispronounced her name and that Ms. Wang felt that the waiters who were clearing luncheon dishes and serving coffee intruded on her speech. Finally, if it is true that any of the members or other individuals in attendance said anything inappropriate to her, we would certainly disapprove."

The meet the author, $60 a plate luncheon was an opportunity to explore historic wrongs and ways to promote equality and inclusivity. New York City's original women only hotel was explored with "The Barbizon: the Hotel That Set Women Free" by author Paulina Bren and the secret history of Manhattan was uncovered through names, both famous and infamous by "Names of New York" author Joshua Jelly-Schapiro, but Wang was undeniably the main attraction.

“She gave a very moving and warmly received talk based on her recent book and her compelling life story," Rainier told the Larchmont Loop's Debra Quintana. "Her remarks moved many to tears. When the time came for questions, more questions were addressed to her than the other two authors who also spoke and many people lined up to buy her book."

From Wang's perspective, however, the moment served as a reminder that things haven't changed that much since she first came to New York as a 7-year-old undocumented immigrant.

"I just felt like I was that little girl again," Wang told the Journal News' Eduardo Cuevas, who independently confirmed a number of the author's allegations . “Like that little girl who was called illegal, who was treated like (expletive). And like she didn’t matter.”