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Reporter Clare Mulroy shares bookish news and recommendations.

Thu Sep 10 2026

Clare Mulroy | Books Reporter

Happy Thursday, booklovers!

What can we learn from our favorite flawed characters? It’s something I’ve been pondering since chatting with R.F. Kuang about her new book “Taipei Story,” a coming-of-age about a student whose grandfather dies while she’s studying abroad.

And while there’s much to love in themes of language, identity and family, I want to reflect on Kuang’s decision to write a character who is constantly making mistakes.

When Kuang, 30, looks back on her 20s, she sometimes feels like her weaknesses as a writer are forever crystallized in her older books.

Rather than just move on, she’s reflecting on it. Her new protagonist, Lily, makes mistakes in the classroom and out of it. She’s occasionally arrogant and ignorant. Kuang went into “Taipei Story” specifically looking to write a flawed character. Writing Lily gave Kuang an outlet to satirize her own shortcomings.

R.F. Kuang holds a copy of "Taipei Story" at USA TODAY headquarters in Manhattan.

Nathanial Gary, USA TODAY

Embracing mistakes makes a complex, nuanced book for her readers, but it’s also her mantra as a student and a new professor.

“Embracing that failure is what allows you to actually advance and learn and create connections with other people,” she told me. She recalled being in various language classes where people were too afraid to speak for fear of being laughed at or looking incompetent. “But at some point, the ice melts and somebody says something really silly and everybody laughs. And I find that so joyous – the moment where shame vanishes once it's a group burden to carry.”

We’re our own worst critics, and sometimes it’s harder to give ourselves the grace we afford others, even fictional characters. What if we reflected on our past mistakes through that lens? What can you learn about yourself from the missteps of a character? Where can you give yourself more empathy?

What are you reading this week? Let me know at cmulroy@usatoday.com or reach out on Instagram. Thanks for checking out USA TODAY Books this week!