After penning Yellow, a post-immigrant examination of identity, and Country of Origin, which examines the bureaucracies of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Don Lee felt it was time to journey into uncharted territory: his funny side.

 

What he came back with is a novel that’s both heartfelt and hilarious. The story centers upon renowned sculptor Lyndon Song, who flees the city to become a Brussels sprouts farmer in a small California town.

 

How would you describe the tone of the novel? 

It’s a comedy, more accurately a farce, which means that the improbable and outlandish happen with rollicking frequency. It’s a fun book, I think. The fact that it’s a comedy was a surprise to me, because by nature I’m not a funny guy.

 

Who inspired the characters?

The two main characters, the two brothers, are my yin and yang. I’m probably more like Lyndon, the curmudgeon artist, but I also share Woody’s neurotic insecurity — but not his avarice and lack of scruples.

 

 Did you set out to weave race into the story? 

The novel has a lot of Asian and mixed-race characters, but race does not figure prominently in their everyday lives. There are, however, two artists who have struggled to get past certain expectations that have arisen because of their ethnicity, and I explore that issue a little in the novel.

 

Why Brussels sprouts? Any interesting factoids about the veggie you’d like to share?

Brussels sprouts are funny. You just say Brussels sprouts to someone and they laugh. I loved the idea of someone growing Brussels sprouts, the one vegetable most people hate. I ended up talking to a couple of organic farmers, who gave me all the details I needed.

What most people don’t know is how fussy and eccentric Brussels sprouts are. They like cold, inhospitable weather. They grow in stalks with a leafy umbrella. They’re susceptible to all manner of disease and insects. They’re very hard to grow. They’re delicious if cooked right. Hint: Don’t boil them.