The Barnard Authors Shelf: Celebrating Barnard literary excellence

A reflection on author Karissa Chen’s (BC ʼ04) visit as part of Barnard’s Authors Shelf series to discuss her critically acclaimed novel, “Homeseeking.”  

Photography by Sherry Chen/The Barnard Bulletin

By Ana Licollari

December 2, 2025

In the deluge of assignments and academic responsibilities, one might overlook the opportunities and student experiences that Barnard College has to offer. For those capitalizing on their time here, students can turn to Handshake to find a repository of great events offered by Barnard itself. Barnard|Next, one of Barnard’s many programs, seeks to create a lifelong community for students beyond their time at Barnard. They accomplish this through selected classes for auditing; the Enrichers series, a learning experience crafted by faculty experts; and the Barnard Authors Shelf, which celebrates works by Barnard alumni and faculty, among other programming. In offering alumni these opportunities to stay connected to their alma mater, Barnard|Next creates a nexus between former and current students. What better way to be inspired and learn than to hear from those who were once in your shoes?

On October 13, 2025, the Barnard Authors Shelf series hosted alum Karissa Chen (BC ’04) to discuss her debut novel, “Homeseeking,” a diasporic tale centering on childhood sweethearts Haiwen and Suchi in 1947 Shanghai, in the context of a potential civil war and Japanese invasion. When Haiwen enlists in the national army, he must abruptly leave Suchi behind. “Homecoming” traces their journeys through Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States using alternating timelines. Chen’s book has become a Good Morning America Book Club pick, a Vogue “Best Book of the Year,” and a Chicago Review of Books“Must Read Book.” 

In writing the novel, Chen sought to answer the questions “what does home mean to you?” and “what does home mean for someone who has been forcefully moved?” When asked what she wanted readers to take away from the book, Chen said, “It takes so much bravery, audacity, gumption just to leave your home, to just survive. To recreate yourself in this new place.”

At the event, Chen spoke not only about the text itself but also about her insight into the writing process and journey as an author. She revealed that she always wanted to be a “book maker” but majored in psychology rather than English, taking a single writing class in college. Her first post-graduate job was in public relations, which she loathed, but she was thankfully not consigned to a career she found miserable. Chen signed up for a writing class and found herself gleefully skipping to lecture, a stark juxtaposition to the corporate drudgery of her day job. It was in this class that her dreams of being a “book maker” were reanimated. 

Students were also able to ask Chen questions at the event, which allowed for a truly engaging experience. What Chen had to say about aspiring writers was particularly germane. “Don’t give up. The difference between making it and not making it is tenacity,” she advised. “Writing is just knocking on the door. If you knock on the door enough times, someone will answer. I am obnoxiously stubborn about writing, no more talented than those in my class.” Her framing of stubbornness as the key to her success parallels a sentiment of many successful people: that an unyielding belief in oneself is essential. 

Chen’s Authors Shelf event not only helped me discover a new piece of wonderful literature, as all of the audience received a free, signed copy of “Homeseeking,” but also assuaged my fear of  post-grad life. Barnard’s outreach to alumni makes me feel as though even when my undergraduate years are over, I will forever be a part of the intellectually rich community here. Chen’s words, especially about her non-linear career path and considerable success, helped me appreciate the vicissitudes of a career and the fundamental unknowability of the future. 

Although it is easy to cower under the gargantuan shadow of the people who have come before us, when hearing from Barnard alumni, one realizes how human they still are. The journey to success is hardly linear or easy. As Chen put it, it is all a matter of “knocking on the door.” I look forward to the next Barnard|Next event to hear from other alumni on what “knocking on the door” looked like for them.