"On the surface, Geri o Shimasu offers readers humor, awkwardness, and the schadenfreude of watching someone else stumble through cultural landmines. But inside, like a Trojan horse, it hides profound commentary on memory, gender, personal transformation, and the psychological realities of 'outsider-ness.'

It asks readers to reexamine the unspoken question: What happens when you willingly become the fool in someone else’s kingdom?"
Read the full review at Spotlyts.

"Final Verdict: A Brilliant Hilarious, and Unexpectedly Moving Read

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If David Sedaris, Bill Bryson, and a self-deprecating haiku master co-wrote a book about living in Japan, Geri o Shimasu would be the result. It is equal parts memoir, social commentary, comedy, and poetry—a blend as unique as the author’s experience.

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Whether you’re an avid traveler, an armchair adventurer, or simply someone who appreciates a well-crafted tale of triumph and mortification, this book delivers. Just don’t read it while eating sushi. You’ve been warned."

Read the full review at Atlas of Stories.

"A Sharp, Witty, and Thought-Provoking Exploration of Culture, Identity, and the Absurdities of Life

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Alia Luria’s Geri o Shimasu: Adventures of a Baka Gaijin is a perceptive and engaging collection of essays that explores the complexities of cultural identity, expatriate experiences, and the often surreal nature of life in a foreign country. With a sharp sense of humor and an unfiltered voice, Luria offers an insightful look at Japan, language, and cross-cultural encounters that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining."
Read the full five-star review at BookViral.

"Geri o Shimasu is not for those seeking a polished, postcard-perfect travelogue. Readers who prefer their memoirs free of bodily mishaps, sharp humor, or unfiltered honesty may find some parts too unrestrained. But for those who revel in the chaos of real-life adventures, who understand that growth often comes wrapped in embarrassment, and who appreciate the beauty of a story told with fearless authenticity, this book is a rare treat. Fans of Jenny Lawson’s Let’s Pretend This Never Happened or Laurie Notaro’s The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club will find a kindred spirit in these pages.

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Geri o Shimasu is more than a travel memoir; it’s an exploration of what it means to truly step outside one’s comfort zone, to stumble, to laugh at oneself, and to find unexpected joy in the process. Like an unpredictable Tokyo subway ride, the journey is sometimes smooth, sometimes turbulent, but always unforgettable."
Read the full review at The Chrysalis BREW Project.

"The profoundness too in Alia’s story is sensational, and many readers will feel a host of different emotions while reading this book because of how emotive and transformative Alia’s journey was. I found myself reading Geri o Shimasu at an alarming rate because it was captivating as well as engrossing."
Read the full review at Red Headed Book Lover.

"Her anecdotes have clarity of detail even over a decade on, and my favorite parts were misadventures with food etiquette and the quirks of daily life. Luria turns the lens on herself frequently and her role in the broader context of integration, and development from a “baka gaijin” (silly foreigner) to someone who finds a sense of belonging. This makes the memoir a worthy read for those interested in cross-cultural living."
Read all three five-star reviews at Readers' Favorite.

"Geri o Shimasu: Adventures of a Baka Gaijin is perfect for anyone who enjoys irreverent humor, cultural observations, and the messy reality of being an outsider in a foreign land. If you’re easily offended, this isn’t for you. But if you love Anthony Bourdain-style storytelling with an extra dose of chaos, you’ll eat this up. It’s crude, hilarious, and unexpectedly insightful, a must-read for anyone who’s ever felt like a total idiot in a new country."
Read the entire review at Literary Titan.

"Luria's prose crackles with self-aware wit, right down to the chapter titles, but her gift isn't limited to humor; she writes with rich imagery and deep insight that make this a joy to read."
Read the full report at BookLife​. 

"You need to read broadly and critically. In art school, my professors made us spend hours looking at art by old masters and then drawing that art."
Read the full interview at Authority Magazine on Medium​. 

Pat Rullo and I talk about "rage writing", writing from our scars rather than our wounds, and the how we all are in this life together–alone. Also, we discuss Geri of Shimasu and other projects. Listen to the podcast at Speak Up Talk Radio or Fire Bird Radio. 

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have the unusual habit when I’m writing personal essays of coming up with the title first and then holding loosely in my mind the general message I want to convey. Then I start to piece together specific story points and events that flesh out that theme. I had a general idea and title for almost all of my essays in Geri o Shimasu before I started writing the stories themselves.

Read the entire interview at Awesomegang.

Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love to read science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, police procedurals, memoirs, and more. I read broadly, because I believe that it’s important to read a lot of different authors from different cultures to appreciate the universe of books out there. My favorite authors include Ursula K. LeGuin, Margaret Atwood, Octavia Butler, Andy Weir, Haruki Murakami, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, David Sedaris, Arthur Conan Doyle, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Kelly Barnhill and so many others! All of these authors inspire me in different ways.

Read the full interview at Book Reader Magazine.

When I’m planning an adventure, I like to read fiction from authors who live in that culture. Whether you’re planning a dream trip to Japan or you just love the country, here are some great works of fiction by Japanese authors you may or may not have heard of before. Magical realism, crime fiction, romance, and more. Learn a little about life in Japan from these great books by Japanese Authors.
Read the full article on Tertulia.

Maureen DcDole and I had a conversation for the Keep St. Pete Lit Typewriter Talks podcast series. We talked about our respective writing processes, haiku as a journaling tool, books we had recently read, favorite authors, and how much we love being writers. If you want to learn a little bit more about my process for both my fiction and my non-fiction work, as well as advice I would have given my younger self, please feel free to tune in to Episode 23.

Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.