If you loved ‘On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous', try these 4 books next

Indian Express

3 days ago

Asian-American immigration narratives have witnessed a rise in recent years. These stories are about identities that are constructed through a confluence of oriental and Western cultures. They are focused on finding belonging in a country that one has known their whole life, yet somehow still feels a little foreign. Asian-American immigration narratives often take the form of memoirs, not just reflecting on the life of a single person, but also recollecting the history of the family and how loss, sacrifices, and trauma mould the present. Focusing on memory, queerness, and grief, among other themes. Here is a list of coming-of-age debut books by Asian-American authors:
Ocean Vuong's debut novel, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous (Vintage, pages 256, Rs 550), is a lyrical reflection on the protagonist's (Little Dog) experience as a queer Vietnamese-American immigrant growing up in a middle-class family. Written in the form of a letter to his mother who cannot read, the first-person retrospective narrative evokes questions about identity, belonging, and love. The novel explores the implications of the Vietnam War in the history of his family, and the protagonist's discovery of his queerness.
Stay True (Picador, pages 208, Rs 650) is a memoir written by Hua Hsu dedicated to his friend Ken who lost his life in a carjacking incident. The novel portrays a friendship which finds its roots in the simplicity of college experiences, late night hangouts, shared cigarettes, and bonding over music, before it was lost to time. As an enthusiast of the emerging indie scene, the novel is packed with musical references to bands in the late 90s, such as Nirvana and The Beach Boys. Hsu's and Ken's friendship is an unexpected one, their main similarity being their experience as an Asian-American and trying to find a sense of belonging amidst a culture that does not entirely belong to them.
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Michelle Zauner, the Grammy-nominated indie artist belonging to the band Japanese Breakfast published her debut novel, Crying in H Mart (Picador, pages 256, Rs 650), in 2021. A memoir for her late mother, Zauner evokes feelings of nostalgia as she recounts the Korean food her mom used to make for her. As a Korean-American, going to the Korean grocery store, H Mart, becomes a deliberate way through which Zauner reconnects with her Korean roots. Crying in H Mart is also about dealing with loss of a loved one and attempting to come to terms with the grief it brings along.
Unlike the other novels on this list, The Best We Could Do (Harry N. Abrams, pages 336, Rs 1581) is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Thi Bui, a Vietnam-born American graphic novelist and illustrator. The graphic is mostly monochromatic, with the exception of sepia tones that seep into the work. Thi Bui reflects on her family history as she tries to make sense of her identity and place in the present. She recounts her parents' experience during the Vietnam War, their refuge in the US following the war, and its impact on her life.
A memoir written by Nicole Chung, All You Can Ever Know (Pushkin Press, pages 256, Rs 1129), is a story about her life as a Korean adopted by an American family. Although content with her family, ever since she was young Chung had questions about her biological family which finally led her to search for them after growing up. Chung reflects on her adolescence, growing up in a racially different family, and on her own parenthood as she steps into motherhood.