Sigh, Gone ★★★★★

Sigh, Gone: A Misfit’s Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In (Click Here To Buy)

★★★★★

Sigh, Gone: A Misfit’s Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In by Phuc Tran is a memoir about coming of age as a Vietnamese refugee in America.

I read this as an audiobook on loan from the library and read by the author.

This memoir traces the Tran family’s escape from Saigon to their assimilation into American culture in Southern Pennsylvania. As Tran grew up, he talked about how much he wanted to fit in and what his experience was like as a Vietnamese-American. Tran found his tribe among the punks through their music and skateboarding he carved a place for himself and created his own sense of belonging. Tran talks about abuse he endured from his father and what he did to overcome. Once Tran discovered his love for reading, he was able to relate his experience to many characters throughout classic literature.

Finding meaning through books is something all of us here on #bookstagram can relate to and if only for that reason alone, you should read this book. Tran has the ability as a writer to be funny and tragic - heartbreaking and heartwarming - overall this is a great memoir that speaks loudly and proudly to the Asian-American experience - and the 80s.

If you liked Sigh, Gone, I also recommend The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, Spirit Run by Noe Alvarez, The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, and Ghost World by Daniel Clowes.

HPPY RDNG

Ms.Bjork