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A review by nancydavis
How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
’Hope was a terrible thing for her - it meant it wasn’t there for you, whatever it was you were hoping for.’
I am currently travelling through Laos so wanted to read something from a Laotian author to learn from literature about the country’s complicated and painful recent history.
It turns out the author was actually raised in Canada after being born in a Thai refugee camp, meaning the stories are from the perspectives of Laotian immigrants/descendants in North America, rather than Laotian natives. However many of the stories still very much moved me, and I was able to understand a lot about the culture of Laos despite these stories being set in the West.
The stories are fast-paced and compelling so I got through the book quite quickly. My favourites were: Randy Travis, Picking Worms, Mani Pedi, A Far Distant Thing, Edge of the World, Chick-A-Chee, Slingshot, You Are So Embarrassing and Ewwrrrkk. As a couple of the stories were slightly forgettable or questionable I would give this collection a 4 overall.
I am currently travelling through Laos so wanted to read something from a Laotian author to learn from literature about the country’s complicated and painful recent history.
It turns out the author was actually raised in Canada after being born in a Thai refugee camp, meaning the stories are from the perspectives of Laotian immigrants/descendants in North America, rather than Laotian natives. However many of the stories still very much moved me, and I was able to understand a lot about the culture of Laos despite these stories being set in the West.
The stories are fast-paced and compelling so I got through the book quite quickly. My favourites were: Randy Travis, Picking Worms, Mani Pedi, A Far Distant Thing, Edge of the World, Chick-A-Chee, Slingshot, You Are So Embarrassing and Ewwrrrkk. As a couple of the stories were slightly forgettable or questionable I would give this collection a 4 overall.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and War