I just finished reading Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X. Pham.It is a fascinating, moving, enthralling read. The book was thought provoking on lots of different levels. Pham and his family arrived in the US from Vietnam in 1977 when he was 10. Catfish and Mandala is the story of his family and of his life both in Vietnam and as an American immigrant. It is also the story of his return to Vietnam and of his journey by bicycle through Vietnam. Although the book is about his travels it is much more an exploration of Pham’s Vietnamese American experience. It is really hard to describe this book because it delves into so much. But I couldn’t help feeling a connection to Pham even though so much of what he experienced is so alien to anything I have every experienced. Pham is an extraordinarily talented writer. I highly recommend the book.
I am reading this book for a class, i am a little lost and i need to know all the characters in the book- i know there are lot, just wondeirng if you could help out? thanks .
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Kaitlin,
Thanks for the comment. It has been quite a while since I read this book so I’m afraid I can’t really help. Good luck in your class.
Marion
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I HATED this book too.
The best part was the POV crab scene, that’s it.
I met the author who is an anti-american socialist ego-maniac. His next book encompasses his hatred of america and americans.
He just urks me big time.
I’ll never buy a book from him again.
k.
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