ebook, 272 pages
Published August 3rd 2021 by Ecco
Original Title:Afterparties: Stories
ISBN:63049910 , (ISBN13: 2147483647)
Seamlessly transitioning between the absurd and the tenderhearted, balancing acerbic humor with sharp emotional depth, Afterparties offers an expansive portrait of the lives of Cambodian-Americans. As the children of refugees carve out radical new paths for themselves in California, they shoulder the inherited weight of the Khmer Rouge genocide and grapple with the complexities of race, sexuality, friendship, and family. A high school badminton coach and failing grocery store owner tries to relive his glory days by beating a rising star teenage player. Two drunken brothers attend a wedding afterparty and hatch a plan to expose their shady uncle’s snubbing of the bride and groom.
An outstanding short story collection and one of the finest books I’ve read on how generational trauma can shape and influence a diasporic community.
2023-07-14
Loved this short story collection’s intimate examination of Cambodian Americans living in California.
2023-07-14
I did not love this as much as I thought I would. Everybody adores these stories, so do take my opinion with a grain of salt.
2023-07-14