In 1975, Tran was a toddler when he and his extended family fled the fall of Saigon. In this confused and scary time, a story about displacement that itself is so scrambled feels just right to me. I was initially drawn to Phuc Tran's new memoir about growing up as the son of Vietnamese refugees because of the playfulness of its title: Sigh, Gone.Īs it turns out, Tran's loosey-goosey writing style is all over the place in emotional tone and subject - something I might ordinarily find annoying, but kind of appreciate right now.
Your purchase helps support NPR programming. In his journey for self-discovery Tran ultimately finds refuge and inspiration in the art that shapes-and ultimately saves-him.Close overlay Buy Featured Book Title Sigh, Gone Subtitle A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit in Author Phuc Tran Against the hairspray-and-synthesizer backdrop of the '80s, he finds solace and kinship in the wisdom of classic literature, and in the subculture of punk rock, he finds affirmation and echoes of his disaffection. In this coming-of-age memoir told through the themes of great books such as The Metamorphosis, The Scarlet Letter, The Iliad, and more, Tran navigates the push and pull of finding and accepting himself despite the challenges of immigration, feelings of isolation, and teenage rebellion, all while attempting to meet the rigid expectations set by his immigrant parents.Īppealing to fans of coming-of-age memoirs such as Fresh Off the Boat, Running with Scissors, or tales of assimilation like Viet Thanh Nguyen's The Displaced and The Refugees, Sigh, Gone explores one man's bewildering experiences of abuse, racism, and tragedy and reveals redemption and connection in books and punk rock. By sheer chance they land in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, a small town where the Trans struggle to assimilate into their new life.
In 1975, during the fall of Saigon, Phuc Tran immigrates to America along with his family. For anyone who has ever felt like they don't belong, Sigh, Gone shares an irreverent, funny, and moving tale of displacement and assimilation woven together with poignant themes from beloved works of classic literature.
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