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Quote by Andrew Lam

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Perfume Dreams: Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora

This book offers a nuanced look into the lives of Vietnamese diaspora, examining themes of cultural adaptation, identity, and the search for belonging in foreign lands. more

Author

Andrew Lam
Andrew Lam

Andrew Lam is a Vietnamese-American writer born in 1964. His works primarily focus on the experiences of Vietnamese immigrants and the identity of Asian Americans after the Vietnam War. Lam's writing style is deeply influenced by his personal experiences, and his works have been recognized in both the literary and journalistic communities. more

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“Nobody gives way to anybody. Everyone just angles, points, dives directly toward his destination, pretending it is an all-or-nothing gamble. People glare at one another and fight for maneuvering space. All parties are equally determined to get the right-of-way--insist on it. They swerve away at the last possible moment, giving scant inches to spare. The victor goes forwards, no time for a victory grin, already engaging in another contest of will. Saigon traffic is Vietnamese life, a continuous charade of posturing, bluffing, fast moves, tenacity and surrenders.”

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Book:Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam
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“Too many things have changed. Too much time has passed. I'm different now, a man with a pocketful of unconnected but terribly vivid memories. I was looking to dredge up what I'd long forgotten. Most of all, I am wishing for something to fasten all these gems, maybe something to hold them in a continuity that I can comprehend.”

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Book:Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam
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“At some point my friends and I began to ask, how can a country that produced hippies and such cool people also fight a war and kill people and act cruelly? You would see American GMC trucks go by and soldiers reaching down to whack a girl riding a bicycle. They would yank at her hat and she would get thrown and she would die. You would see Americans do this and feel like they can do anything in our country. But then you'd take an English class with an American soldier from Ohio who seemed just as nice as anyone, yet he was a soldier too.”

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Author:Nguyen Qui Duc
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