“I
stumbled upon my sister's copy of Catfish and Mandala in my early
twenties from her Asian American literature studies class at Stanford. I had
never read any piece of literature before that captures the painful and
specific love of existing in a country that constantly rejects you. I reached
out to Pham personally when a Norton editor explained that my living abroad
book proposal was a great idea, except she, a white woman, could not feature
how to market me, an Asian American woman, as the narrator. To say I was
devastated would put it mildly, but Pham replied swiftly and with kindness and
empathy. His writings have led the way forward for so many of us who are still
trying to love a country that doesn't love us back. Pham evinced through his
writings and life that he will be remembered as one of the literary world’s
favorite kind of protagonists: a hero, both strong and tender.”
~~ Joy Hui
Lin
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