{"product_id":"birds-of-paradise-lost-9781597092685","title":"Birds of Paradise Lost","description":"\u003ch2\u003eBirds of Paradise Lost: Vietnamese American Short Stories\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinalist for the California Book Award\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBirds of Paradise Lost\u003c\/em\u003e presents thirteen emotionally resonant short stories chronicling the Vietnamese diaspora in the San Francisco Bay Area. Author Andrew Lam crafts narratives that illuminate the complex experiences of Vietnamese refugees who rebuilt their lives in America after war and exodus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eStories of Memory and Transformation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese stories examine how the past—memories of the Vietnam War, re-education camps, new economic zones, escape, and trauma—continues to shape the present. The collection explores how history resurfaces in unexpected ways: through a cannibal's televised confession, a Vietnam veteran entering a Vietnamese restaurant with buried secrets, or a man with Tourette's Syndrome processing profound tragedy. Each narrative captures the false starts and revelations inherent in the immigrant experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Andrew Lam\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAndrew Lam is an award-winning author whose previous work \u003cem\u003ePerfume Dreams: Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora\u003c\/em\u003e won the 2006 PEN Open Book Award. He also authored \u003cem\u003eEast Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres\u003c\/em\u003e. As editor and cofounder of New American Media, an association of over two thousand ethnic media outlets, Lam has shaped conversations about immigrant communities across America.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor many years, Lam served as a regular commentator on NPR's \u003cem\u003eAll Things Considered\u003c\/em\u003e and was featured in the 2004 PBS documentary \u003cem\u003eMy Journey Home\u003c\/em\u003e. His essays have appeared in \u003cem\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eLos Angeles Times\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eSan Francisco Chronicle\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eChicago Tribune\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eMother Jones\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eThe Nation\u003c\/em\u003e. His short stories have been widely anthologized and taught in classrooms nationwide. Based in San Francisco, Lam brings authentic perspective to Vietnamese American narratives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eLiterary Recognition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBirds of Paradise Lost\u003c\/em\u003e marks Lam's debut short story collection, bringing together humor and pathos to render the Vietnamese American experience with nuance and compassion. The collection has earned recognition as a California Book Award finalist, affirming its contribution to contemporary American literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublisher: Red Hen Press\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormat: Paperback\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublication: March 2013\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenre: Literary Fiction, Short Stories\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Red Hen Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50681293275410,"sku":"9781597092685","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_a1f3f6fa-de2b-4ba7-9801-cf07bc2b2a21.jpg?v=1733951417","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/birds-of-paradise-lost-9781597092685","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}