36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem

36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem is a debut poetry book by Le, a Vietnamese refugee in the West, that explores the violence of identity, racism, oppression, and historical trauma. It also examines the violence of being assumed to be outside one's home, country, culture, or language, and the complex violence of language itself. The book moves with unpredictable and destabilizing energy between the personal and political, and is self-indicting, scathing, hilarious, and desperately moving.

Format: Hardback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 07 March 2024
Publisher: Canongate Books

An explosive and devastating debut poetry book from the winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize, 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem, is an urgent and unsettling reckoning with identity and the violence of identity. For Le, a Vietnamese refugee in the West, this means the assumed violence of racism, oppression, and historical trauma. But it also means the violence of that assumption. Of being always assumed to be outside one's home, country, culture, or language. And the complex violence of language itself.

Making use of multiple tones, moods, masks, and camouflages, Le's poetic debut moves with unpredictable and destabilizing energy between the personal and political. As self-indicting as it is scathing, hilarious as it is desperately moving, this is a singular, breakthrough book.

Le's poetry explores the complexities of identity and the experiences of displacement, using vivid imagery and powerful language to convey the emotional weight of her experiences. She challenges the assumptions and stereotypes that are often imposed on immigrants and diasporic communities, and offers a nuanced and complex perspective on the experiences of being a foreigner in a strange land.

One of the most striking features of 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem is its use of humor and irony. Le's poems are often witty and playful, but they also carry a deep sense of sadness and loss. She uses humor to deflect the weight of her experiences and to offer a glimpse of hope and resilience.

Another notable aspect of the book is its exploration of the power of language. Le's poetry is filled with rich and evocative imagery, and she uses language to create a sense of place and to convey the emotional impact of her experiences. She plays with the sounds and rhythms of Vietnamese and English, creating a unique and powerful poetic voice.

Overall, 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem is a stunning debut that showcases Le's talent for poetry and her ability to convey the complexities of identity and the violence of identity. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in poetry, identity, and the experiences of displacement.

Weight: 194g
Dimension: 222 x 142 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805300762
Edition number: Main