Monkey Bridge A Novel
Monkey Bridge A Novel by Lan Cao, published by Penguin on June 1, 1998, is a reprint edition comprising 272 pages in English. This novel explores the complexities of the Vietnamese American experience in the aftermath of war, navigating the delicate balance between past and present, East and West. The narrative unfolds through two interlocking stories: one from a young girl depicting the immigrant experience in America, and the other revealing her mother’s tale filled with betrayal, political intrigue, and family secrets.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of Vietnamese lore and history woven throughout the narrative, reflecting on themes of cultural heritage and the challenges of identity. The book delves into the haunting realities of separation and exile, offering insights into the emotional landscapes of its characters. Monkey Bridge presents a unique perspective on the immigrant journey, making it a significant contribution to contemporary fiction.
Official synopsis Publisher
Hailed by critics and writers as powerful, important fiction, Monkey Bridge charts the unmapped territory of the Vietnamese American experience in the aftermath of war.
Like navigating a monkey bridge—a bridge, built of spindly bamboo, used by peasants for centuries—the narrative traverses perilously between worlds past and present, East and West, in telling two interlocking stories: one, the Vietnamese version of the classic immigrant experience in America, told by a young girl; and the second, a dark tale of betrayal, political intrigue, family secrets, and revenge—her mother’s tale. The haunting and beautiful terrain of Monkey Bridge is the “luminous motion,” as it is called in Vietnamese myth and legend, between generations, encompassing Vietnamese lore, history, and dreams of the past as well as of the future.
“With incredible lightness, balance and elegance,” writes Isabel Allende, “Lan Cao crosses over an abyss of pain, loss, separation and exile, connecting on one level the opposite realities of Vietnam and North America, and on a deeper level the realities of the material world and the world of the spirits.”
• Quality Paperback Book Club Selection and New Voices Award nominee
• A Kiriyama Pacific Rim Award Book Prize nominee
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Monkey Bridge A Novel” about?
Who is the author of “Monkey Bridge A Novel”?
When was “Monkey Bridge A Novel” published?
What is the ISBN for “Monkey Bridge A Novel”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
