Book Review: East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres by Andrew Lam

December 18, 2010

In one passionate essay, “Letter to a Young Iraqi Refugee,” journalist Andrew Lam, who was forced into exile from Vietnam as a boy, advises the youth: Learn to live with the contradictions of your new home, ally yourself to this country and let it transform you even as you transform it; tell your story. In the 20 other moving and insightful essays that make up East Eats West, Lam explores these contradictions and transformations while describing his own path to discovering his voice. What emerges is a picture of America being reshaped by the East. America, according to Lam, is now grappling with the effects of the artifacts and world views that accompany emigrants from Asia — pho, manga, martial arts, Hong Kong-style action movies, Buddhism, the ethos of hard work and entrepreneurship and strong and abiding communal relationships. Something is lost in the transplantation though, as the cult of the individual practiced in the West imprints itself on the emerging immigrant subjectivity. America whispers rebellion, Lam says, follow your bliss. This requires triumphalism of the individual over the communal. You can see this in Lam’s writing too: There is a lot that’s beautiful and wise in it, but some of it is triumphantly so.

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Andrew Lam's writing really changed my life. I wish more young, Vietnamese Americans knew about his work. I've seen many of the works he has done for NPR, PBS, and other news outlets. I am impressed by the way he devotes his life to sharing his views as a Vietnamese American. When I read his work, I feel like they are written for me. I can't relate to other writer's works like I do to his. Thank you Andrew Lam! And thank you Hyphen for bringing my attention to this incredible new book.
Thanks for the sharing I know this is kind a off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa? My site goes over a lot of the same subjects as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other. If you might be interested feel free to shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Superb blog by the way!