Of Monkey Bridges and Bánh Mì Sandwiches by Oanh Ngo Usadi

Synopsis: The testimony of a young girl (and her family) who immigrates to America (Texas) from Vietnam.

Writing Style: Straightforward. Genuine.

Pacing: Moderately Fast.

Personal Highlights: What really grabbed me about this memoir was the sheer volume and magnitude of compelling storytelling. The cursory political history and climate (seeing things in a before April 30, 1975 and after) caught my attention first. The ‘re-education camps’, and the fact that these were lawyers, politicians, pilots, professional businessmen (and women) who’d later (in America) become janitors, clerks, assembly line workers and... as in Oanh's family's case... the proud owners of a Bánh Mì sandwich shop. The descriptions were vivid; as in living in Vietnam on the countryside inclusive of orchards, livestock, climbing trees…and oh, those monkey bridges! I could literally taste the cuisine… particularly the durian, especially when it was compared to M&M’s; a fascinating story all around. Reading about Buddhism (in cursory detail), and the currencies introduced into circulation, along with what it took to plant and grow food, making Tofu and turning bean sprouts into milk, plus taking care of animals… and pets… each one of these lessons comes with a poignant story, the differentiation from learning by rote and simply knowing.

At this point I was only mid-way through the book. There still were the attempts to flee Vietnam, and the voyage (traveling by boat to an island where it took a year of living from camp to camp) before eventually getting to America. Again, each event comes with rich vivid memories, none more so than the family’s assimilation into American culture, which first takes comparing and understanding the culture. Particularly impressive, and touching, (aside from Oanh’s relationship with her parents, and especially her brother) was HOW the family developed a relationship with the Landlords in Texas, (Mr. & Mrs. Water), parallel to the language barriers… “Who pay?” …And noting the drawn out legato of Texan English… from how the Mexican explained he wanted ‘Pepsi Cola’ not a ‘popsicle’. Through clear storytelling I learned how a ‘fluid concept of self’ is connected to the Vietnamese language. I could actually hear the tones and pronunciations (“Nanatee, ah na tu” for 1982), and picture the confusion in instances such as when one word (for instance, ‘xanh’) described two colors; blue and green. DEEP! Overall, this story MUST be experienced. Highly recommended!!!