Against the hairspray-and-synthesizer backdrop of the '80s, he finds solace and kinship in the wisdom of classic literature, and in the subculture of punk rock, he finds affirmation and echoes of his disaffection. In this coming-of-age memoir told through the themes of great books such as The Metamorphosis, The Scarlet Letter, The Iliad, and more, Tran navigates the push and pull of finding and accepting himself despite the challenges of immigration, feelings of isolation, and teenage rebellion, all while attempting to meet the rigid expectations set by his immigrant parents.Īppealing to fans of coming-of-age memoirs such as Fresh Off the Boat, Running with Scissors, or tales of assimilation like Viet Thanh Nguyen's The Displaced and The Refugees, Sigh, Gone explores one man's bewildering experiences of abuse, racism, and tragedy and reveals redemption and connection in books and punk rock. By sheer chance they land in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, a small town where the Trans struggle to assimilate into their new life.
In 1975, during the fall of Saigon, Phuc Tran immigrates to America along with his family. Topics will range from those covered in his book as well as how he has come to be known as an author, educator, classicist, and tattooer.For anyone who has ever felt like they don't belong, Sigh, Gone shares an irreverent, funny, and moving tale of displacement and assimilation woven together with poignant themes from beloved works of classic literature. Community members are encouraged to come ready to be part of the evening’s discussion. Join us for an evening of conversation with the author and our community led by Margery Irvine. This struggle propelled him into what the subtitle of his book declares as A Misfit’s Memoir about Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In.
Wanting to become American, Phuc struggled with his need to fit in against the cultural and social implications of being part of an immigrant family.
Phuc and his close family escaped the collapse of South Vietnam in 1975 and along with his parents and brother made their way to Carlisle, Pennsylvania where he was one of the only Asian kids to grow up in the blue-collar town. Phuc Tran’s book, Sigh, Gone, is an irreverent, funny, and moving memoir that won the 2021 Maine Literary Award for best memoir.
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