Staff Holiday Recommended Reads
As you can imagine, for a staff devoted to writing, reading, and amplifying Lao voices–this list was hard to pare down. We hope you enjoy our attempt at enticing you to pick up some of the books that have left a deep impact on us. Come back and let us know if you chose any of these stories–and the impressions it left on you! — Chanida Phaengdara Potter Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong Inside out– I felt it. As a fellow Southeast Asian refugee, I resonate deeply with the poetry of Ocean Vuong. From the aunties to the nail shop to the pain of colonists. It’s searing, powerful, nostalgic and so goddamn heartbreaking. Hope Dies Last by Studs Terkel Most think hope is too abstract, but it’s the only thing that’s saved us during difficult times. As one of my favorite legendary storytellers, we could learn a thing or two from the people Studs Terkel had the honor of listening to in this collection. Changing Lives in Laos: Society, Politics, and Culture in …