Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So is exquisite.
Afterparties, the novel of laugh-out-loud, heartfelt stories by Anthony Veasna So is a delightfully full immersion into Cambodian culture. With each page turn, I was ravenous for the authenticity, the IYKYK of it all.
The families, the characters are nuanced and specific; I felt like I knew them. (Am I still in the family after I’ve finished reading?)
Like reading?
Being from Stockton, California where the book is set made it all the more familiar – someone I know could’ve easily been a customer at the Buddha-cluttered auto shop, or popped into Chuck’s Donuts, grabbed eggs at Superking.
Not to mention the Cleveland Elementary story, a tragedy that reverberates through Stockton decades later.
My nostalgic imagination wants to remember Michael Jackson visiting our not-so-little town, paying respect to the school’s students, teachers, and survivors. (I was three years old when the shooting happened, unaware of the violence or the pop star’s pop-in ‘til years later.)
Michael Jackson visiting Cleveland Elementary school in 1989 after a school shooting, as described in the final chapter of Afterparties.
Each chapter a story imbued with other stories, memories and observations, very much like a friend recounting an experience over the phone. Afterparties is exquisite.
It’s a shame for us survivors that he died young leaving behind this one collection, but my God, Anthony, what a knockout. Thank you. Bravo!
Have you read Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So? What did you think?
An Instagram photo of Anthony grinning, posted November 23, 2019. (fakemaddoxjolie).
Anthony Veasna So (1992 – 2020) was an American writer known for short stories, which were described by The New York Times as "crackling, kinetic and darkly comedic" and often drew from his upbringing as a child of Cambodian immigrants. So died from an accidental drug overdose in 2020, and his debut book, a short story collection entitled Afterparties, was published August 2021.
Anthony’s Twitter bio (@fakemaddoxjolie): “tall and tan ocean vuong (aka anthony veasna so)” queer/khmer, story collection, AFTERPARTIES, from @eccobooks (8/3/21), also @nplusonemag @nyerfiction @grantamag. pisces but wanna dance. a "hella" fuckboy.