iRead recap: Video conference with Bich Minh Nguyen

Vise Library was very fortunate to sponsor a video conference via the Internet with the author of Stealing Buddha’s Dinner, Bich Minh Nguyen. Professor Nguyen is currently an Assistant Professor of English at Purdue University in Indiana where she teaches literature and creative writing. She told the audience of Cumberland University students, faculty, and staff that she was honored to have her book selected for our campus reading program. Professor Nguyen began with an overview of the book and provided some background on her writing process.

The story begins when her family came to the United States in 1975 from Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. Her father and uncles had served in the army and they had to leave to avoid being imprisoned. It was a last second decision to leave their home. They raced to board a ship out and went to a refugee camp in Little Rock, Arkansas and later settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She grew up in this small town during the late 70’s and early 80s before the multiculturalism we have today, when there were no sushi restaurants. The culture clashes she experienced provided material for her writing and she commented that adversity is often good material for stories.

Professor Nguyen started writing Stealing Buddha’s Dinner about 8-9 years ago after working on some essays concerning immigration. She realized that her childhood memories would make an important story about her family, their heritage, and her past experiences. She chose the genre of non-fiction as the story was “too true” for fiction or poetry. Writing a memoir allowed for the intersection of reflection and narration. She was amazed at the memories that came back to her with clarity and commented that there is a reason you can not forget something, even a hostess cupcake. Food became the primary organizing principle for the book as she realized that many of her childhood memories involved eating. Food defines who we are and what we desire. Family get togethers, birthdays, Thanksgiving and other events revolve around food not just due to the need to survive, but also to support our identity. You can learn a lot about someone just by looking in their grocery cart or refrigerator. We all have to decide what to have for dinner and are defined by what we eat in terms of who we are, what we can afford and where we come from.

The author talked about growing up in the 1980s, “a bad fashion decade,” and her desire to fit-in somewhere. These feelings of being an outsider transcend race and gender. She remembers reading Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, and the Little House on the Prairie books and relating to the characters, even though it would seem she did not have anything in common with them. She saw herself as a completely American kid, eating junk food and watching TV, but felt that other people did not see her that way. She wanted to be acknowledged as an American. The definition of being American is expansive and inclusive, but it took a long time for her to believe it applied to herself. Books empowered her and gave a sense of permission to see what is possible. She encourages reading and believes in the power of literature to find insights and understanding.

Before publishing Stealing Buddha’s Dinner, the author shared the story with her family. They were interested in seeing her perspective and it opened up communication among them. It is a risk to write the truth, but it is more meaningful if it is “close to the bone.” Readers connect to a story that is real. She sees regrets as important to acknowledge in order to gain perspective. The author wishes she had not been so shy as a child and had asked more questions. She also wishes she had learned more about her Vietnamese heritage from her grandmother.

Professor Nguyen mentioned that she had visited Tennessee and that is important to go places and see new landscapes, as well as try new foods. She advised doing this in your 20s as this is when you have time in your life to travel. If you get the chance to do it, it is worthwhile. She spoke of taking off to Rome with some friends when she was a student with no plans and just their backpacks. These opportunities may only come when you are young and that time in your life closes quickly. It is important to “get outside ourselves a little bit” to gain new insights about the world.

There were a few questions at the end of the presentation. One person asked what her favorite food is. She said it changes a lot but right now it was bacon. She mentioned eating a candy bar with bacon wrapped in chocolate which she described as worth trying, but a little strange. She likes sweet and salty and is especially fond of ice cream, cakes, cookies, and mac & cheese. Professor Nguyen wanted to know the favorite food of the student and it turns out it is also bacon.

The author was also asked about her current writing project which is a novel about a Laura Ingalls Wilder scholar. She has always been obsessed with the Little House on the Prairie books and believes in following her obsessions. Her latest novel, Short Girls, was published in 2009. It is a work of fiction so there is a lot of friction and conflict. Some people in her family thought she was writing about them but it is not a true story. She commented that “fiction is a lot more dangerous than non-fiction.”

She was also asked about her process in writing Stealing Buddha’s Dinner. Professor Nguyen said she wrote each chapter on its own and it was not until the 5^th or 6^th revision that she realized that food would be the organizing principle. As she wrote, she hoped the ending would reveal itself which it did and she wrote the final two chapters last. The author commented that the writing process is long and not straightforward. There is a lot of revision. She cautioned never to turn the first draft as it takes several drafts to say what you want to say. “Authors write not to be understood, but to understand.”

Professor Nguyen concluded with a few remarks about the value of attending college. She vividly remembers being a college freshman and said it was the best year of her life. Even though she was just a couple hours away from home, it seemed so far away and she was on her own. She commented how great it was that you could take whatever classes you wanted and that there were so many interesting subjects to explore. She enjoyed going to the library to look things up and to “get lost in a book.” College is a great time to find out what interests you and she sees great value in attending college just for the fun of learning. Jobs and careers will come, but it is important to explore ideas while you have the opportunity. She was the first in her family to attend college and she sees this time as a “profound gift.”

A DVD of this video conference is on reserve at the Vise Library.