“Nguyen An Ly became the first Vietnamese translator to receive the National Translation Award in Prose with her translation of the novel Phố Tàu (Chinatown).”
https://vietnamnet.vn/en/vietnamese-translator-won-the-us-national-translation-award-2215201.html
I had to stop reading a few pages in because I was laughing out loud and my entire body was in a spasm of laughter! The people on the train were giving me looks. What a unique writing style, Thuận’s satirical dry sense of humour nearly killed me or made me pissed in my pants from laughing so much. And yet so freakishly relatable! Her cool acceptance of the human condition both light and dark is well, sweet. I’m going to have to wait until I get home in my private space before continuing my journey reading.
Thursday 22nd, November 2023.
” thank you for your affection and I think you’ll find most of other Thuan books delectable for the same reason (and thanks for telling me this, I have been very anxious about whether her unique brand of humour translates well across the languages!) I suggest you read her in the original Vietnamese too, even though it would probably be a bit “Northern”y for you but there are little gems that only a Vietnamese can appreciate” An Lý
Friday 23rd, November 2023
Thuận writes like she has a borderline personality, undiagnosed ADHD perhaps, her humor is right up my alley, though I wonder if it’s like yours. Becareful with your prejudices young lady, my parents were born in the north. As for reading the Vietnamese version, I am not sure I’m ready to read Vietnamese again, sounds like a con from you yeah. Sounds like HOMEWORK! But I guess I can ask my husband to get me a copy when he’s in SG in the coming months or so.. BTW, I just wept with abandonment just now.. halfway through the book and I have no idea how it will end. The writing is freakishly trippy! It is definitely worth the 10 days wait for my book from the UK.
Friday 24th, November 2023
“it’s been a while since I was last younglady’ed – but as a Northern-born Southern-based person I’m happy to hear (/be reminded of) your history! As for Thuận’s style, indeed you have such a sharp eye/ear! I can totally sympathize with the “homework” remark hehe, if you can wait there would be another Englished Thuận out around next autumn” An Lý
Saturday 25th, November 2023
“đọc thuận hay nhưng khó” Lê Vĩnh Tài
Chinatown làm em khóc quá trời luôn, như nhiều khách hàng của em. She has borderline personality, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Khó theo em nghĩ là cảm xúc, xúc tua liên tục lúc thì em cười em bực em hận, em bị trầm cảm luôn, em không biết là đọc tiếng Việt sẽ như vậy không..
Saturday 24th, November 2023
Chinatown reads as according to the translator, is truly one of a kind read. Cheers to both Thuận and An Lý.
Thursday 7th, December 2023
Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm 
What an achievement!
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❤
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