ALL THAT’S LEFT UNSAID, by Tracey Lien (HQ Fiction, $39.99)
Tracey Lien’s debut novel tells a universal story, which is possibly why it has been picked up by a major UK publisher despite being firmly set in Cabramatta, Western Sydney. It’s a story of identity – of how a young person removed from their cultural roots will still define themselves as belonging to their motherland. It is also a story, like so many others told just now, that is full of anger and vitriol against the dominant culture.
Debut novels are often fairly autobiographical, and this one certainly draws from the author’s experiences. Lien was born of Vietnamese parents in Sydney’s west, unlike her protagonist, Ky (pronounced Key), who was born in Vietnam and came to Australia with her refugee parents as an infant. Lien lives in New York, but was previously a journalist in Los Angeles. Ky has also broken away from Cabramatta, but not so far – she is a journalist for the Herald Sun in Melbourne.
This story is from the September 3 - 9, 2022 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 3 - 9, 2022 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Candid cameras in wartime
Clandestine photos have been unearthed and turned into a documentary showing Kiwi soldiers during World War II as they have never been seen before.
Return of the queen
Beth Orton brings the personal songs of her career-reviving album to NZ.
Fanny, the musical
How do you turn Jane Austen into opera and why pick Mansfield Park, her most demanding novel? Composer Jonathan Dove explains his approach to Richard Betts.
It's in the blood
Michael Bennett returns his Maori detective to her roots ina convincing, highly anticipated second novel.
Touchstones
Ahead of the Aotearoa Art Fair, Sally Blundell asks New Zealand artists about their favourite local artwork and why it moves them.
Room at the Top
The Opportunities Party could well be a force to be reckoned with as a centrist voice - it's just lacking a leader, a campaign and a lot of money.
Brought to book
He's rich, opinionated and believes in doing good for the community. Property developer Mark Todd is a study in contrasts.
'Why aren't you listening to me?!"
To really understand each other, our brains need to be in sync, says author Charles Duhigg. And, yes, there are ways to get on to the same wavelength.
The virus that came to stay
With current funding for our Covid response drawing to a close, there’s growing recognition that many people are suffering debilitating long-term effects. What’s the next move?
The chips are down
It's a forecast no Irish person with a sense of history expected ever to hear again: a severe potato shortage looms.