One of the most intriguing novels of the 21st century, Thuận’s Elevator in Sài Gòn combines elements of the detective thriller, historical romance, and postcolonial ghost story into a scathing satire of life in a communist state: a satire still banned in Vietnam today. It follows a young Vietnamese woman’s obsession with her mother’s past, zigzagging across France and Asia to try to answer the unanswerable. She speaks about the life of someone embracing new culture—from studying at universities in Russia and France; her views on the ongoing censorship of her work; and finding joy amidst hardships in a country that has become home. This promises to be a beautiful conversation with musings on literature, identity—and hope.

Thuận’s appearance presented with the generous support of Consulate General of France in Vancouver.

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Thuận

THUẬN was born in 1967 in Hanoi. She is the author of ten novels and a recipient of the Writers’ Union Prize, the highest award in Vietnamese literature. Seven of her novels were translated and published in France. Chinatown, her debut novel in English, won a PEN Translates Award, the 2023 ALTA National Translation Award, and was shortlisted for the 2023 Republic of Consciousness Prize. She lives in Paris.

Thuận’s appearance presented with the generous support of Consulate General of France in Vancouver.