Go Home!

by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan (Editor), Viet Thanh Nguyen (Foreword), Alexander Chee (Contributor)

New, emerging, and established Asian diasporic writers touch on the personal and political dimensions of home in the 21st century. Both urgent and meditative, this literary anthology showcases fiction, memoir, and poetry from a diverse array of voices, including Alexander Chee on scarred bodies, Kimiko Hahn on gustatory memory, and Amitava Kumar on the art of writing immigrant narratives.

Genres: Poetry, Short Stories, Nonfiction, Essays, Anthologies, Asian American, Race

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2018

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthologies can be hit or miss and the overarching theme laid out is a bit of a stretch for some of the collected pieces. But certain selections really deliver. Alexander Chee makes it look easy and it was comforting to see Chang-Rae Lee again - he, my first introduction to a Korean writer in English. The heretofore unknown author Alice Sola Kim's "Mother's Lock Up Your Daughters Because They are Terrifying" was absolutely fantastic. I loved the rock and roll, Middle-East meets West poetry of Mohja Kahf. Jason Koo's poem "Bon Chul Koo and the Hall of Fame" speaks to something very familiar.

Sure some of the pieces were a bit inscrutable, not the least of which the poem written entirely in Arabic, but I appreciate the introduction to some new talent pulled from the Asian diaspora. This is the perfect roadmap to some great future reads.

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short works from Asian diaspora writers, about the experience of being Asian in places where they are not the majority, whether that is in the United States and the child of immigrant parents, to relocating back to home that doesn't feel like home. It's a bit uneven but I was delighted to come across it in Hoopla, happy to see names I recognized like Buchanan, Chang-Rae Lee, and Alexander Chee. I was also pleased to find some Muslim voices, since they are not always the first association with Asian writers that people tend to make. Probably a good palate cleanser, for people who are looking to read more diversely, and to read in between other things.

(And I still haven't read Rowan Hisayo Buchanan's actual books, should I?)

[Ming · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chang-Rae Lee's "The Faintest Echo of Our Language" remains a "5." I read it 15 years ago and reading it now still brings me to tears. Its inclusion here is ... what can I say? The other pieces pale in comparison. (CRL, please be writing your next book, please please please!)

I think the pieces from Chang-Rae Lee as well as from Alexander Chee and Gaiutra Bahadur need to be considered separately from the rest. These three are excellent.

I appreciated the variety and the overall quality of written items in this book. In particular, I liked "My Grandmother Washes Her Feet in the Sink of the Bathroom at Sears," "Aama, 1978," "Meet a Muslim," and "Elegy."

A quote from "Meet a Muslim,"

A few years ago, Richard Dawkins, your resident atheist-science bro, suggested broadcasting "loving, gentle, women-respecting erotic videos" into Islamic theocracies, like Iran, as a means of challenging the institutionalized religion that exists in those societies. This rhetoric--one of misguided sexual and "modern" interventionism--continues to other these cultures. And of course the narrative impales Muslims as unnatural creatures who know nothing of pleasure, and only of dogma. I'm so glad that he wants to save us from our boring sexless lives. The hubris it must take to be Richard Dawkins.


Two pieces in the collection are noteworthy. 1) I very much appreciate the piece by Rajiv Mohabir in non-Romanized script on pages 104-105. It served as a Rorschach of sorts. I don't know what language it is and it doesn't matter. I applaud its inclusion and am humbled that I am excluded from understanding it. It reminds me of immigrants/refugees to the U.S. who could not read (or write or speak) English. This is a powerful feeling...a mix of feeling stumped, confused, irritated and resigned/defeated. And 2) Gina Apostol's The Unintended is in English, in apparent full, grammatically corrected sentences but I found it completely incomprehensible. This piece reminds me that things in English can be totally inaccessible.

[Paris (parisperusing) · Rating 4 out of 5]

as a nude-myself i am cratered irreversibly

so why
must i explain the thoughts i've had

on the things i never got to decide

they happened to me )(happen all the time
& i changed i learned i could keep changing

I must to keep myself

―Wo Chan, "what do i make of my face / except"

Each eidetic view of home in this book ― be it the quest, the bounty or lack thereof ― is anchored with ebullition. The writers white-knuckling in GO HOME! are at first parted at relative crossroads, but eventually reunite again for the year's first incisive anthology.

When I first blurbed this book at the beginning of the year, I knew it would be something sumptuous. I like trusting my gut feelings. Reading GO HOME! — the first anthology edited by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan — was, for lack of ampler words, an unbelievably overwhelming experience.

Part domestic ritual, part uprising against cultural erasure, GO HOME! laughs in the face of the decorous and often too-white insignia of American acceptance. Unbeknownst to them, each writer's story is imbued with uncertainty, grace, and blood — but the humiliation of it all is purged by the final flick of the page.

stories that caused me the most devastation...
Alexander Chee's (too-close-to-home hitting) "Release"
Sharlene Teo's "Sit Bones"
Wo Chan's "what do i make of my face / except" ― this one crippled me.
Rajiv Mohabir's "Costero," "Pygmy Right Whale," and (especially) "Kalapani"
Esme Weijun Wang's (incredible) "Elegy"
Karissa Chen's "Blue Tears"
Jason Koo's "Bon Chul Koo and the Hall of Fame"

Big thanks to Jisu at Feminist Press for allowing me to read ahead. I can't wait for everyone to read these stories, and to add a personal copy of GO HOME! on my mantel this March.

(Full review to come @ Paperback Paris)

If you liked my review, feel free to follow me @parisperusing on Instagram.

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stumbled upon this and loved it; diasporic Asian writers on the idea of "home." Particularly entranced by "Mothers, Lock Up Your Daughters Because They Are Terrifying" by Alice Sola Kim and "For Mitsuye Yamada on Her 90th Birthday" by Marilyn Chin; can't stop thinking about either of them

[Simón · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like other reviewers, I found myself riveted by some pieces, like the one where the young woman is forced to go to Britain where she sees her shadow in a yoga class. Others I skimmed.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The spring of 2013 was the first time I found myself on the east coast of the United States. A restless teenager from Hong Kong, I was intent on finding a place for myself outside what I considered, at the time, to be a small island. I clearly remember being in a rental car with my mother, windows down because we were eating in the car, when someone called out to me from the kerb, "go back to where you came from!" I had a copy of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar in my lap.

I have long awaited this anthology. It is ambitious in its scope, and collects a dynamic constellation of writers. I am impressed with how each text feels intentionally included, and how much of a whole this anthology is able to form (a rare feat.) The book's sequencing and pacing is commendable, given the varying styles and lengths of each text. Certain texts, including Chaya Babu's Cul-de-sac, Mia Alvar's Esmeralda, Alex Chee's Release and Chang-Rae Lee's The Faintest Echo of Our Language are particularly memorable for their masterful maneuvering between memories past and present hindsight. Lee's story in particular is so searing and delicate in its depiction of the author's ailing mother that I paused between every few pages to re-read and weep.

This anthology makes me grateful to be alive today, living in the same moment as these writers and poets who so tirelessly work amidst what used to be, and sometimes still is, a reductive and racist literary world.

[Victoria Namkung · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outstanding, nuanced, and inclusive collection of fiction, essays, and poetry from the Asian diaspora. Especially relevant and necessary under this anti-immigrant administration.

[Samantha Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was in middle school on a long school trip, I can't remember if I'd finished all the books I packed or forgot to bring any (this seems less likely, to say the least), but I ended up in a bookstore. I only had enough money to buy one book and so I committed to The Anchor Book of New American Short Stories in order to maximize the purchase. To this day and for better or worse, I remember every story in that collection. I haven't had a similar experience reading until Go Home! I don't admit this often but I rarely connect with poetry; that was not the case at all with this collection. Mothers, Lock Up Your Daughters Because They Are Terrifying is something I am seriously pissed I do not come across more often in science fiction. (Also, not from this collection, but "Black-Eyed Women" is one of the best short stories I've read. Loved Viet Thanh Nguyen's introduction here, but still haven't read The Sympathizers or The Refugees, so I think I know what's next for me.)

[Lili Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chang-Rae Lee showcased my elementary Korean language best when he said:

"To me [my mother] speaks in a child's Korean, and for her I speak that same child's English. We use only the simplest words. I think it strange that throughout this dire period we necessarily speak like this. Neither of us has ever grown up or out of this language. . . I love her, and I cannot grow up."

Other notable quotes throughout this compilation of diverse voices:

"Getting older has meant understanding that the limitations of my identity are abstract, and that faith is malleable, as is desire. Everything is complex."

"The library was literally my second home and also the home of the books through which I found freedom and flight from a world that I found confining."

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An anthology with a diverse collection of poetry, prose, and short stories. The works were not simply set in the U.S., but around the world. Although the book was a refreshing read that tackles intersectional identities and experience, some pieces definitely outshined the rest. Moreover, the overall theme, as established in the Foreword, is not always as present as it should be. (It may be best to read the anthology with a perspective broader than the established theme of "home" in order to better enjoy each individual pieces.) Nonetheless, the collection in "Go Home!" deserves more recognition for its thought proving storytelling.

[Liana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was tempted to go 4 stars, but I loved certain stories so much, the anthology deserves the recognition. Enjoying this depends on how you connect with the narratives, how much you like modern poetry, how well you jive with the mix of fiction and non fiction and perspectives. This made me seek out other stories written by some of the authors, which is unusual. There is a poem written in devanagri (hindi maybe? I could read it but not understand the words because it wasn't Nepali) but the next poem is the same thing translated into English, I'm pretty sure.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of these pieces I LOVED: Alexander Chee's Release, Alice Sola Kim's Mothers Lock Up Your Daughters, and Mia Alvar's Esmeralda. Some pieces felt less accessible to me, poetry being a perpetual obstacle (although Mohja Kahf and Jason Koo managed to write poems that spoke to me a little bit more). Honestly, there were two that I could not finish. But as a whole, I felt so blessed to be holding this powerful volume about stories about HOME from Asian diasporic voices, both established and emerging.

[Rachel Pyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology was great to read. There were different genres and stories interweaved into this one book, which made it a diverse collection of works. However, the collection seemed a bit too broad in its reach, meaning that there wasn't a clear overarching theme. This may be a drawback in the anthology, because I would've preferred one that had works hitting on a clear theme.

I would definitely recommend reading it, however, because we need more Asian American stories to be heard.

[Stephanie Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally finished this beautiful anthology (after two months eek) and?? Holy shit?? Through every story and poem, my heart ached, whether it be for every moment I could say “same” and relate or for the fiction that I could only imagine, and lives I could never live but only learn to empathize with. “Go Home!” brings together so many lovely writers to spill their hearts about living in diasporic limbo and it was an absolutely fantastic read overall, 10/10 would recommend.

[Erin O'Malley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 🌛 🌛 🌛 🌛
The kind of collection I've always searched for. Asian America will forever be my home, and these writers' words explore how such a home can exist. These stories range from fiction to essay, lyrical to experimental but all of them have heart.

Things That Remind Me of Home by Kimiko Hahn, Mothers, Lock Up Your Daughters Because They Are Terrifying by Alice Sola Kim, and Tigress by Tigress by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan were my favorites.

[Cielo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a spectrum of stories and work. I found myself highlighting/bookmarking passages equally as much as struggling through others. You'll probably find yourself enjoying a handful of entries and forgetting others by the end of the book.

It's an interesting collection for me because I grew up Asian American, with English as a second language and my household culture being very Filipino and Chinese. I could see my own experiences in some authors/characters work.

[Shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any time you have a collection of works from different authors taking varied approaches to the main theme, it's going to be an up and down ride. For the most part, I enjoyed the works in this book. The concept of home can be challenging to describe, especially for Asian diasporic people who are often considered perpetual foreigners in the US. This anthology contains a multitude of ways to consider what home is/means.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I may need a break from anthologies, or need to get into the habit of not reading the pieces one after another. They always feel uneven, and that was especially true here. Shout out to Alice Sola Kim, though, because "Mothers, Lock Up Your Daughters" is the best thing I've read in a long time.

[Robbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my hands is a whole collection of voices. Chang-Rae Lee's piece is perfect to end it, and then I felt like I'd cry a million tears. But I can't and won't cry because I'm in the Asian Art Museum for a member event and I'm one of the youngest people here (and one of the few Asians). No better place to finish this book.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Did you, the first time you went there, / intend to come back?" / "Wait a minute," I say, "did you get a visa / when you first went to the moon? Fuck the moon, / tell me about Vietnam. Just how precise / were your plans there, you asshole." excerpt from Amitava Kumar's "Love Poems for the Border Patrol"

[Carolyn]

A pretty lackluster collection, imo. My favorite works were those by Alice Sola Kim and Chang-Rae Lee, which I thought were wonderful in very distinct ways. I'm not going to give this an overall rating bc I didn't read the poetry (don't @ me!).

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Some pieces are really good (I loved Chang-Rae Lee's story "The Faintest Echo of Our Language), I love the concept behind this anthology, and it was good to dip into during my lunch breaks at work. The pieces overall were okay, and I skimmed / skipped some of them.

[Eileen]

There are some real gems in here: Alice Sola Kim’s “Mothers, Lock Up Your Daughters Because They Are Terrifying,” Jason Koo and Wo Chan’s poems, Amitava Kumar’s “Love Poems for the Border Patrol.” Definitely worth a read if you’re looking for a sampling of contemporary Asian diasporic writers.

[Elizabeth OH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alice Sola Kim's "Mothers, Lock up your daughters because they are terrifying" should be taught everywhere for its pace, integration of transnational adoptees and spiritual disassociation, and the narrative shock. Overall, I found it a weak collection.

[My Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five stars for the necessity of community anthologies in these times of anti-Asian hate and the importance of showcasing new writers and the inclusion of more experienced authors. Three stars reflecting my subjective take of skill level and quality of writing.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am definitely into the idea of collecting Asian diaspora writers - but that being said, the anthology is pretty uneven, and too much poetry for my personal taste. The pieces I liked the best were the longer short stories.

[Kookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection of short stories, essays and poems by Asian writers exploring the idea of "home" when you live in a country not your own. Timely.

[Al Frankie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential guide to exploring your immigrant experience

[James Huynh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good collection. I enjoyed a couple of the stories deeply but I did find a good amount of the poetry and some of the longer short stories hard to understand.