September Book Club - Elevator in Sài Gòn By Thuân
Our September Book of the Month is Elevator in Sài Gòn by Thuận. We’re thrilled to announce that Thuận will be joining us in person for the book discussion! We’re looking forward to the conversation—don’t miss it!
We’ll start by discussing the book on our own, followed by a conversation with Thuận. In between, we’ll take a break to enjoy some instant Pho (or whatever you prefer).
Date & Time: Sunday 22 September, 11:30am-2:30pm
Venue: West London (exact location will be shared after registration)
About the book
A Vietnamese woman living in Paris travels back to Sài Gòn for her estranged mother’s funeral. Her brother had recently built a new house and staged a grotesquely lavish ceremony for their mother to inaugurate what was rumoured to be the first elevator in a private home in the country.
But shortly after the ceremony, in the middle of the night, their mother dies after mysteriously falling down the elevator shaft. Following the funeral, the daughter becomes increasingly fascinated with her family’s history, and begins to investigate and track an enigmatic figure, Paul Polotsky, who emerges from her mother’s notebook.
Like an amateur sleuth, she trails Polotsky through the streets of Paris, sneaking behind him as he goes about his usual routines. Meanwhile, she researches her mother’s past – zigzagging across France and Vietnam – trying to find clues to the spiralling, deepening questions her mother left behind unanswered – and perhaps unanswerable. (Tilted Axis)
Winner of the 2024 English PEN Translates Award.
Available from Tilted Axis from £7.99. 208 pages.
🎟️ Tickets are non-refundable and cover facilitation and platform costs. Please consider this before purchasing.
🍜 Ticket price includes light refreshments and an instant Pho bowl. You’re welcome to bring your own food, of course. There’s also a small supermarket within the building.
🤐Try to read the book before coming to avoid spoilers!
If you need assistance with the ticket fee or have questions, please email us at eseabookclub@gmail.com. Unfortunately, we’re unable to provide a PDF copy of the book.