num_pages: 320
description: For anyone who has ever felt like they don't belong Sigh Gone shares an irreverent funny and moving tale of displacement and assimilation woven together with poignant themes from beloved works of classic literature.In 1975 during the fall of Saigon Phuc Tran immigrates to America along with his family. By sheer chance they land in Carlisle Pennsylvania a small town where the Trans struggle to assimilate into their new life. In this coming-of-age memoir told through the themes of great books such as The Metamorphosis The Scarlet Letter The Iliad and more Tran navigates the push and pull of finding and accepting himself despite the challenges of immigration feelings of isolation and teenage rebellion all while attempting to meet the rigid expectations set by his immigrant parents.Appealing to fans of coming-of-age memoirs such as Fresh Off the Boat Running with Scissors or tales of assimilation like Viet Thanh Nguyen's The Displaced and The Refugees Sigh Gone explores one mans bewildering experiences of abuse racism and tragedy and reveals redemption and connection in books and punk rock. Against the hairspray-and-synthesizer backdrop of the 80s he finds solace and kinship in the wisdom of classic literature and in the subculture of punk rock he finds affirmation and echoes of his disaffection. In his journey for self-discovery Tran ultimately finds refuge and inspiration in the art that shapesand ultimately saveshim.
language: English
title: Sigh, Gone: A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In
publisher: Flatiron Books