Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam in Around the World in 80 Books

May 24, 2012 Amy Nash Parker rated it really liked it

Great memoir and modern description of Vietnam. I read this in preparation for my month's visit to Vietnam and found myself comparing all my experiences to Pham's. While his search for home and self didn't really resonate with me, I can understand why he was searching. Cycling around Vietnam is definitely a crazy undertaking! ...more

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Aug 10, 2019 Laura (booksnob) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction, memoir, history, world-lit, 2019

I chose to read this book when I knew I would be traveling to Vietnam. It was amazing and I learned so much! I could easily relate what I was reading in the book to what I was experiencing in Vietnam while I was there. I finished the book when I was home but the book helped make my experience in Vietnam much more meaningful. I'm so glad I read this book! I definitely want to return to Vietnam and I want to read Andrew K Pham's 2nd book, The Eaves of Heaven.

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Aug 14, 2008 Yiga rated it liked it

An interesting, well written personal journey into Vietnam/into family history, it def. strikes the chord of anyone who has experienced dislocation & speaks to the challenges of being Asian American/belonging to the point 5 generation. But at times, there were moments of such condescending that I had to put the book down. It reminds me that discovering our own humanity/humility is an imperfect process.

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