A community reading program centered around the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Sympathizer, by Viet Thanh Nguyen. From January through March, readers of all ages are invited to celebrate The Sympathizer with author talks, film screenings, cultural presentations, storytimes, book club discussions and more!
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Author Viet Thanh Nguyen
Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 6:30pm
Viet Thanh Nguyen is author of The Committed, which continues the story of The Sympathizer, awarded the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, alongside seven other prizes. He is a University Professor and the Aerol Arnold Professor of English and American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California and recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim and MacArthur foundations.
Books available for purchase, courtesy of Mysterious Galaxy. No registration required, all ages welcome. Early arrival suggested.
Norma Hertzog Community Center 1845 Park Ave Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Chef Tu David Phu’s culinary journey is a captivating blend of heritage and innovation. Raised in Oakland, California, Chef Phu is a first-generation Vietnamese-American with deep roots back to Phu Quoc, renowned for its artisanal fish sauce production in Asia. Throughout his career, Chef Phu absorbed the essence of various culinary traditions, from American culinary excellence to classical European techniques. Yet, a profound connection to what he calls “the memory of taste” led him back to his Vietnamese roots.
Complimentary books available, while supplies last. Early arrival suggested. Beverage prepared by the Charlie Cart Committee. No registration required, all ages welcome.
Chef Tuệ Nguyễn, a.k.a. social media icon @TwayDaBae, is an acclaimed Vietnamese chef and one of the fastest rising stars in the culinary space. Since graduating from culinary school and beginning her content creation journey, she has showcased her skills through sold-out pop-ups in Los Angeles and New York City, which led to her partnering with the world-renowned h.wood Group to open the hottest new restaurant in Los Angeles, DiDi. Her debut cookbook Di An was released in September 2024 with Simon & Schuster and named one of the best cookbooks of 2024. She can be seen as the current host of Making it Big on BuzzFeed’s food network Tasty and as the host of People’s digital food show, Celeb Eats. Tue has been featured in Forbes 30 under 30 2024, Esquire, Eater, LA Times, Eater LA, Thrillist, Hollywood Reporter, Paper Mag, and more.
Complimentary books available, while supplies last. Early arrival suggested. No registration required, all ages welcome.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of culture with Thiên Ân Performing Arts! Enjoy an exciting lion dance and a captivating drumming performance. Afterward, join us for fun and interactive crafts!
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Saturday, February 22 @ 11:00am Westminster Library 8180 13th Street Westminster, CA92683
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Sunday, February 23 @ 1:00pm Tustin Library 345 E. Main Street Tustin, CA92780
NEW WAVE is a historical documentary about displaced Vietnamese refugee youth who fled their country by boat and then in the 1980s redefined their identities in suburban Orange County, California, through New Wave music. Through intimate accounts from Southern California Vietnamese music industry veterans, viewers will learn of how they healed and transformed by building a raucous music scene that the Vietnamese diaspora and fans worldwide still celebrate today, nearly 40 years later.
Runtime: 1h 28m
No registration required. All ages welcome. Refreshments courtesy of the Charlie Cart Committee.
The Waves Now Calm, The Fading Light & Finding The Virgo
Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 2:00 pm
The Waves Now Calm is a personal documentary that reflects on the legacy of the Indochina Refugee Crisis through the memories of a retired Malaysian fisherman and the Truong family's Thanksgiving celebration in Houston.
Theo Hướng Đèn Mà Đi (The Fading Light) follows a Vietnamese American revisiting his childhood home in Saigon, reflecting on the events that shaped his life amid the legacy of the Vietnamese boat people.
Finding the Virgo follows a family of Vietnamese boat refugees, rescued in 1980 by the U.S.-based cargo ship LNG Virgo, as they embark on a decades-long search for the captain and crew who gave them a new life.
Runtimes: The Waves Now Calm - 14 min The Fading Light - 22 min Finding the Virgo - 50 min
Mr. Cao Goes to Washingtonfollows the real-life unexpected journey of Rep. Joseph Cao–the first Vietnamese American elected to the US Congress in 2009. Will Cao keep his integrity and idealism intact?
Granny Boot Camp, I Want You to Live, The Morning Passing on El Cajón Boulevard, Lion on the Mat, & No Crying at the Dinner Table
Saturday, March 29, 2025 @ 2:00pm
Granny Boot Camp (5 min): A grandma, fearing Asian hate and reluctant to leave her house, finds courage with the support of her grandchildren.
I Want You to Live (9 min): Lia, a grieving Asian-American teenager, uncovers her mother's journal and learns about her family's journey as refugees during the Vietnam War.
The Morning Passing on El Cajón Boulevard (21 min): This film explores the grieving rituals of refugee families through the eyes of Julie, a second-generation Vietnamese-American funeral director.
Lion on the Mat (17 min): A Vietnamese-American single mother channels her past trauma into martial arts as a form of healing and empowerment.
No Crying at the Dinner Table (19 min): In this poignant documentary, filmmaker Carol Nguyen delves into her family’s unspoken grief, trauma, and secrets through personal interviews.
Join us for special storytimes as we celebrate Vietnamese culture. Storytimes are open to children of all ages and their parents or caregivers.
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Lunar New Year Storytime Baby/Toddler Tuesday, January 28 @ 10:30am Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library 12700 Montecito Seal Beach, CA90740
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Lunar New Year Storytime Tuesday, January 28 @ 10:30am San Juan Capistrano Library 31495 El Camino Real San Juan Capistrano, CA92675
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Lunar New Year Storytime Kindergarten Readiness Wednesday, January 29 @ 10:30am Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library 12700 Montecito Seal Beach, CA90740
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Lunar New Year Storytime Wednesday, January 29 @ 11:00am La Habra Library 221 East La Habra Blvd. La Habra, CA90631
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Lunar New Year Storytime Wednesday, January 29 @ 4:00pm San Clemente Library 242 Avenida Del Mar San Clemente, CA92672
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Vietnamese Culture Storytime Wednesday, February 19 @ 5:00pm Garden Grove Chapman Library 9182 Chapman Avenue Garden Grove, CA92841
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Vietnamese Culture Storytime Tuesday, February 25 @ 10:30am Foothill Ranch Library 27002 Cabriole Way Foothill Ranch, CA92610
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Vietnamese Culture Storytime Tuesday, February 25 @ 10:30am Rancho Santa Margarita Library 30902 La Promesa Rancho Santa Margarita, CA92688
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Vietnamese Culture Storytime Saturday, March 1 @ 9:30am Garden Grove Tibor Rubin Library 11962 Bailey Street Garden Grove, CA92845
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Vietnamese Culture Storytime Saturday, March 8 @ 10:30am Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library 12700 Montecito Seal Beach, CA90740
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Vietnamese Culture Storytime Saturday, March 29 @ 11:00am Fountain Valley Library 17635 Los Alamos Fountain Valley, CA92708
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As part of One County, One Book readers are invited to join OCPL’s book club discussions to explore intergenerational themes, including family dynamics, cultural identity, and the refugee experience as reflected in Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer. Copies of the book are available at each participating branch prior to discussions. Borrow eBooks using the Libby app by OverDrive. Contact your library for more information.
