Sigh, Gone

A Misfit's Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In

By: Phuc Tran

Narrated by: Phuc Tran

Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

"Tran's story is an American immigration story, and so much more. His delivery is crisp and engaging, and maintains just the slightest element of whimsy.... If you're a fan of memoirs and a fan of literature, this is a must-listen." (AudioFile Magazine)

This program is read by the author.

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 man’s 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 shapes - and ultimately saves - him.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

"The United States was already a better country because Phuc Tran refused to change his name. Then he went even further in changing this country by giving us this bold, funny, and profane memoir: a portrait of a young punk refugee and of heartland America itself, each of them as defiant and compelling as the other." (Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of the Pulitzer Prize winner The Sympathizer and The Refugees)

"...going aural is your recommended medium because Tran also makes his narrating debut - prefaced by an actual drumroll, yes! - with energy, empathy, and plenty of curse words, as he shares his no-holds-barred coming-of-age journey in small-town Carlisle, Pennsylvania." (Booklist, starred review)

©2020 Phuc Tran (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year, 2020

Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, 2020

Audible.com Best of the Year, 2020

Its "flaws" are also strengths

Phuc Tran reading of his own memoir personalizes the sentiment. He's a decent reader--good at conveying attitude, etc. Not being a professional narrator, he is careful to enunciate everything in a way I appreciate but sets him apart from a pro who is able to accomplish it more effortlessly. But because of that I get a stronger sense of the kid and teen he is trying to convey, and that, along with his gift for storytelling/AP student use of precise vocab when maybe emotive words would do better really does immerse me in that world.

Stand In Someone Else's Shoes

Wasn't quite sure what to expect but this book was incredibly enlightening. I purchased this book long before the recent events/protesting and found it to be required "reading" for everyone now. It's so well written and informative. It enables you to really see life from someone else's perspective. Hopefully this will contribute to encouraging everyone to be kind to one another and appreciate our differences in everything...not just our race, but upbringing, music choices, careers, how we look, etc.

Great book

I really enjoyed this book! I understand what if felt like to be a Vietnamese teenager in a small white town in PA in the late 1980’s, and what it was like to have an aspiring but abusive father.
I learned more about literature than in my high school and college English classes.

Wow!

I read a lot of Bios and this was fascinating and eye-opening! How lucky are his students? Highly recommended!

Simply Outstanding

I did not want this book to end. I found myself alternately laughing and deep in thought. An absolutely great book!

Insightful

A touching, profound, and intelligent experience of growing up in the USA non-white. A must-read for any one with artistic sensibility or for that matter plain sensibility . It deserves a better title . ‘Sigh,gone ‘ perhaps catchy but frivolous…the book is anything but!
How about ‘Rolling to Survive’ which can alude (misspelt ) to role playing, skating, and just rolling with the times…😉

Magnetic

I was drawn into the story early on, and was intrigued by the author's narrative. His discovery of the wisdom of literature helped him to rise above the mediocrity of the underachievers around him.

Wonderful!

What a wonderful book. It was genuine and heartfelt. I could relate to Phuc being an outsider and a nerd because I was that way in high school as well.

A poignant memoir

I loved this memoir so much. The author’s introspection as well as description of family dynamics can resonate with anyone, immigrant or not.

So glad I took a chance!

I just loved this book. It was engaging, heartwarming, and a lovely look into a life that was very different, but parallel to my own. The author's obvious love of books and literature made me want to go back and re-read a lot of classics I haven't thought of in years. If you are looking for something that is engaging enough to keep you from doom scrolling for a while, I strongly recommend you give this one a try!