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Wed | January 25, 2006

vietnamese writers reading

I went to a reading by Vietnamese writers last night. It was the fourth or fifth time I attended an event organized by the Asian American Writers' Workshop.

They read monotonously, except maybe the poet-- but she had the demerit of obvious imagery and thoughts. One of her poems was actually, literally, abecedarian. Not that I know anything about poetry so I shouldn't judge. But the prose, I do know. And I thought it was unremarkable. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything very good either. And some of it was wrong.

I think I have higher standards for Asians. I have tolerated a lot of readings at KGB with little comment. At any rate, the three readers last night were a cautionary tale against sounding bored by your own work. I have noticed that many writers, myself def included, sound absolutely bored when talking about writing. If I am ever up and reading I will have to remember to forget it is mine, and perhaps read it as if it is someone else's.

Last night, I listened, hung around a bit, and then left. I have never talked to anyone at an aaww event. I don't really know why. It seems just as likely that I would have talked to someone as not talked to someone. And yet I never have. Whereas at KGB there have been times when I have said a few words. Maybe next time.

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