Phỏng vấn Giáo Sư gốc Việt đoạt giải Pulitzer 2016

Thuy Phan/Nguoi Viet

Dr. Viet Thanh Nguyen won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for his debut novel, “The Sympathizer”.  Dr. Nguyen is currently in Massachusetts on a book tour for his companion novel, “Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memories of War” and will conclude his travels to the East Coast on Thursday, April 21 at the Brooklyn Public Library. Dr. Nguyen is an associate professor of English and American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California and spoke to Nguoi Viet Daily News about what the award means to him and how he reacted when he found out.

NV: What was going through your mind when you heard the news of your win?

VTN: I was sitting by myself when my Twitter and Facebook feeds started going off. The outpouring of support from Vietnamese Americans and people from within Vietnam– who can’t even get access to the book– were very positive. Everyone was enthusiastic that a Vietnamese author had won the award.

NV: Did you ever think your book, “The Sympathizer” would win the Pulitzer Prize?

VTN: Never. Never did I think that at all. I’m thrilled to have it published. I’m amazed that it found the audience it did even before the prize. I thought I had no chance, given the track record of the Pulitzer– it typically does not reward novels that are unsettling to readers. And my intention was to unsettle readers.

NV: Why?

VTN: I spent a lot of time thinking about Vietnamese people and this thing called war, and specifically the Vietnam War and I’ve concluded that all sides find comfort in seeing the war in their own point of view. It’s how wars get perpetuated and for everyone, it’s how wars are remembered. I didn’t want to reassure people of their convictions. There is something in this novel to offend everyone. I made it a point to offend everyone. All sides were responsible in some way for this war.  But the book is not just political, it’s also meant to be funny and has drama, sex, mystery and everything in between.

NV: What has been the most heartwarming response to your recognition?

VTN: It’s been really affirming that people are taking joy that I won, based on Twitter and Facebook comments, There has been a huge outpouring of support and I think a lot of people see it as a significance beyond myself. The award is symbolic, for Vietnamese Americans, Asian Americans and people of color. They see it as a recognition of the kind of literature that they and I believe in. Whatever happens to me speaks to the diversity of American voices.

NV: How did you celebrate the news?

VTN: My family is in Los Angeles so I couldn’t celebrate with people I wanted to, plus I was busy with the book tour. I was lucky enough to have had drinks with some other authors before the news and then I had dinner with some friends after. I think the real celebration will come when I see my wife and son on Friday when I head back to Los Angeles.

NV: How will this accolade change the way you teach or the way you write?

VTN: I wrote this book out of conviction for myself. Not for anybody else.  I don’t intend to change that. “Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War”,  which is the companion book I wrote after “The Sympathizer”, is written with the same conviction. I plan to do exactly the same thing as I always have. The only difference now is there is a platform for me to say things that I already believe in. More people have friend requested me on Facebook and the things I’m saying are being retweeted and trending at a scale unheard of for me. I won’t change what I say but now, more people will hear what I say.

NV: What would you want to say to the young Vietnamese American youth who are thinking about pursuing writing and literature?

VTN: I would remind Vietnamese Americans, young and old, that literature is crucial part of our history, heritage and culture. It’s unfortunate that here and overseas, people have lost sight of that. For those that want to pursue the arts, I would encourage them to listen to their hearts and believe in telling their stories and our stories and hopefully parents will respect and understand that.