Afterparties

Stories

By: Anthony Veasna So

Narrated by: Jason Sean

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE’S JOHN LEONARD PRIZE FOR BEST FIRST BOOK

WINNER OF THE FERRO-GRUMLEY AWARD FOR LGBTQ FICTION

Named a Best Book of the Year by: New York Times * NPR * Washington Post * LA Times * Kirkus Reviews * New York Public Library * Chicago Public Library * Harper’s Bazaar * TIME * Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air * Boston Globe* The Atlantic

A vibrant story collection about Cambodian-American life—immersive and comic, yet unsparing—that offers profound insight into the intimacy of queer and immigrant communities

Seamlessly transitioning between the absurd and the tenderhearted, balancing acerbic humor with sharp emotional depth, Afterparties offers an expansive portrait of the lives of Cambodian-Americans. As the children of refugees carve out radical new paths for themselves in California, they shoulder the inherited weight of the Khmer Rouge genocide and grapple with the complexities of race, sexuality, friendship, and family.

A high school badminton coach and failing grocery store owner tries to relive his glory days by beating a rising star teenage player. Two drunken brothers attend a wedding afterparty and hatch a plan to expose their shady uncle’s snubbing of the bride and groom. A queer love affair sparks between an older tech entrepreneur trying to launch a “safe space” app and a disillusioned young teacher obsessed with Moby-Dick. And in the sweeping final story, a nine-year-old child learns that his mother survived a racist school shooter.

The stories in Afterparties, “powered by So’s skill with the telling detail, are like beams of wry, affectionate light, falling from different directions on a complicated, struggling, beloved American community” (George Saunders).

Interesting Stories, but Bad Narration

It's so sad we won't get to see what this writer may have grown into. These stories have a lot of potential. It was hard to get past the monotone narration, though.

Great stories but…

I’m so sad we will not read anymore from this author. Enjoyed all of the stories and especially appreciate the insight into the Cambodian community. Some complained of the reader but I felt his style gave the stories more of a true flavor of the community.

Good stories bad reader

The stories are important , meaningful and sometimes funny.
the reading was primitive and irritating to listen to. the reader subtracted from the overall experience. if you want to listen to this book wait for another reader.

Lovely look at Central Cali

I liked this set of stories, and it's a shame we'll never get more from this author. I thought the performance was a little too lackadaisical for my taste.

Brave and Bold

I’ve heard the Narrator does a poor job in pronunciation of Khmer words and narration in general. I thought it was appropriate for what it was. I can hear and imagine all things “Cambodian” when he speaks and mispronunciation of words and perceived awkward narration was overall.. helpful for me imagining another genuine Khmer/Cambodian.. my thinking is that this was intentional.. tragic to lose such young and promising talent.. I was honestly taken back by the blunt vulnerability and raw delivery of your shared experiences.. Thank you for your stories, A.V.S.