AFTERPARTIES Stories

The late Anthony Veasna So's debut work of fiction is a funny and touching collection of short stories about the blighted, joyful, and splintered lives of Cambodian-Americans--old, young, gay, straight. A Khmer-American, So wrote with sharp social satire and kindness. Listeners will meet an immigrant woman who names her business Chuck's Donuts because an American name will attract more customers. And the owner of a failing garage who hires too many immigrant friends. Sadly, Cambodian-American actor Jason Sean isn't the right fit as narrator. His pacing is choppy and a bit wooden, with frequent unexplained pauses mid-sentence. While he performs dialogue in a lively way, he often swallows words and can be hard to understand. This is a well-meaning but unsuccessful effort. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2021]