No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsArts and CultureFormer expat in Costa Rica launches novel about Vietnam

Former expat in Costa Rica launches novel about Vietnam

In a way, “Palawan Story” is a novel about a clerical error: When young Kim escapes Vietnam during the civil war, she arrives in the Philippines. But because she has the same name as another young woman, she is accidentally shipped off to an adoptive family in the United States, where she not only starts a new life, but actively revises her past.

For author Caroline Vu, “Palawan Story” has certain autobiographical elements. Like Kim, Vu was also born in Vietnam, she was evacuated during the war, and she lived part of her life in the United States. But unlike Kim, Vu also spent time in Costa Rica, where her husband, Mario Laguë, served as ambassador to Canada from 2004-2007. (Laguë passed away unexpectedly in 2010.) During her time in Costa Rica, Vu also wrote extensively for The Tico Times.

Vu will visit Costa Rica this week for a local book launch of “Palawan Story” at the restaurant Tin Jo in San José. Hosted by owner Maria Hon and sponsored by the Asociacion Diplomatica de Ayuda, the event is a chance to meet the author and pick up a copy of the book.

While this novel is her first published book, Vu has written for various newspapers around the world, including the Toronto Star and the Geneva Times. Today Vu is based in Montreal, Canada, and like her “Palawan” protagonist, she works as a family doctor.

Does Kim reconcile her adult life with her dramatic and uncertain childhood? There’s only one way to find out – books cost 8,000 colones ($16) a copy.

The “Palawan Story” book launch takes place Aug. 28 at Tin Jo, downtown San José. 6:30 p.m. Info: Asociacion Diplomatica de Ayuda website.

Trending Now

The Day Costa Rica Stopped to Celebrate Claudia Poll’s Olympic Victory

In the decades I have lived here, there were two sporting events that were so big that the country came to a brief standstill....

Plastic Pollution Costs $1.5 Trillion Annually

Representatives from 184 countries began negotiations on Tuesday at the UN headquarters in Geneva to draft, within ten days, the first global treaty aimed...

Costa Rica Hit by Trump’s Latest Tariff Hike Targeting Dozens of Countries

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a executive order raising tariffs on dozens of countries, including Costa Rica, as part of a broader effort...

Costa Rica Detains Two in Killing of U.S. Citizen

The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) has arrested two suspects in connection with the murder of American businessman Eshraghollah Vatani. Vatani was reported missing at...

Costa Rica Battles Rising Cyberbanking Fraud and AI-Powered Scams

Cybercrime is a serious problem in Costa Rica. The number of victims is rapidly growing and so are the different techniques used by criminals...

Chinese Influence in Costa Rica Grows from Business to Education

Will the 21st Century someday be known as the Chinese century? Time will tell. They seem to be off to a good start when...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica