1. The title of the assigned chapter is “Slingshot” and it is about a relationship between an American veteran from Vietnam, called Steve and a Vietnamese family in San Francisco. The story takes place in the family restaurant which serves Vietnamese food. It is run by a mother, who is a widow, her two daughters and a grandmother. Steve feels a close connection to Vietnamese people because he fought there and he is a regular customer. He travels often and sends postcards and flowers to the family. However, when he tries to bring expensive gifts, the mother refuses to accept them. This is annoying to Tammy, who is the narrator and a younger sister. She is the only one who talks back to him and who does not like his familiarization with the family. She also says: “the thing with regulars is that they sometimes get too personal” (Lam 39). Tammy keeps her distance and is also rude at times especially when he warns her about the boy she likes. However, in the end she turns out to be wrong because Steve really proves to be a decent and caring man when he brings the ashes of the father of the family to the restaurant.
2. I was deeply touched by this chapter because there are so many emotions involved in it. The story is about human nature and its depth and warmth. People can be so cruel and cause wars which serve nothing and bring on devastation, while at the same time they can be compassionate, loving and caring. In this chapter, Steve is the person who needs a sense of belonging since his family left him and he feels a close relationship with Vietnamese people, especially with the family who owns the restaurant. The mother and the older daughter are nice to him, while Tammy cannot understand why he tries so hard to fit in when he is not their relative. The problem is that she does not want him to replace her late father and she is afraid that it is his goal. He gives her fatherly advice, but she is rude towards him because she is a rebellious teenager. She is also protective of her family which can be seen from the fact that she hurts the boy who was teasing her sister. My overall reaction to this chapter is that it reveals the true nature of human beings who are capable of doing nice things, being kind to each other and showing genuine care for other people.
3. Discussion Questions
- Why is Tammy so afraid of Uncle Steve’s kindness?
- What motivates Steve to invest so much of his time into this particular Vietnamese family?
4. While I was reading this chapter, I felt as if I were watching a film because of the writing style. The story is told from the perspective of Tammy and the language is informal which is why it also resembles reading a personal diary. The time went quickly because the story is incredibly interesting and I could visualize the plot in my head. There is not much philosophy, but there are interesting observations and the story is captivating. I started to think about the Americans and their attitude towards Vietnamese people and about the treatment that people from Vietnam get in America.
5. Slingshot – it is a device made of wood that has an elastic band, used to throw objects in order to hurt someone or something. It is a metaphor for the late father and his strength because Tammy’s favorite memory involving her father is when he taught her how to use a slingshot; Monsoon – a powerful wind in Asia which is usually accompanied with rain. This word is used both literally to depict Vietnamese climate and to describe the behavior of the three women; Jawbreaker – a candy which is shaped like a ball. In this story it represents an object which can hurt people when used in combination with the slingshot. The main character, Tammy uses it to hurt people who deserve it according to her opinion; Gringo – A person who is American. In this case, this word is used to show the difference between Vietnamese people and Steve, especially because Steve is trying to fit in and behave as if he were Vietnamese as well; Mouthy – being rude in a verbal way, provocative and/or aggressive. In the story, this adjective depicts Tammy who stands up for herself and her family.
Works Cited
Lam, Andrew. Birds of Paradise Lost. Pasadena: Red Hen Press, 2013. Print.
