The 280-page book, "We are radiant from fragments" is written in the form of a crossover between novels, memoirs and essays. The book does not limit readers to a specific age group, because the journey of precariousness, disorientation or self-doubt is something that anyone has gone through, at very different stages of life.
Writing about pain but not sadness
Not choosing a direct narrative style or telling his life in a crude way, Gari Nguyen proactively maintains the necessary silence for privacy. Personal experiences are transformed into fictional stories - where truth and fiction intertwine. It is this "half-truth - half-feelty" that creates an open space for readers to reflect on themselves, instead of accepting a life story that has been defined.
The book does not paint the pain pink, nor does it turn hurt into an emotional tool. The slices in "We are brilliant from broken pieces" are told in a slow, restrained, cinematic voice. That is the way of storytelling of a person who has gone deep enough through pain, long enough to understand it, accept it, and then recount it with calmness.
Although only 30 years old, Gari Nguyen shows experience beyond his age. The reflections in the book do not come from "overcoming quickly", but from the process of accepting that there are wounds that do not disappear, only learning to live with them without blaming himself.
The book is not intended to help readers become stronger, but to remind them of a simple thing: "How radiant you were before you learned to be silent to live.
Write in 4 weeks but it's the filtering of 30 years of experience
Writer Gari Nguyen shared, "We are radiant from fragments" was completed in 4 weeks, in a small room in the US. During that time, she almost separated herself from her daily rhythm, spending dozens of hours each day writing. Contrary to the usual rational and confident image, the writing process is when the author allows herself to live fully with emotions, even having moments of feeling herself "like someone on clouds".
However, the book is not the product of 4 consecutive weeks of writing, but a selection from more than 30 years of life experience: From childhood pressures, relationships breakdowns, to feelings of suspicion of oneself when entering adulthood. Each page is the result of gathering, contemplating and dialogue with memories that have been forgotten.
In the context that young people today face many invisible pressures to succeed early, to stabilize, to "control emotions" - the book raises a frank question: Does growing up mean being silent and enduring, or learning to live true to your emotions without feeling guilty?
Gari Nguyen could not hide her emotion when mentioning one of the biggest pains reflected in the work. She shared: "People say I have changed, but in fact I am just growing up. I believe that many of us have experienced the pain of being misunderstood, while we ourselves are only living true to our hearts.
Not standing in the position of "healer", nor putting herself in the lead, Gari Nguyen chooses a very realistic way of writing: Empathetic but sober, gentle but not evasive. She lets readers touch the truths of life through artistic language, but without losing authenticity.
Before "We are radiant from broken things", Gari Nguyen made his mark with many books that were well received by young readers such as "Just smile, don't care about life", "Growing up taking away anything", "Short life, don't cry, put on lipstick", "Is it lost or never-before", "Goods named after me", "See you in another life"...
As a writer with more than 12 years of writing, living and working between Silicon Valley (USA) and Ho Chi Minh City, Gari Nguyen has published 14 books in Vietnam with hundreds of thousands of copies released. She is described by many newspapers as "a storyteller with sincerity" - a gentle writing voice, but deep enough to stay long in the hearts of readers.
We are radiant from fragments" is not just a book, but a gentle reminder that: Growing up is not becoming tougher, but being brave enough to live true even when it makes people fragile.
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