EP 89: Beth Nguyen wants (you to learn) her name
“It made me think about how our sense of identity really gets mixed up
in names that other people give to us.”
She was named Bich Minh Nguyen, but now goes by the name Beth...because, in her own words published in The New Yorker, “America Ruined My Name For Me.” Having a name that is hard to pronounce and rooted in your heritage presents unique and difficult challenges, and it’s an all-too-common experience for many immigrants. Born in Saigon, a refugee, and a mother - Beth is an award-winning author of many novels whose work has appeared in The Paris Review, The New York Times, and Literary Hub. She’s taught at Purdue University and the University of San Francisco and is currently a professor of creative writing at the University of Wisconsin. Beth is at work on a series of linked essays about post-refugee life, titled “Owner of a Lonely Heart” - which we can’t wait to read. Listen to our chat with Beth about growing up between the cultures of two different worlds, and you’ll understand why her name change was necessary.
LEARN ABOUT BETH:
Website
Social Media: Instagram / Twitter
New Yorker article: “America Ruined My Name For Me” (April 2021)
BETH'S BOOKS: Stealing Buddha's Dinner (2007), Pioneer Girl (2014), Short Girls (2009)
MENTIONS:
BOOKS: Harriet the Spy (Louise Fitzhugh)
PERSON: Keanu Reeves - because of sequined pillow in her Zoom background