Timber and Lua

Stories

By: Lily Hong, Vi Khi No

Write A Review

Paperback | 4 November 2025

At a Glance

Paperback
282 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.4 x 19.0 x 2.2

Paperback

RRP $29.69

$27.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $6.94 with

Ships in 5 to 7 business days

AWARD-WINNING CO-AUTHORS

PEN OPEN BOOKS AWARD WINNER

PEN USA NONFICTION BOOK AWARD FINALIST

Ten short stories written by Lily Hoàagrave;ng and Vi Khi Nào explore a range of styles from love stories to speculative fiction and fairy tales.

In this inventive collaboration, Hoàng and Nào blend Vietnamese, English, and Vietlish, creating a fresh, dynamic voice that captures the complexity of the Vietnamese-American experience. Their stories dive into themes of generational trauma, identity, and cultural clash, offering everything from love stories pieced together from memory, to folklore and fantasy, to post-apocalyptic worlds where Vietnamese-American identities are reimagined.

Timber and Lụa is playful, moving, and full of surprises. The authors experiment with language and translation, showing how meaning can shift and change between cultures. Released on the fiftieth anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, this collection is both a celebration of diasporic voices and a tribute to the power of storytelling across generations.

Industry Reviews

"Award-winning interdisciplinary writers Hoàagrave;ng and Nào provocatively interrogate language, comprehension, and communication in a global world. Their collaborative result is a polyglot showcase that combines English, Vietnamese, and a hybrid Vietlish to present 10 "experimental narratives"-a non-love story, disorienting conversations, dystopic genocide—that prove intriguingly experiential. Each is presented in three formats, intertwined English and Vietnamese (Vietlish) with a glossary, which is then repeated (almost) only in English on the left page and (almost) only in Vietnamese on the right...Overlaying the three versions together should ultimately reveal each story in full—but mindful participation and commitment will be required." —Terry Hong, Booklist

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.