Tan Thanh Tran's upbringing in a bustling Vietnamese refugee community in Philadelphia nurtured their deep appreciation for storytelling, especially when it comes to the intersection of food, belonging, and the complexities of diaspora. This passion and creativity are showcased in their debut novel, She Is a Haunting. Within its pages, Tran delves into themes such as colonialism, identity, and the haunting presence of a ghostly figure who cryptically advises our protagonist with an eerie warning: 'do not eat'.
Jade Nguyen, a master of adaptation, navigates the complexities of her identity, constantly striving to be 'straight enough,' 'Vietnamese enough,' and 'American enough’—at least for this summer with her estranged father in Vietnam. If she can spend five weeks disregarding the decaying French colonial house her father is diligently restoring, then college and freedom are hers. Yet, as the days unfold, Jade finds herself awakening each morning with an unsettling certainty that something wicked has clawed its way down her throat. To further complicate matters, the ghostly presence of a bride materialises before her, bearing a mysterious warning. Unfortunately, neither her father nor her little sister lends credence to her experiences, leaving Jade with no choice but to frighten them into believing her.
At the heart of She Is a Haunting lies Tran’s exceptional ability to establish an atmospheric experience. In the depths of the tropical setting, the oppressive humidity weighs heavily upon the air, evoking a sense of claustrophobia. Meanwhile, the relentless monsoon rains drum on, echoing the scuttling creatures that crawl over Jade’s face in her sleep. The entire narrative is visceral. There is no doubt, at any point, that this is pure horror, as every word and every scene pulses with a promise of danger, a malevolence that revels in its victims' slow realisation of entrapment. From the very first page, its eerie ambience wraps around you, building a slow-burning tension that intensifies with every chapter.
And yet, even amidst the terror, the prose remains remarkably poetic as Tran explores colonialism. As Jade delves deeper into the history of the house, she is struck by an overwhelming horror at the injustices endured by the Vietnamese people who once called this place home, including her own great-grandmother. Here the ghostly Vietnamese bride who visits Jade serves as a physical manifestation of the scars colonialism leaves behind. Even in the present, Jade glimpses fragments of the French family who once built the house, revealed by a condescending white couple whose funding supports her father's project. Here Tran eloquently portrays the colonial past of Vietnam, juxtaposing it with the modern-day manifestations of colonialism as opportunistic investors greedily seek to exploit the nation's properties and artefacts.
Overall, She Is a Haunting is a testament to Tran’s ability to merge horror with poignant social commentary, painting a vivid portrait of a nation grappling with its past and present, leaving readers both disquieted and compelled.
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