Banyan Moon: A Novel BY Thao Thai

Banyan Moon is a sweeping debut novel that explores the profound and complex dynamics of a Vietnamese American family across three generations. When Ann Tran receives the news of her grandmother Minh’s death, she is forced to confront her own life choices. Ann, who has been living a seemingly perfect life with a professor boyfriend and a charming lake house, finds her world upended by an unexpected pregnancy.

Returning to her childhood home in Florida, Ann must face her estranged mother, Hung. While Hung mourns Minh, she is also bitter about the close bond Minh shared with Ann, a bond she never had with her own daughter. Their reunion is complicated further when they discover that Minh has bequeathed them the dilapidated Banyan House, a once-grand manor steeped in memories and mysteries.

As Ann and Hung navigate their strained relationship under the same roof, they are forced to confront their unresolved issues and uncertain futures. Interwoven with their story is Minh’s own narrative, revealing her journey from a lovestruck teenager in war-torn Vietnam to a determined immigrant seeking a better life in America.

The discovery of hidden secrets in the Banyan House’s attic exposes how Minh’s past decisions shaped not only her life but also the lives of her descendants. Banyan Moon is a rich and evocative tale that spans decades and continents, delving into themes of family, inheritance, and the choices that define us.