Lotusland

Nathan Monroe, a 28-year-old American living in Saigon, falls in love with a talented and ambitious Vietnamese painter. When he encounters crises in love and his own ambitions, his old friend Anthony—who runs a successful real estate firm in Hanoi—offers support. However, Nathan later discovers that Anthony has plans that conflict with his desire to integrate into Vietnamese life. When Anthony takes control of both their futures, unforeseen consequences follow. David Joiner's debut novel examines power imbalances between Westerners living abroad and between Westerners and Vietnamese people—in love, friendship, the aftermath of war, and the pursuit of personal goals. The narrative uses lyrical prose to explore the social dynamics of a culture undergoing significant change. Lotusland is among the few works of fiction by a US author to bridge the literary gap between the Vietnam War and contemporary Vietnam.