When Susan Lieu was 11 years old, she lost her mother to a botched plastic surgery. Her family never spoke about her mother again. Now, two decades later, Susan is on a journey to share what she learned through the pain: the importance of embracing shame, owning your story, loving your body, and accepting yourself when no one else will. Join us at Medicine for Nightmares on May 29th at 7:00pm to be in conversation with Susan and moderator, Melanie Elvena. She will present a reading from her memoir, followed by a moderated conversation, audience Q&A, and book signing. Books will be available for purchase.
Susan Lieu is a Vietnamese-American author, playwright, and performer who tells stories that refuse to be forgotten. She took her award-winning autobiographical solo show, “140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother” on a ten-city national tour, with sold-out premieres and accolades from the Los Angeles Times, NPR, and American Theatre. Her debut memoir, The Manicurist’s Daughter (Celadon), is an Apple Book of the Month, a 2024 Best Book of The Smithsonian, NPR, and Elle Magazine, and has received accolades from The New York Times and The Washington Post. She was recently named one of Seattle Magazine’s Most Influential People of 2024. Creator of The Vagina Monologues, V (formerly Eve Ensler) calls The Manicurist’s Daughter “a stunning, raw, brave memoir that wouldn’t let me go.” Lieu is a proud alumnus of Harvard College, Yale School of Management, TEDx, Coro, Hedgebrook, and Vashon Artist Residency. She is also the co-founder of Socola Chocolatier, an artisanal chocolate company based in San Francisco. Susan lives with her husband and son in Seattle, where they enjoy mushroom hunting, croissants, and big family gatherings. The Manicurist’s Daughter is her first book.
An emotionally raw memoir about the crumbling of the American Dream and a daughter of refugees who searches for answers after her mother dies during plastic surgery.
Susan Lieu has long been searching for answers. About her family’s past and about her own future. Refugees from the Vietnam War, Susan’s family escaped to California in the 1980s after five failed attempts. Upon arrival, Susan’s mother was their savvy, charismatic North Star, setting up two successful nail salons and orchestrating every success―until Susan was eleven. That year, her mother died from a botched tummy tuck. After the funeral, no one was ever allowed to talk about her or what had happened. For the next twenty years, Susan navigated a series of cascading questions alone―why did the most perfect person in her life want to change her body? Why would no one tell her about her mother’s life in Vietnam? And how did this surgeon, who preyed on Vietnamese immigrants, go on operating after her mother’s death? Sifting through depositions, tracking down the surgeon’s family, and enlisting the help of spirit channelers, Susan uncovers the painful truth of her mother, herself, and the impossible ideal of beauty.The Manicurist’s Daughter is much more than a memoir about grief, trauma, and body image. It is a story of fierce determination, strength in shared culture, and finding your place in the world.
Melanie Elvena (she/her) is an arts producer, community organizer, and artist, making an impact in the San Francisco Bay Area for the last 12 years. She serves as Artistic Director at Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center, Programs & Communications Manager at Asian American Women Artists Association, and Arts Advisory Group Member for SOMA Pilipinas Cultural Heritage District. She holds a B.A. in Art History from the University of California - Irvine with a specialty in Modern/Contemporary Art. When not making waves in Asian American & Pacific Islander arts communities, you can find her singing women's four-part a cappella harmony for San Francisco Soundwave Chorus where she recently came on as Assistant Director and is also a member of affiliated quartet, Voice Squad. This year, she started learning indigenous Filipino cultural practices with Parangal Dance Company. Melanie also moonlights as owner and head pastry chef of Marahuyo Confections, a mobile bakery and dessert shop inspired by the tropical flavors of the Philippines. But at the end of the day, all she wants to do is cuddle with her beloved dog, Winnie.
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