Connla Stokes
@connla-stokes.bsky.social
Writer - Flâneur/ Cycleur ~ Saigon/ HCM City.
Author of 'Falling for Saigon', a collection of essays about life in contemporary Ho Chi Minh City.
https://connla.substack.com
Author of 'Falling for Saigon', a collection of essays about life in contemporary Ho Chi Minh City.
https://connla.substack.com
Pinned
An Irishman’s Love Letter to Saigon | Los Angeles Review of Books
Mary Kay Magistad investigates Connla Stokes’s “Falling for Saigon.”
lareviewofbooks.org
"From the first pages, Stokes makes clear that this is his personal—informed but impressionistic—take on a city he’s come to love, in a country where he’s lived for 25 years."
From Mary Kay Magistad's #book #review in the @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social
lareviewofbooks.org/article/an-i... #VIETNAM
From Mary Kay Magistad's #book #review in the @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social
lareviewofbooks.org/article/an-i... #VIETNAM
Some cool looking indie bookstores in #Bangkok — bookmarking for my next visit.
www.lifestyleasia.com/bk/travel/as...
#bookstores #indiebookstores #booksky
www.lifestyleasia.com/bk/travel/as...
#bookstores #indiebookstores #booksky
www.lifestyleasia.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Some cool looking indie bookstores in #Bangkok — bookmarking for my next visit.
www.lifestyleasia.com/bk/travel/as...
#bookstores #indiebookstores #booksky
www.lifestyleasia.com/bk/travel/as...
#bookstores #indiebookstores #booksky
Reposted by Connla Stokes
This year, I reviewed 19 books, all in translation.
18 of the reviews were for The Irish Times, and one was published in the TLS.
In an especially grim year, publishing fiction by writers from around the world was more important than ever. I am grateful to the authors, publishers and translators.
18 of the reviews were for The Irish Times, and one was published in the TLS.
In an especially grim year, publishing fiction by writers from around the world was more important than ever. I am grateful to the authors, publishers and translators.
November 30, 2025 at 11:22 AM
This year, I reviewed 19 books, all in translation.
18 of the reviews were for The Irish Times, and one was published in the TLS.
In an especially grim year, publishing fiction by writers from around the world was more important than ever. I am grateful to the authors, publishers and translators.
18 of the reviews were for The Irish Times, and one was published in the TLS.
In an especially grim year, publishing fiction by writers from around the world was more important than ever. I am grateful to the authors, publishers and translators.
Reposted by Connla Stokes
These are the two novels I chose for my Books of the Year in this weekend's Irish Times.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
November 30, 2025 at 11:40 AM
These are the two novels I chose for my Books of the Year in this weekend's Irish Times.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Dusting off this old book as I am writing some new pieces about hanoi “back in the day” (in my case that means 1999 and the early 2000s). Sheehan (best known for his book Bright Shining Lie) returned to Vietnam in 1989. He wrote two short essays to form this short book.
November 27, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Dusting off this old book as I am writing some new pieces about hanoi “back in the day” (in my case that means 1999 and the early 2000s). Sheehan (best known for his book Bright Shining Lie) returned to Vietnam in 1989. He wrote two short essays to form this short book.
Reposted by Connla Stokes
"Rainy seasons tended to be long and tedious, but they did end eventually. The sun would come out and turn the world idyllic again, rekindling the hopes any of us held for the future."
~ Bao Ninh, "Farewell to a Soldier's Life' — the first tale in this collection....
~ Bao Ninh, "Farewell to a Soldier's Life' — the first tale in this collection....
November 26, 2025 at 4:33 AM
"Rainy seasons tended to be long and tedious, but they did end eventually. The sun would come out and turn the world idyllic again, rekindling the hopes any of us held for the future."
~ Bao Ninh, "Farewell to a Soldier's Life' — the first tale in this collection....
~ Bao Ninh, "Farewell to a Soldier's Life' — the first tale in this collection....
Reposted by Connla Stokes
Catstanbul: Inside the city where cats rule the streets
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
Catstanbul: Inside the city where cats rule the streets
From Ottoman "cat sitters" to modern-day street guardians, Istanbul's bond with its cats runs centuries deep.
www.bbc.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Catstanbul: Inside the city where cats rule the streets
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
"Rainy seasons tended to be long and tedious, but they did end eventually. The sun would come out and turn the world idyllic again, rekindling the hopes any of us held for the future."
~ Bao Ninh, "Farewell to a Soldier's Life' — the first tale in this collection....
~ Bao Ninh, "Farewell to a Soldier's Life' — the first tale in this collection....
November 26, 2025 at 4:33 AM
"Rainy seasons tended to be long and tedious, but they did end eventually. The sun would come out and turn the world idyllic again, rekindling the hopes any of us held for the future."
~ Bao Ninh, "Farewell to a Soldier's Life' — the first tale in this collection....
~ Bao Ninh, "Farewell to a Soldier's Life' — the first tale in this collection....
Reposted by Connla Stokes
A short piece of prose written in memory of the power cuts that were frequent in #Hanoi over 20 years ago. And if one happened in the middle of the night, and in the middle of summer, what did we do?
connla.substack.com/p/in-a-black...
connla.substack.com/p/in-a-black...
In a blackout
A piece of prose written in memory of the power cuts that were frequent in Hanoi over 20 years ago. And if one happened in the middle of the night, and in the middle of summer, what did we do?
connla.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:17 AM
A short piece of prose written in memory of the power cuts that were frequent in #Hanoi over 20 years ago. And if one happened in the middle of the night, and in the middle of summer, what did we do?
connla.substack.com/p/in-a-black...
connla.substack.com/p/in-a-black...
A short piece of prose written in memory of the power cuts that were frequent in #Hanoi over 20 years ago. And if one happened in the middle of the night, and in the middle of summer, what did we do?
connla.substack.com/p/in-a-black...
connla.substack.com/p/in-a-black...
In a blackout
A piece of prose written in memory of the power cuts that were frequent in Hanoi over 20 years ago. And if one happened in the middle of the night, and in the middle of summer, what did we do?
connla.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:17 AM
A short piece of prose written in memory of the power cuts that were frequent in #Hanoi over 20 years ago. And if one happened in the middle of the night, and in the middle of summer, what did we do?
connla.substack.com/p/in-a-black...
connla.substack.com/p/in-a-black...
Spotted a few copies of my book Falling for Saigon at Old Compass Cafe — for those that don’t know its a cosy third floor cafe on Pasteur street in Ho Chi Minh City (right by Liberty Central Hotel), and my book is a collection of essays about moving to (and falling for) #Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City.
November 24, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Spotted a few copies of my book Falling for Saigon at Old Compass Cafe — for those that don’t know its a cosy third floor cafe on Pasteur street in Ho Chi Minh City (right by Liberty Central Hotel), and my book is a collection of essays about moving to (and falling for) #Saigon/ Ho Chi Minh City.
Reposted by Connla Stokes
A love letter to Saigon’s past and present, Connla Stokes' FALLING FOR SAIGON invites you to get lost in its streets, taste its flavours, and—just maybe—fall for it, too.
Find out more at brixtonink.co.uk/books/fallin...
Find out more at brixtonink.co.uk/books/fallin...
August 12, 2025 at 6:28 PM
A love letter to Saigon’s past and present, Connla Stokes' FALLING FOR SAIGON invites you to get lost in its streets, taste its flavours, and—just maybe—fall for it, too.
Find out more at brixtonink.co.uk/books/fallin...
Find out more at brixtonink.co.uk/books/fallin...
Reposted by Connla Stokes
Celebrate 10 years of inspirational Asian literature by supporting us with an annual subscription! The code MR10 is valid until November 30 so act fast.
mekongreview.com/sub...
mekongreview.com/sub...
November 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Celebrate 10 years of inspirational Asian literature by supporting us with an annual subscription! The code MR10 is valid until November 30 so act fast.
mekongreview.com/sub...
mekongreview.com/sub...
Reposted by Connla Stokes
A profile I wrote about the Vietnamese-American short story writer Andrew Lam. It originally appeared in Mekong Review in May 2025. Re-posting here on Substack for those that didn't get to see it.
connla.substack.com/p/far-and-aw...
connla.substack.com/p/far-and-aw...
Far and away: An interview with Andrew Lam
Last March, as his latest collection of stories hit the shelves, I penned a short profile of the Vietnamese-American writer Andrew Lam for Mekong Review. Reposting here for those who didn't see it.
connla.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:51 AM
A profile I wrote about the Vietnamese-American short story writer Andrew Lam. It originally appeared in Mekong Review in May 2025. Re-posting here on Substack for those that didn't get to see it.
connla.substack.com/p/far-and-aw...
connla.substack.com/p/far-and-aw...
A profile I wrote about the Vietnamese-American short story writer Andrew Lam. It originally appeared in Mekong Review in May 2025. Re-posting here on Substack for those that didn't get to see it.
connla.substack.com/p/far-and-aw...
connla.substack.com/p/far-and-aw...
Far and away: An interview with Andrew Lam
Last March, as his latest collection of stories hit the shelves, I penned a short profile of the Vietnamese-American writer Andrew Lam for Mekong Review. Reposting here for those who didn't see it.
connla.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:51 AM
A profile I wrote about the Vietnamese-American short story writer Andrew Lam. It originally appeared in Mekong Review in May 2025. Re-posting here on Substack for those that didn't get to see it.
connla.substack.com/p/far-and-aw...
connla.substack.com/p/far-and-aw...
REPOST: A very short memoir piece about one of my many poorly executed motorbike expeditions for which, as always, I – the hapless traveller – relied heavily on the kindness of strangers. And drank too much.
connla.substack.com/p/postcards-...
#VIETNAM #Dalat #motorbikediaries #memoir
connla.substack.com/p/postcards-...
#VIETNAM #Dalat #motorbikediaries #memoir
Postcards I forgot to send: Dalat, 2001
A short memoir piece about one of my poorly executed motorbike expeditions for which, as always, I – the hapless traveller – relied heavily on the kindness of strangers.
connla.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:32 AM
REPOST: A very short memoir piece about one of my many poorly executed motorbike expeditions for which, as always, I – the hapless traveller – relied heavily on the kindness of strangers. And drank too much.
connla.substack.com/p/postcards-...
#VIETNAM #Dalat #motorbikediaries #memoir
connla.substack.com/p/postcards-...
#VIETNAM #Dalat #motorbikediaries #memoir
Reposted by Connla Stokes
A great review by @chrispower.bsky.social of Vol. 1 of Blinding by Mircea Cărtărescu, translated by Sean Cotter.
"Reading Blinding is like sinking into the humus of a mind, a vast, tangled network of memory and fantasy."
My review will be in The Irish Times soon.
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
"Reading Blinding is like sinking into the humus of a mind, a vast, tangled network of memory and fantasy."
My review will be in The Irish Times soon.
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
Paperback of the week: Blinding by Mircea Cărtărescu | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 7:43 AM
A great review by @chrispower.bsky.social of Vol. 1 of Blinding by Mircea Cărtărescu, translated by Sean Cotter.
"Reading Blinding is like sinking into the humus of a mind, a vast, tangled network of memory and fantasy."
My review will be in The Irish Times soon.
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
"Reading Blinding is like sinking into the humus of a mind, a vast, tangled network of memory and fantasy."
My review will be in The Irish Times soon.
observer.co.uk/culture/book...
Reposted by Connla Stokes
Repost: A comic piece of memoir writing about the storied two-for-one Visa-Whopper runs from Hanoi to the Thai capital back in the days of yore.
connla.substack.com/p/hanoi-expa...
#hanoi #bangkok #visaruns
connla.substack.com/p/hanoi-expa...
#hanoi #bangkok #visaruns
What we talked about when we talked about Bangkok
Written in memory of the storied two-for-one Visa-Whopper runs from Hanoi to the Thai capital back in the days of yore.
connla.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Repost: A comic piece of memoir writing about the storied two-for-one Visa-Whopper runs from Hanoi to the Thai capital back in the days of yore.
connla.substack.com/p/hanoi-expa...
#hanoi #bangkok #visaruns
connla.substack.com/p/hanoi-expa...
#hanoi #bangkok #visaruns
Repost: A comic piece of memoir writing about the storied two-for-one Visa-Whopper runs from Hanoi to the Thai capital back in the days of yore.
connla.substack.com/p/hanoi-expa...
#hanoi #bangkok #visaruns
connla.substack.com/p/hanoi-expa...
#hanoi #bangkok #visaruns
What we talked about when we talked about Bangkok
Written in memory of the storied two-for-one Visa-Whopper runs from Hanoi to the Thai capital back in the days of yore.
connla.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Repost: A comic piece of memoir writing about the storied two-for-one Visa-Whopper runs from Hanoi to the Thai capital back in the days of yore.
connla.substack.com/p/hanoi-expa...
#hanoi #bangkok #visaruns
connla.substack.com/p/hanoi-expa...
#hanoi #bangkok #visaruns
Reposted by Connla Stokes
Repost of an essay about the time I went in search of a bookstore in #HCMC called Kafka but before I even got there I was sidetracked by a story about a far-out mystic who believed he could overthrow the French in #Saigon and become the ruler of Heaven and Earth.
connla.substack.com/p/phan-xich-...
connla.substack.com/p/phan-xich-...
The meaning of Kafka in 21st century Saigon
Before the pandemic, one day I went in search of a shop called Kafka but first I got sidetracked by the story about a far-out mystic who believed he would one day be the ruler of Heaven and Earth.
connla.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Repost of an essay about the time I went in search of a bookstore in #HCMC called Kafka but before I even got there I was sidetracked by a story about a far-out mystic who believed he could overthrow the French in #Saigon and become the ruler of Heaven and Earth.
connla.substack.com/p/phan-xich-...
connla.substack.com/p/phan-xich-...
Repost of an essay about the time I went in search of a bookstore in #HCMC called Kafka but before I even got there I was sidetracked by a story about a far-out mystic who believed he could overthrow the French in #Saigon and become the ruler of Heaven and Earth.
connla.substack.com/p/phan-xich-...
connla.substack.com/p/phan-xich-...
The meaning of Kafka in 21st century Saigon
Before the pandemic, one day I went in search of a shop called Kafka but first I got sidetracked by the story about a far-out mystic who believed he would one day be the ruler of Heaven and Earth.
connla.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Repost of an essay about the time I went in search of a bookstore in #HCMC called Kafka but before I even got there I was sidetracked by a story about a far-out mystic who believed he could overthrow the French in #Saigon and become the ruler of Heaven and Earth.
connla.substack.com/p/phan-xich-...
connla.substack.com/p/phan-xich-...
Reposted by Connla Stokes
There’s another wave of author impersonators offering consultations/mentoring for a price. (I got one from “Claire Keegan” telling me I’m very promising!) I’m sure you are great, but I didn’t email to tell you how swell you are. Here’s info on book scams: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/prh-fraud/
November 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
There’s another wave of author impersonators offering consultations/mentoring for a price. (I got one from “Claire Keegan” telling me I’m very promising!) I’m sure you are great, but I didn’t email to tell you how swell you are. Here’s info on book scams: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/prh-fraud/
Pictures in post below are by Eddie Adams, I have been kindly informed elsewhere.
And these two are by Thomas Southall — taken in 1967.
#saigon #rainydays #floodseason
And these two are by Thomas Southall — taken in 1967.
#saigon #rainydays #floodseason
November 10, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Pictures in post below are by Eddie Adams, I have been kindly informed elsewhere.
And these two are by Thomas Southall — taken in 1967.
#saigon #rainydays #floodseason
And these two are by Thomas Southall — taken in 1967.
#saigon #rainydays #floodseason
A few pictures of a rainy #Saigon for another rainy day in Ho Chi Minh City.
Not sure what year or what the source — please let me know if anyone knows!
Not sure what year or what the source — please let me know if anyone knows!
November 10, 2025 at 8:50 AM
A few pictures of a rainy #Saigon for another rainy day in Ho Chi Minh City.
Not sure what year or what the source — please let me know if anyone knows!
Not sure what year or what the source — please let me know if anyone knows!
#booksky
Must track this down…
“This book follows a first-person narrator as he takes a walk through an unnamed Brazilian city. It depicts the narrator's wandering both physically and mentally through an unfamiliar environment that reminds him of other walks he has taken in other cities.”
Must track this down…
“This book follows a first-person narrator as he takes a walk through an unnamed Brazilian city. It depicts the narrator's wandering both physically and mentally through an unfamiliar environment that reminds him of other walks he has taken in other cities.”
November 9, 2025 at 8:45 AM
#booksky
Must track this down…
“This book follows a first-person narrator as he takes a walk through an unnamed Brazilian city. It depicts the narrator's wandering both physically and mentally through an unfamiliar environment that reminds him of other walks he has taken in other cities.”
Must track this down…
“This book follows a first-person narrator as he takes a walk through an unnamed Brazilian city. It depicts the narrator's wandering both physically and mentally through an unfamiliar environment that reminds him of other walks he has taken in other cities.”