Book Review: Tan's Donuts by Maya Cheav

Summary:

A donut shop owner reflects on the orders of his most memorable customers. Tan’s Donuts tells the story of a Cambodian war refugee adjusting to life in America while having to sacrifice his dreams to survive. This chapbook reflects on complex Southeast Asian family dynamics, generational trauma, and breaking the cycle before it’s too late.

Cambodian-owned donut shops have been a staple in the Cambodian American community for generations. California especially has shops up and down the state, serving up deliciously soft and sweet donuts from morning 'til night (or until they're all gone). It came as no surprise when Yelp released their "Yelp’s Top 100 US Donut Shops 2023" list featuring Rocklin Donuts & Cinnamon at number one, followed closely by The Jelly Donut in San Francisco at number seven, both owned by Cambodian American families.

It wasn't until recent times did the phenomena of Cambodian donuts shops make it to the mainstream, namely through articles, videos, and the documentary, The Donut King. Through these platforms, we learn that the Cambodian donut shop story is more than just donuts - it's a uniquely Cambodian refugee story. In Tan's Donuts, Maya Cheav offers a glimpse into this story through a series of short prose detailing the life of the Seang family.

Cheav seamlessly captures the complexities of navigating both Cambodian and American identities as the Seang family strives to run their donut shop while adapting to life in America. We also witness the impact of multigenerational trauma on their daughter, Sovannah, who is at odds with her parents a majority of her life, particularly her father who attempts to mend their strained relationship.

At its core, Tan's Donuts unveils an intimate story of multigenerational healing, courage, and hope. Cheav excels in humanizing the Cambodian refugee experience through prose that Cambodian and non-Cambodian readers alike will find details they connect to, some on a more personal level. Cheav's work is a valuable addition to the Cambodian donut shop narrative, especially alongside the late Anthony Veasna So's own donut shop short story, Three Women of Chuck's Donut.

Learn more about Tan's Donuts and Maya Cheav at www.mayacheav.com.

*A copy of Tan's Donuts was graciously provided to me by Maya Cheav.