Owner of a Lonely Heart is a moving memoir by Beth Nguyen, author of Stealing Buddha's Dinner, about the fractured relationship between a mother and daughter shaped by war and resettlement. Fleeing Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War, Beth’s family left her mother behind, and they didn’t reunite until Beth was nineteen. Over the years, they spent less than twenty-four hours together.
Framed by a few visits over many years, the memoir reflects on parenthood, absence, and the refugee experience. Beth shares her coming-of-age story, including her Midwestern childhood, her first meeting with her mother, and her own journey into parenthood, exploring the lasting impact of their separation on her life and identity.