Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith – A Haunting Debut Rooted in Vietnamese Folklore
📖 Introduction: When the Past Won’t Stay Buried
If you’re looking for a literary horror novel that’s bold, atmospheric, and culturally rich, look no further than Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith. This genre-defying debut blends gothic horror, supernatural mystery, and Vietnamese folklore to deliver a truly unforgettable reading experience.
In this post, we’ll explore what makes this novel so unique, dive into its major themes, and explain why it’s a must-read for fans of feminist horror, cross-cultural fiction, and modern ghost stories.
📘 About the Author: Violet Kupersmith
Violet Kupersmith, a Vietnamese-American writer, made her debut with this novel in 2021 after publishing a critically acclaimed short story collection. Her deep connection to Vietnamese history and folklore informs much of her writing, bringing a unique voice to the landscape of contemporary horror and literary fiction.
🌌 Plot Summary: Build Your House Around My Body
The story revolves around Winnie, a 22-year-old Vietnamese American woman who moves to Saigon to teach English—and disappears without a trace. Her vanishing is not the beginning but a continuation of a haunting lineage of women, ghosts, curses, and possession that stretch back decades.
Told in nonlinear timelines and multiple perspectives, the novel weaves together the lives of Winnie, her family, mysterious spirit hunters, and a ghostly presence that refuses to rest. It’s a story of colonialism, identity, trauma, revenge, and ancestral reckoning, set against a dark and evocative Vietnamese backdrop.
🧠 Themes Explored
👻 1. Haunting as History
Kupersmith uses literal hauntings to explore the historical trauma of Vietnam, from colonial occupation to modern exploitation. The ghosts here are not just spiritual—they’re political.
🧬 2. Female Bodies and Possession
This is feminist horror at its most visceral. Women in the story are not just haunted but possessed, consumed, and erased—a commentary on bodily autonomy and inherited trauma.
🌏 3. Vietnamese Folklore & Myth
The novel is deeply rooted in Vietnamese ghost stories, shapeshifters, jungle myths, and legends rarely seen in Western literature. Kupersmith masterfully blends these elements with modern narrative techniques.
✍️ Writing Style & Structure
Kupersmith’s prose is lush, poetic, and darkly humorous. The nonlinear narrative may be disorienting at first, but it’s purposefully constructed to mimic the labyrinthine nature of memory and myth. Her style will appeal to readers who enjoy experimental, atmospheric fiction—similar to Carmen Maria Machado, Téa Obreht, or Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
⭐ Why You Should Read Build Your House Around My Body
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✅ A chilling and unique ghost story rooted in Vietnamese culture
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✅ Rich literary merit with gothic and supernatural elements
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✅ Perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic, Rebecca, and The Haunting of Hill House
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✅ Offers cross-cultural perspectives on colonialism, gender, and identity
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✅ Recognized by The New York Times, NPR, and Goodreads as a standout debut
📝 Final Thoughts
Build Your House Around My Body is a haunting and hypnotic debut that stays with you long after the final page. It’s not just a ghost story—it’s a political, cultural, and deeply personal exploration of what it means to be haunted by history, gender, and place.
Whether you’re a fan of modern gothic fiction, international horror, or literary fiction with a supernatural twist, this novel will both disturb and enlighten you.
