The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker Catherine Lacey Reads “Coconut Flan”
Oct 5, 2025
Catherine Lacey, acclaimed author of five novels including "Pew" and "Biography of X," shares her poignant short story "Coconut Flan." The tale begins with Daria's panic over lost IDs at the airport, leading her to navigate the maze of bureaucracy. As she grapples with identity loss and emotional distance, Daria reflects on societal roles during her vacation. Her encounters with others reveal themes of invisibility and intimacy, culminating in a revelation about her ex-husband and unexpected ties to a human smuggling scheme.
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Loss That Erases Identity
- Daria loses a leather pouch with passport, residency card, cards, cash, and small personal items at the airport and experiences bureaucratic limbo.
- She endures searches, phone calls, and an embassy/consulate process that makes her feel stripped of identity.
Identity Reduced To Paperwork
- Losing legal identification made Daria question where she truly belonged and whether she could claim a country.
- The consulate's procedural lens reduced her life to forms, fingerprints, and a photo, making identity feel administrative.
Bureaucracy Feels Mundane And Mechanical
- Consular processes are normalized into mall errands, highlighting bureaucracy's mundane reach into crises.
- Jericho's QR code and the internet-cafe paperwork reduce trauma to a set of digital tasks.
