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astridhawk's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Grief, War, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Alcohol, and Racism
Minor: Abortion and Sexism
klutzykara's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Very impactful and memorable read. I would highly recommend it - it's definitely one of the best historical fiction novels I've read over the years.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, War, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abortion
d0505's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Death of parent, Racism, War, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol and Infidelity
internationalreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, War, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, and Sexual content
tahsintries's review
5.0
Graphic: War, Rape, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Hate crime, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity
mondovertigo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: War, Violence, Trafficking, Racism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Abandonment, Death, Racial slurs, Rape, and Classism
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Car accident, and Vomit
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I love the compassion with the which this story was told and the way it highlighted many victims of the war. Not just the American soldiers who saw and did things they were in no way prepared for, and whom western readers will be familiar with, but also the Vietnamese women forced into sex work and/or abused and assaulted by traumatised soldiers, and their biracial children, often unwanted by their mothers and/ or abandoned by their American fathers, with many forced to grow up on the streets, ostracised by Vietnamese society and facing discrimination and prejudice decades later. I appreciated the way the author didn’t excuse the behaviour of Dan or other American soldiers, but did put their actions in context. I also really appreciated the way Phong was not a victim of the circumstances of his birth. He’s a fully rounded character with a loving family, a love for music, a talent for carpentry and a meaningful life. Early on I was a little worried that the plot stands were going to tie up too neatly and conveniently. I needn’t have worried. The ending is certainly satisfying but it wasn’t an unrealistic fairytale ending, not every question was answered, and the author managed to throw in an unexpected yet believable twist. This is a beautifully told story, true to Vietnamese culture and experience. It highlights the experience of biracial Amerasians born as a result of the war, including the discrimination they faced from both sides and the difficulties of parents and their children reuniting, even when both parties were willing. That it is based on aspects of many real life stories the author was told as part of her work towards a PhD adds to both its authenticity and poignancy.
Graphic: Abandonment, Racism, and War
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual assault
Minor: Self harm
annie26's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
It explores interconnected issues and dynamics so well all the while giving you an important piece of Vietnamese history. I think Trang and Phong were my favourite characters but I appreciated the other characters in this story as well.
The plight of Amerasians in Vietnam is a topic that I’ve only heard discussed a few times. What a perspective.
This is a heartbreaking but very hopeful story. 4.5 stars from me. Thank you to Oneworld for my proof copy.
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Abandonment, Death of parent, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, War, Alcoholism, and Bullying
raineachreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: War
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Infertility, and Alcohol
okiecozyreader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This book mainly features two sisters Trang and Quỳnh, who move to the city of Sài Gòn to be bar girls. They are told it is just drinking tea with American soldiers, but they find out that it isn’t that simple. They are trying to raise money to relieve their parents from debt and help their father with medical care. We mainly get the perspective from the oldest daughter Trang.
Meanwhile, we learn parts of two other stories, that of a Vietnamese man named Phong, who is part black American and called an Amerasian, dust of the earth, for being the product of a relationship born mostly out of prostitution; as well as that of Dan, a Vietnam veteran, who with his wife Linda, is returning to Vietnam for healing.
This isn’t an easy book to read, and for me, it falls into the category of something I don’t want to sit with for a long time, so I read it in a few days, but I cared so much for these characters, especially the sisters.
“Her parents had embedded their dreams and hopes in the names they’d given their daughters: Quỳnh was a rare flower that bloomed only at night—the night-blooming cereus; its white petals radiated a beautiful, pure scent. Trang meant “graceful, gentle, virtuous.” An Impossible Choice
“Dan recognized something unique about Sài Gòn that had survived the war: the charm of its people, their incredible energy and resourcefulness. In his nightmares, the city was war-torn, ravaged with violence like the day he’d left it.
…
Dan told himself he should print Linda’s photos from this trip and display them around the house. Perhaps the smiling child could replace his dreams of buffaloes and boys with their bodies ripped apart.” War and Peace
“What the poet Nguyễn Duy wrote is so true. At the end of each war, whoever wins, the people lose.” War and Peace
“The war doesn’t just kill people, it robs our livelihood and destroys nature.” How to be a Mother
“And do you know why I placed you under the protective branches of a Bodhi tree? It is said that a Bodhi tree has the power to chase away sorrow and bad luck” Sweetness and Bitterness
Graphic: War
Moderate: Sexual violence, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Abandonment, and Death