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raineachreads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
‘Dust Child’ is a novel that examines the trauma of the Vietnam War both in the immediate but also in the long lasting ripple effects of those directly involved as well as their families and wider communities. Divided into three main story lines of a young girl who finds herself working in a bar during the war where she falls in love with an American soldier, a boy growing up as an orphan who is outcast due to having an American father and Vietnamese mother and a veteran returning to the country decades after fighting there. While the subject matter is heavy and doesn’t shy away from the realities of trauma and the different ways this is experienced and lived out, the book remains highly readable and engaging.
Without giving away spoilers I loved how the author led the reader to believe they had worked out the conclusion only to weave the strands together to reveal something different. While trauma is without a doubt the main theme (the author has an academic background in this subject connected to the Vietnam War so does this extremely sensitivity and authentically)there are many sub- themes going on too. I don’t think you can end this book without thinking about morality, the importance of family and the messy realities of truth. While lies may be told or facts left out to try not to cause someone harm, in the long term this can have more far reaching painful consequences. What this book also did really well was to combine languages together, bringing another dimension again to the story.
This is a book that will stay with me and continue to make me think in the days to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Infertility, Death of parent, and Alcohol
okiecozyreader's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
When I started this book, it began bringing me memories of her last book, The Mountains Sing. Although this book is a completely different story, with different characters, Nguyén Phan Qué Mai uses proverbs in this one (like the last) and continues her beautiful lyrical writing along with deep and painful family memories. I really felt this story in its entirety. I haven’t read many books about Vietnamese people (just hers and middle grade Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhhà La, also beautifully written). I appreciate her stories which go into painful times, but I feel like she gives American people a lot of grace in her writing.
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
noladawnreads's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Child death and Rape
caillahess's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: War
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Oneworld for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I was pulled in right away! I didn’t want to put it down but also wanted to slow down so could savor the story. Beautiful writing once again from the author (I read and loved her debut last year). I’m a sucker for multiple timelines and POVs so this did not disappoint!
I also really liked the complex characters and their relationships. I learned a lot about pieces of history during/following the Vietnam War, which I always enjoy learning something new!
I was pulled in right away! I didn’t want to put it down but also wanted to slow down so could savor the story. Beautiful writing once again from the author (I read and loved her debut last year). I’m a sucker for multiple timelines and POVs so this did not disappoint!
I also really liked the complex characters and their relationships. I learned a lot about pieces of history during/following the Vietnam War, which I always enjoy learning something new!
If you read this, grab tissues for last 25% 😭 I sobbed and was a wreck for the rest of the night and following day. This was a very hopeful and emotional read.
Fantastic novel that I loved even more than her debut! Will 100% be my favorite for the month and Que Mai is officially an auto buy author 💗
If my last read, Cecily, didn’t already have me in a mini slump I’m definitely in one now 😳 WHAT BOOK CAN FOLLOW THIS?! (This will also be my next “book to push into everyone’s hands”/go to recommendation)
If my last read, Cecily, didn’t already have me in a mini slump I’m definitely in one now 😳 WHAT BOOK CAN FOLLOW THIS?! (This will also be my next “book to push into everyone’s hands”/go to recommendation)
TW/CW: racism, war, infertility (brief mention), PTSD, sexual content, death, grief, sexual assault, infidelity, racial slurs, alcoholism, violence, emotional abuse, vomit (brief), abandonment, pregnancy, Alzheimer’s (brief), child death, self harm (brief)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility, Self harm, Vomit, and Dementia
blissof_jvanderhoof's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Recently I went to the post and found my Goodreads win, a copy of Dust Child. It was a surprise as I didn’t remember winning it (I did though). The publisher had been so nice to include a note and a small package of Vietnamese coffee (I'm assuming as it wasn't mentioned in the note, what it was, in particular, that was included, and I couldn't read the writing on the package as it was not English). As I have never read the author, Nguyen Phan Que Mai and never had coffee, I was excited. (and I apologize for not using the diacritics, which are the markings above certain letters, as it changes the meaning of the word, not using them, but I do not know where or how to find them, on my computer. This is something I actually learned reading this book). The coffee, or maybe it was a latte, as it tasted that good and made in my home, was superb but as I sat down and started the book and now after, I found, the book was better. The Dust Child is a book that is a must read, do not miss book, as it deals with major life issues that are in some people’s lives and their experiences, and, if not, you are lucky as to live such an ideal life and read books such as these to know and appreciate how good you have it!
In Dust Child we are taken back to the years, 2016 and 1969 respectively and as the story goes back and forth we learn of how some of the dust children, who are the children of Vietnamese women and VietNam soldiers, came to be. Two, in particular. And, while this story could be told in any way and really, be made interesting, the way in which this author has told the story, created, weaved the tale for readers, places it in an arena of literature from which we pick the books our children and their children will one day read. This really isn't a book but a work of art in words. And the writer took seven years to research the topic so that she could present a story as close to real life as she could make it!
When readers learn of what life was like for the dust children told from the view of Phong, as he was left at an orphanage, raised by a nun until the age of twelve and then left to fend for himself we can only image how many of these children survived and how hard it must have been to do so. Because the discrimination for children with Western features was so bad for these youths, Americans had a program in which, based on their features, they could immigrate to the country. America was called their Fatherland. I thought the name was quite cute (in an ironic, dark way) as they were all on this earth, basically, because of their fathers. When you have women who have suffering families and then, men come into their cities with money unlike they have ever seen, how can you blame some of them for taking advantage of that, as they do in the book, with prostitution.
At first, they are told they will just “drink tea” with the men. You only need to imagine (and read the book) to find out how the rest goes. In Dust Child, the females struggle with prostituting themselves, it is not something they want to do. And, when one of them places hope that in giving her heart to one of the soldiers, that he will save her, provide for her now and in the future, readers are left to learn the tale of what happened to these women through one woman, who was promised so much and left with only a burden, really.
And, while I hate to say, even as a mother myself, that a child can be a burden, it is the sad fact in life that, when a woman is not prepared to have a child, when she doesn't have the resources, she has a burden on her hands. There is no way we can always lay all the blame on the mother for this fact, either. Women in this situation, I am sure of it, do not want their child to be a burden. Every woman who finds herself with child wants to be happy. It is the sad fact that, in our world, at this time, not every woman can enjoy that feeling. But, is that not a reflection on the mother but on our society? Dust Child really highlighted the fact of the blame that is placed on the individual rather than the blame we should place on the whole, whoever that whole may be, society, parents, governments, even other individuals. How can a child be blamed, spit on, urinated on, for what his parents did, in making him? Have to struggle through life, with nowhere to turn and no help? As the story focuses on a boy living as a Dust Child and some of the women who made dust children, the time period, what their life was like with the soldiers, as, essentially, prostitutes, I only am left to imagine how hard it would have been like as a female dust child growing up, how hard that was. Sadly, not something we hear about directly here. But, Nguyen Phan Que Mai still has many more tales to tell, I am sure as this is her second book.
Dust Child is a book that will lead you to tears, in the end, as the story comes full circle and wraps itself up. The writer really did a superb job and I want to thank them and the publishers for the Goodreads win, my favorite, above all I have one. I have found an author I will follow forever as she presents life to readers without any varnish, even, stripped bare, to the bone. That is how I like to see life as that is how I feel I have, at this time, led mine (or have had to lead it). Of everything I thought about and learned I think that, most of all, this writer has taught me that sometimes the stories we construct in our minds about the events in our lives that happen, that we tell others, if we put bows and ribbons where there weren’t any, make a story sweeter when it was really sour, so that others do not suffer, maybe even so that we no longer suffer, that is okay. It's a part of life and living it. Something that needs to be done to be able to move on to the next part of life.
To every reader, no matter the genre you like or read, Dust Child is a must. I promise it's a story you won’t forget, it will stick with you and hopefully, become a part of you, a better part. However, that will only happen if you take a part of the story or all of the story and learn something from it. Something that makes a better you. Because I know this story made me a better person as I learned many things and could really, go on forever about them, in this review. I think I’ll end here, as it's long enough, and, hopefully, encouraged others enough to pick up a copy. As I promised, it will be worth it!
Thank you again to the author, and publisher for the Goodreads win, the best ever and the awesome (I assume) Vietnamese coffee (or latte, as I can't read Vietnamese)!
In Dust Child we are taken back to the years, 2016 and 1969 respectively and as the story goes back and forth we learn of how some of the dust children, who are the children of Vietnamese women and VietNam soldiers, came to be. Two, in particular. And, while this story could be told in any way and really, be made interesting, the way in which this author has told the story, created, weaved the tale for readers, places it in an arena of literature from which we pick the books our children and their children will one day read. This really isn't a book but a work of art in words. And the writer took seven years to research the topic so that she could present a story as close to real life as she could make it!
When readers learn of what life was like for the dust children told from the view of Phong, as he was left at an orphanage, raised by a nun until the age of twelve and then left to fend for himself we can only image how many of these children survived and how hard it must have been to do so. Because the discrimination for children with Western features was so bad for these youths, Americans had a program in which, based on their features, they could immigrate to the country. America was called their Fatherland. I thought the name was quite cute (in an ironic, dark way) as they were all on this earth, basically, because of their fathers. When you have women who have suffering families and then, men come into their cities with money unlike they have ever seen, how can you blame some of them for taking advantage of that, as they do in the book, with prostitution.
At first, they are told they will just “drink tea” with the men. You only need to imagine (and read the book) to find out how the rest goes. In Dust Child, the females struggle with prostituting themselves, it is not something they want to do. And, when one of them places hope that in giving her heart to one of the soldiers, that he will save her, provide for her now and in the future, readers are left to learn the tale of what happened to these women through one woman, who was promised so much and left with only a burden, really.
And, while I hate to say, even as a mother myself, that a child can be a burden, it is the sad fact in life that, when a woman is not prepared to have a child, when she doesn't have the resources, she has a burden on her hands. There is no way we can always lay all the blame on the mother for this fact, either. Women in this situation, I am sure of it, do not want their child to be a burden. Every woman who finds herself with child wants to be happy. It is the sad fact that, in our world, at this time, not every woman can enjoy that feeling. But, is that not a reflection on the mother but on our society? Dust Child really highlighted the fact of the blame that is placed on the individual rather than the blame we should place on the whole, whoever that whole may be, society, parents, governments, even other individuals. How can a child be blamed, spit on, urinated on, for what his parents did, in making him? Have to struggle through life, with nowhere to turn and no help? As the story focuses on a boy living as a Dust Child and some of the women who made dust children, the time period, what their life was like with the soldiers, as, essentially, prostitutes, I only am left to imagine how hard it would have been like as a female dust child growing up, how hard that was. Sadly, not something we hear about directly here. But, Nguyen Phan Que Mai still has many more tales to tell, I am sure as this is her second book.
Dust Child is a book that will lead you to tears, in the end, as the story comes full circle and wraps itself up. The writer really did a superb job and I want to thank them and the publishers for the Goodreads win, my favorite, above all I have one. I have found an author I will follow forever as she presents life to readers without any varnish, even, stripped bare, to the bone. That is how I like to see life as that is how I feel I have, at this time, led mine (or have had to lead it). Of everything I thought about and learned I think that, most of all, this writer has taught me that sometimes the stories we construct in our minds about the events in our lives that happen, that we tell others, if we put bows and ribbons where there weren’t any, make a story sweeter when it was really sour, so that others do not suffer, maybe even so that we no longer suffer, that is okay. It's a part of life and living it. Something that needs to be done to be able to move on to the next part of life.
To every reader, no matter the genre you like or read, Dust Child is a must. I promise it's a story you won’t forget, it will stick with you and hopefully, become a part of you, a better part. However, that will only happen if you take a part of the story or all of the story and learn something from it. Something that makes a better you. Because I know this story made me a better person as I learned many things and could really, go on forever about them, in this review. I think I’ll end here, as it's long enough, and, hopefully, encouraged others enough to pick up a copy. As I promised, it will be worth it!
Thank you again to the author, and publisher for the Goodreads win, the best ever and the awesome (I assume) Vietnamese coffee (or latte, as I can't read Vietnamese)!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Classism
The book also deals with prostitution as a means of supporting a familylow_keybookish's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I have been SO excited for Dust Child to be released, and so thankful to have ready an early copy. Dust Child is a multiple POV story of different characters who are affected by the Vietnam War. The story focuses a lot on the experiences of Amerasian children who are mixed race and born of Vietnamese women and US military men. As the author describes in her author's note, these mixed race people experience a lot of discrimination and challenges and so she wanted to highlight what they went through.
I love multiple POV, especially when it's so clearly written. Sometimes I get confused by other books when there are too many characters--in Dust Child, each POV is distinct and could be their own book. The way the characters come together is also satisfying for the plot, but also in raising questions on reconciliation, the legacies of militarization and war, and racial economic disparities in impossible situations.
The story also goes back and forth in time (during the Vietnam War, and up to 2019), which helps to highlight the author's goal of trying to show that the effects of the Vietnam War continue to today. Anyone who was involved with the war walked away scared, and the book shows lingering mental and physical health issues for the characters. The author has some poignant moments that call out the white savior complex, especially through Mr. Thien, and it's so satisfying that the Vietnamese characters have agency and are whole persons. (I'm done with stories that show war in such a one-sided viewpoint that only glorifies the U.S.).
The book covers a lot of topics and cw as expected: rape, violence, murder, death, PTSD, war, chemical warfare, racism, etc. Though not a light hearted read, highly recommend this book--it's an important read esp in the contemporary context of ongoing warfare.
I love multiple POV, especially when it's so clearly written. Sometimes I get confused by other books when there are too many characters--in Dust Child, each POV is distinct and could be their own book. The way the characters come together is also satisfying for the plot, but also in raising questions on reconciliation, the legacies of militarization and war, and racial economic disparities in impossible situations.
The story also goes back and forth in time (during the Vietnam War, and up to 2019), which helps to highlight the author's goal of trying to show that the effects of the Vietnam War continue to today. Anyone who was involved with the war walked away scared, and the book shows lingering mental and physical health issues for the characters. The author has some poignant moments that call out the white savior complex, especially through Mr. Thien, and it's so satisfying that the Vietnamese characters have agency and are whole persons. (I'm done with stories that show war in such a one-sided viewpoint that only glorifies the U.S.).
The book covers a lot of topics and cw as expected: rape, violence, murder, death, PTSD, war, chemical warfare, racism, etc. Though not a light hearted read, highly recommend this book--it's an important read esp in the contemporary context of ongoing warfare.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Violence, and War
Moderate: Rape
literarylaila's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Thank you Algonquin Books for a giveaway arc of Dust Child, out 3/14/23!
Dust Child shines a light on the aftermath of The Resistance War Against America, or The Vietnam War. No one knows how many Amerasians or “children of the dust” were born in Vietnam but the number is estimated in the tens of thousands. Dust Child is told in three alternating POVs: Phong, who is half Vietnamese and half Black, Dan, a American veteran who served in Vietnam, and Trang, a young Vietnamese woman who goes to great lengths to care for her family.
I loved and appreciated Nguyễn including all three points of view to her novel, as well as telling the story through past and present timelines. Phong’s ostracism by society broke my heart but his tenacity, drive, and eventual acceptance of himself had me cheering him on. Dan’s POV was very interesting and I thought Nguyễn wrote him so well. She didn’t hide the terrible actions he committed during the war but you’re also made to understand he acted the way he did BECAUSE of the horrors of war. Trang’s innocence and dreams are broken due to the war but she finds a new dream towards the end. The supporting characters also play roles in this novel and add their own personalities and perspectives.
Nguyễn’s writing always transports me with her fleshed out characters and descriptive settings. She writes each character with purpose. Her love for her country is evident as well and is highlighted in how she describes the food, the clothes, the culture, and the people. Her voice is an important and necessary one to highlight the history and present of Vietnam. 5 shining stars for Dust Child, obviously!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and War
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