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xereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
I love history, fiction reads, anything based on true events so I’m glad I picked this as a read for book club. The author did a great job at telling the story of complex and diverse characters; from a mixed race homeless Vietnam male to a White veteran with PTSD the detailed storytelling was amazing. This book highlighted on relationships in so many ways and the treatment of some of the characters pulled on my heart strings heavily. I also appreciated the parallel descriptions of soldiers during the Vietnam war as I’m not as familiar with it but I’ll definitely do some research now. Absolutely recommend this read to others!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Minor: Bullying and Domestic abuse
josiesprobablyreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and War
Minor: Racial slurs and Domestic abuse
abbie_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
The Mountains Sing is a tough act to follow, and unfortunately I don't think Dust Child is as strong as Quế Mai's debut. I did also listen to The Mountains Sing on audio, which absolutely enhanced the experience for me because the narrator did an incredible job.
Dust Child focuses on the devastating effect of the Vietnam war on a few different characters. We have Trang and her sister who become bar girls during the war to earn money to help out their parents' debt. Trange becomes involved with Dan, a white American GI, and one of the other POVs in the book. Then there's Phong, a half Black, half Vietnamese man who is trying to locate his father and possibly move to America.
My main gripes with this book were mainly all to do with Dan. He is such a dick, and while I fully think we're meant to think he's a dick for most of the book, I didn't vibe with the redemption arc he got at the end. I didn't feel like picking up the book when I was in a Dan part. I also thought the writing was a little too on the nose at times. A bookish friend used the word 'didactic' which I think is perfect - this book was written to inform, and that took me out of the story. This makes sense, since the author used material from a real-life research project she did as inspiration.
I found Phong's storyline to be the most compelling. I didn't know 'dust child' was a term used to refer to Amerasians born to Vietnamese women with Black American fathers, nor was I aware of the racism they faced in Vietnam because of their mixed heritage.
I did also like Trang and her sister's storylines, although Trang was unbelievably naive at times. I liked how Quỳnh came back into the story later.
I've watched a few interviews with Quế Mai and she is a wonderful, genuine person. Nadia did an interview with her recently over on The StoryGraph's Instagram where she shares some of the importance of diacritics to the text (though in my edition, some of the diacritics would be randomly missing off characters' names??) and I always appreciate that sort of insight.
Dust Child focuses on the devastating effect of the Vietnam war on a few different characters. We have Trang and her sister who become bar girls during the war to earn money to help out their parents' debt. Trange becomes involved with Dan, a white American GI, and one of the other POVs in the book. Then there's Phong, a half Black, half Vietnamese man who is trying to locate his father and possibly move to America.
My main gripes with this book were mainly all to do with Dan. He is such a dick, and while I fully think we're meant to think he's a dick for most of the book, I didn't vibe with the redemption arc he got at the end. I didn't feel like picking up the book when I was in a Dan part. I also thought the writing was a little too on the nose at times. A bookish friend used the word 'didactic' which I think is perfect - this book was written to inform, and that took me out of the story. This makes sense, since the author used material from a real-life research project she did as inspiration.
I found Phong's storyline to be the most compelling. I didn't know 'dust child' was a term used to refer to Amerasians born to Vietnamese women with Black American fathers, nor was I aware of the racism they faced in Vietnam because of their mixed heritage.
I did also like Trang and her sister's storylines, although Trang was unbelievably naive at times. I liked how Quỳnh came back into the story later.
I've watched a few interviews with Quế Mai and she is a wonderful, genuine person. Nadia did an interview with her recently over on The StoryGraph's Instagram where she shares some of the importance of diacritics to the text (though in my edition, some of the diacritics would be randomly missing off characters' names??) and I always appreciate that sort of insight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, War, Sexual violence, Racism, Child death, and Death
meatballmoney's review
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Child death, Cursing, and War
moniipeters's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Abandonment, Abortion, Body horror, Classism, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Torture, Trafficking, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Racial slurs, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
vincci's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
I couldn't put down this book! Nguyễn Phan is such a gifted storyteller and hops through different time periods and perspectives throughout the book with ease. As a reader I could feel the emotional highs and lows of the characters and it was fun anticipating when their stories would intersect.
My only criticism is that I felt that the book could have ended without the last two chapters.While she did use those chapters to add a few final twists, from reading her first novel, The Mountains Sing, I get that she is someone who likes to tie up loose ends and it felt like she was almost forcing it a bit here, particularly near the end.
My only criticism is that I felt that the book could have ended without the last two chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and War
klutzykara's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- 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
Wow, this was so good! I definitely want to pick up The Mountains Sing asap to experience more from this author! I loved the writing and characters in this so much. All three point of views were engaging and interesting to read about, although I admit I was probably most invested in Trang's story. I did not want to put it down and really enjoyed all parts of the novel. It was paced well and I thought the ending was very good.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, War, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abortion
sophiekingo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Death, Abandonment, and Domestic abuse
internationalreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
This was.. fine? It felt like a book written to teach Americans about the Vietnam war rather than to tell a story set in that time. Disappointing after loving The Mountains Sing so much.
Content Warnings
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
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: Mental illness, Abandonment, Sexual content, Violence, Death, Alcoholism, Racism, Racial slurs, War, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Child death
Minor: Infertility, Self harm, Dementia, and Vomit
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