Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

63 reviews

jemg99's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? No

5.0

A beautiful and moving history of Vietnam told by a grandmother and her granddaughter. This is an astonishing feat of a book that encompasses so much of Vietnam’s recent history, while keeping a beating heart of love and hope amidst the atrocities laid out in their story. I really felt as though I became a part of the Tran family and their history. I think this novel particularly struck a chord as I began reading it on my trip to Vietnam. It was an informative and soulful book that enriched my visit. I would highly recommend, particularly if you are interested in Vietnamese history or are planning a holiday there. But, ultimately, this book should be essential reading for all. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, War, Death of parent, Violence, Grief, Murder, Death, and Addiction

rachel101's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Violence, and War

pikkumarja's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Vuorten laulu on valtavan kaunis, ja raaka, kuvaus Vietnamin sotaisasta historiasta korostaen nimenomaan lasten ja naisten näkökulmaa. Vuorten laulu on sukuromaani, jossa tarina kulkee monen sukupolven kautta ja kahden sukunsa vahvan naisen kertomana. Vietnamin historiasta puhutaan niin paljon amerikkalaisesta näkökulmasta, että kirja oli myös raikas tuulahdus. Lopusta löytyy myös kirjailijan perustelut sekä aiheelle että alkuperäiskielelle (englanti). Mielestäni Elina Salosen suomennos oli erittäin onnistunut.

Kirja sai minut itkemään ja myös tuntemaan myötätuntoa ja iloa henkilöiden kanssa. Suosittelen ehdottomasti!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child death, Sexual violence, Death, Terminal illness, Murder, Death of parent, War, Mental illness, and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, and Alcoholism

michimiya's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Blood, War, Murder, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Torture, and Abandonment

Minor: Vomit, Terminal illness, Suicide, and Rape

sehenry20's review against another edition

challenging sad tense slow-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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Alcoholism, War, Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Child death, and Racial slurs

savvylit's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

The Mountains Sing is a story of resilience and boundless familial love. In 1975, we follow Huong and her grandmother Dieu Lan as they try to survive bombing and its aftermath in Hanoi. In 1955, we follow Dieu Lan through her early village life in Northern Vietnam in the face of the immense cruelty of the Communist government. Dieu Lan's life in both eras is almost unimaginably difficult. Yet she manages to cleverly and bravely persevere despite all challenges. More than anything, the driving force of Dieu Lan's strength - and this whole novel - is devotion. Devotion to her family is what consistently sustains Dieu Lan on even her darkest days.

What truly makes this novel shine is the personal tone of the entire story. Huong's recollections feel diaristic and Dieu Lan's story is entirely addressed to Huong. When Nguyen reveals in the acknowledgments that The Mountains Sing was directly inspired by the lives of her family members and friends' families, it came as no surprise to me.

The Mountains Sing is the first book that prolific author Nguyen Phan Que Mai ever wrote in English, her second language. I have seen a handful of criticism of this novel that states that the writing is too simple or repetitive. First of all, I challenge those reviewers to consider writing an entire narrative in a second language. Second of all, I think that the bittersweet beauty and strength of this story overrides any supposed less-sophisticated diction.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, War, Sexual violence, Murder, Grief, Death, Violence, and Death of parent

bessadams's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Violence

Moderate: Torture, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Excrement, Death, Death of parent, Classism, Cancer, Abortion, Bullying, Alcoholism, Child death, and Child abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Rape

tvnguyen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The perspective of the grandma and Huong (Guava) as they live through significant war-torn parts of Vietnamese history. I came into this book blind once again and did not expect the war crimes of the Vietnam War to hit me so hard. It was a really tough read but it is so well written. I got so emotional and entirely immersed in the fear, sadness, and lost of the family. I read one of the critic reviews of the book that mentions that this was the missing narrative of the war and I totally agree. 

This historical fiction hits really close to  home and to hear directly from a fictional family that has been affected represents so many families that actually experienced the aftermath of war. There is a lot going on in this book  so please tread lightly and take breaks if needed. But I highly recommend this novel! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Child abuse, War, Abandonment, Violence, Rape, and Death of parent

jmyodafriend's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, War, Death, and Death of parent

sterreg's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

3.75

This story grabbed me from beginning to end, even though the heaviness of the topic made me take breaks in-between. It tells stories of the goodness between people when we arrive in our darkest hour. About the power of perseverance for our families. It makes us long for the connections around us and value what we have. But it also creates awareness about topics that used to feel so far away. I've felt for these characters, and have grown to remember the smallest details the more I read about them. They felt real and their struggle felt incredibly harsh and unfair.

The change of faith is possible. As long as we follow the road of goodness, strength will find its way. A gorgeous story of family, broken hearts and loss, and how the family bounced back through hardship of a broken country.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault