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aldole's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
jess_mango's review against another edition
5.0
This was a beautiful sweeping story about multiple generations of a family in Vietnam centered around the Vietnam War. The story reaches back to the 1940's at a time when the Japanese had invaded Vietnam. During this time, a well-off mother flees her family farm with her 6 children to escape the violence caused by the communist Land Reform. The story then jumps to her granddaughter during the years of the Viet Nam war.
In turns touching and heartbreaking, this is an important #ownvoices story about the experience of Vietnamese women during the war. This is the author's first novel available in English and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more works by her.
I listened to this on audio and the narrator was engaging and emotive. The narration was nicely paced with great sound quality. Highly recommend!
4.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the audio book to review!
In turns touching and heartbreaking, this is an important #ownvoices story about the experience of Vietnamese women during the war. This is the author's first novel available in English and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more works by her.
I listened to this on audio and the narrator was engaging and emotive. The narration was nicely paced with great sound quality. Highly recommend!
4.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the audio book to review!
pinaybibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
- A book I picked up in Hanoi, the novel is a family saga amidst the turbulent history of Vietnam in the 20th century. The protagonists are women - a grandmother and her granddaughter - whose parallel experiences during different wars tell us that morality becomes ambiguous when one faces death. It's reading fiction like this that develops our empathy and understanding that not everything in life is black and white.
jansbookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
This is a heart touching story that tells of the history of Viet Nam through one family's life. It is told in a dual timeline covering the French Indochina war through the end of the Vietnam War It is a story of family, casualty and survival. It is well written and easy to follow even though there is a lot of history packed in. It was good to get the perspective from a Vietnamese author.
taunusleserin's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Die vietnamesische Autorin Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai hat ein Familienepos geschaffen, das die leidvolle Geschichte Vietnams bildgewaltig erzählt: Die Besetzung durch die Japaner, die Teilung des Landes nach dem Abzug der Franzosen, die Landreform im kommunistischen Norden und schlussendlich der Krieg.
Es ist kaum vorstellbar, welches Leid die Familie über 4 Jahrzehnte erlitten hat, aber dennoch nicht den Mut verloren hat. Mir hat das Buch sehr gut gefallen, da ich sehr viel gelernt habe und es zudem einen Einblick in die vietnamesische Kultur gibt. Viele Phrasen und Begriffe hat die Übersetzerin auf vietnamesisch belassen, und dann in einem Nachsatz umschrieben.
Es ist kaum vorstellbar, welches Leid die Familie über 4 Jahrzehnte erlitten hat, aber dennoch nicht den Mut verloren hat. Mir hat das Buch sehr gut gefallen, da ich sehr viel gelernt habe und es zudem einen Einblick in die vietnamesische Kultur gibt. Viele Phrasen und Begriffe hat die Übersetzerin auf vietnamesisch belassen, und dann in einem Nachsatz umschrieben.
rachlreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
obstinateheadstrongcurl's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-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? No
3.75
I’m not usually one for generational stories but I did like how this cut back and forth between the main character and her grandmother. It was a gripping look at Vietnamese history, which I know very little about.