Scan barcode
A review by jacq92s
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of the most incredible books that I've ever read.
Que Mai's intuitive style of writing made me feel truly part of Huong, her grandmother's and their family's world of Viet Nam, as they experienced first-hand the exceptional trauma of the Great Hunger, Land Reform and the Vietnam war.
Everything from their visceral emotions and heartache arising from these cruel conflicts, to their moments of appreciation of nature, familial closeness and belonging - I truly felt like I journeyed along with them.
Que Mai also skilfully wove in how the family, sooner or later, had to wrestle with the realities of clashing ideologies, affiliations and temperaments, from where the conflicts had originated. The nuances of this played out through the novel, illustrating the complex, uphill battle towards reconciliation and the preciousness of peace, especially for families.
From a personal perspective, the novel both enriched my knowledge of Vietnamese culture and history (which was shamefully minimal before!), and caused me to consider some of the subtle maxims in my own culture, with its socialist undertones.
Quotes
"Squatting on the ground, I wrote for an uncle I'd been robbed of, who was leaf pushed away from its tree, but at its last moment still struggled to fall back to its roots. I wrote for Grandma, who'd hoped for the fire of war to be extinguished, only for its embers to keep burning her. I wrote for my uncles, my aunt, and my parents, who were helpless in the fight of brother against brother, and whose war went on, regardless of whether they were alive, or dead."
"I used to believe that blood will tell, but blood evolves and can change, too. Young people can't be blamed for what their ancestors did"
Que Mai's intuitive style of writing made me feel truly part of Huong, her grandmother's and their family's world of Viet Nam, as they experienced first-hand the exceptional trauma of the Great Hunger, Land Reform and the Vietnam war.
Everything from their visceral emotions and heartache arising from these cruel conflicts, to their moments of appreciation of nature, familial closeness and belonging - I truly felt like I journeyed along with them.
Que Mai also skilfully wove in how the family, sooner or later, had to wrestle with the realities of clashing ideologies, affiliations and temperaments, from where the conflicts had originated. The nuances of this played out through the novel, illustrating the complex, uphill battle towards reconciliation and the preciousness of peace, especially for families.
From a personal perspective, the novel both enriched my knowledge of Vietnamese culture and history (which was shamefully minimal before!), and caused me to consider some of the subtle maxims in my own culture, with its socialist undertones.
Quotes
"Squatting on the ground, I wrote for an uncle I'd been robbed of, who was leaf pushed away from its tree, but at its last moment still struggled to fall back to its roots. I wrote for Grandma, who'd hoped for the fire of war to be extinguished, only for its embers to keep burning her. I wrote for my uncles, my aunt, and my parents, who were helpless in the fight of brother against brother, and whose war went on, regardless of whether they were alive, or dead."
"I used to believe that blood will tell, but blood evolves and can change, too. Young people can't be blamed for what their ancestors did"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, War, Physical abuse, and Grief