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hrosel 's review for:
The Mountains Sing
by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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
Incredibly moving, particularly knowing that it's based on the author's life experience. I think it did an amazing job at covering some heavy and dark topics in a way that was engaging and didn't back away from the characters' flaws. Although her mother was clearly very damaged from the war, the author still allowed you to feel sympathy for the daughter, who wasn't getting what she needed from her mother. The invaders weren't wholly villainised. An excellent education in Vietnamese history and the ways in which wars damage everyone involved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Genocide, Rape, Death of parent