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A review by abitliterate
The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui
5.0
where do i even begin with this? an absolutely amazing graphic memoir (that i didn’t even realize was a memoir until most of the way through) that discusses the family relationships and individual traumas of thi bui and her parents following and during the french occupation of vietnam and the vietnam war. it delves into conversations surrounding the impact of parental traumas on children, the vietnam war and the anti-vietnam propaganda spread by western cultures (particularly in the united states), parent-child relationships, motherhood, individuality, wealth disparity, colonization, “””peace”””, and so, so much more. i cannot recommend this enough and i imagine i will be thinking about it for a long time. there were so many panels i took pictures of because either the quotes or the art just perfectly captured the emotion being experienced. i truly appreciated the compassion with which bui explored her parents’ lives, allowing the reader to move away from easy blame, and instead growing their understanding of generational trauma. just so, so brilliant and raw and human. please read this.
EDIT: i forgot to mention that i really connected with the discussions around not having a close family even though you all live in the same house. also wanting to know your father and be close to him even though he hasn’t been very close to you. and wanting to know your parents’ life stories, for the sake of knowing them of course, but also to provide An Answer (that is not achievable, really) for Why everything has been so wrong.
EDIT #2: i think it's been under an hour since i finished this but i've already done so much thinking. i got in the shower and cried about my dad and my family for the first time in,,, really as long as i can remember. this story is so universal and yet so specific at the same time and it has truly impacted me so much already.
EDIT: i forgot to mention that i really connected with the discussions around not having a close family even though you all live in the same house. also wanting to know your father and be close to him even though he hasn’t been very close to you. and wanting to know your parents’ life stories, for the sake of knowing them of course, but also to provide An Answer (that is not achievable, really) for Why everything has been so wrong.
EDIT #2: i think it's been under an hour since i finished this but i've already done so much thinking. i got in the shower and cried about my dad and my family for the first time in,,, really as long as i can remember. this story is so universal and yet so specific at the same time and it has truly impacted me so much already.