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The Ugly Daughter
The Ugly Daughter is a thrilling memoir, the gripping true story of a young girl who witnessed horrific murders and who overcame cruel abuse and unimaginable tragedies to find love and happiness.
Julia Legian's emotionally, harrowing and fascinating memoir reveals how she endured a series of unbelievable tragedies and heartbreaking abuse from the hands of her parents and great aunty, and how she rose above her horrendous past to have a happy life. It’s beautifully written with simplicity and shocking honesty. The Ugly Daughter is a wonderful reminder that regardless of your social background or environment you came from, you can rise above the tragedy and survive. This book also clearly demonstrates that anything is possible if only you have firm faith in God or your creator. It’s an amazing story of miracles, shocking reality of domestic violence, survival and extraordinary luck. This really is a powerful and touching story that must be read.
This volume covers Julia's life from growing up in Vietnam to the journey to Sungei Besi refugee camp when her family escaped the horrors and the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The second volume of the story, not yet released, is in production and has legal implications that have to be carefully managed. It covers their arrival in Australia and the challenges and nightmares that they faced there.
Julia Legian's emotionally, harrowing and fascinating memoir reveals how she endured a series of unbelievable tragedies and heartbreaking abuse from the hands of her parents and great aunty, and how she rose above her horrendous past to have a happy life. It’s beautifully written with simplicity and shocking honesty. The Ugly Daughter is a wonderful reminder that regardless of your social background or environment you came from, you can rise above the tragedy and survive. This book also clearly demonstrates that anything is possible if only you have firm faith in God or your creator. It’s an amazing story of miracles, shocking reality of domestic violence, survival and extraordinary luck. This really is a powerful and touching story that must be read.
This volume covers Julia's life from growing up in Vietnam to the journey to Sungei Besi refugee camp when her family escaped the horrors and the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The second volume of the story, not yet released, is in production and has legal implications that have to be carefully managed. It covers their arrival in Australia and the challenges and nightmares that they faced there.
202 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2014
22 people are currently reading
1416 people want to read
About the author
Julia Legian
2 books195 followersMy name is Julia Legian (aka Loan Thi Nguyen). I was born in 1972, South Vietnam. Or was it 1971? Nobody really knows so I prefer to err on the young side. In the 80s my family fled Vietnam as “boat people” and immigrated to Australia.
I'm happily married to my husband, Simion, and I have a wonderful, kind, and loving son, Jeremy.
I'm not a professional writer, just an ordinary person with an extraordinary story I'd like to share with the world.
I'm happily married to my husband, Simion, and I have a wonderful, kind, and loving son, Jeremy.
I'm not a professional writer, just an ordinary person with an extraordinary story I'd like to share with the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 6, 2014
The Ugly Daughter is one that I can honestly say is an interesting read. It is a moving story about the life of a Vietnamese family that will pull you in and never let you go until you're finish reading it. We tend to forget sometimes the sheer determination it takes to survive our situations in life. If you ever had to struggle in life then this story will be easy to relate to. It is a true testament of the saying, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Good job Julia & Be Proud! Never let anyone take away from the courage it took to write this story.
January 4, 2018
Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to the possibilities; Truth isn't.- Mark Twain. The setting of this memoir reads like a popular young adult (adolescent) dystopia or post-apocalyptic genre work of fiction. I am the same generation (Generation X) as the author and remember a world where some countries were governed by some group's distorted idea of an utopia society that really was a totalitarian dystopia, and if you didn't fit that idea of their utopia society you were eliminated. For example, I remember having a disbelieving chill in my heart as an elementary school girl having my teacher mention the social engineering policies of the Khmer Rouge (an offshoot of the Vietnam's People Army) in Cambodia and how you could be "purged" for among many things being "too smart".
Instead of focusing on the setting of post-war Vietnam and becoming a dry historical reference, post-war Vietnam is just that, setting in the background of the real focus of the memoir, which is the childhood story of Loan/Julia from 6 years of age through the beginning of adolescence. She witnesses or is a victim by family of emotional/physical abuse, neglect, poverty, and other domestic atrocities that are problems that transcend the homes of children in any country or time of history to this very date.
Despite the horror and tragedies that were part Loan/Julia’s life, the memoir does not fall in to the trap of making the reader feel the purpose of the work is evoke commiseration, pity, shock, or horror for the author. Loan/Julia’s childhood resilience through adversities, sense of humor, ability to find playful amusements to entertain herself even in abyssal conditions, industrious work ethic, creative financial entrepreneurial spirit, and overall ability to rely on faith in every adverse situation made for a positive edifying read. Reading about Loan/Julia I was reminded of a quote by British philosopher James Allen, “Of all the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence than this- that man is the master of thought, the moulder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny.” This is a motivational memoir of a psychologically self-actualized woman, whom despite her childhood background is today extremely successful in her both her personal life and financial life.
You can easily reason that she wrote this memoir (with her co-author Dawn Burke), with the idea that telling her story honestly would help many people whom have gone through great tragedy, know that you can rise above your circumstances and survive, and not let it handicap you from having a successful life.
There is a sequel in the works and I look forward to reading it.
Sensuality content: Clean. You are told, but not shown that the father is a womanizer.
Source: My personal purchased library.
Instead of focusing on the setting of post-war Vietnam and becoming a dry historical reference, post-war Vietnam is just that, setting in the background of the real focus of the memoir, which is the childhood story of Loan/Julia from 6 years of age through the beginning of adolescence. She witnesses or is a victim by family of emotional/physical abuse, neglect, poverty, and other domestic atrocities that are problems that transcend the homes of children in any country or time of history to this very date.
Despite the horror and tragedies that were part Loan/Julia’s life, the memoir does not fall in to the trap of making the reader feel the purpose of the work is evoke commiseration, pity, shock, or horror for the author. Loan/Julia’s childhood resilience through adversities, sense of humor, ability to find playful amusements to entertain herself even in abyssal conditions, industrious work ethic, creative financial entrepreneurial spirit, and overall ability to rely on faith in every adverse situation made for a positive edifying read. Reading about Loan/Julia I was reminded of a quote by British philosopher James Allen, “Of all the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence than this- that man is the master of thought, the moulder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny.” This is a motivational memoir of a psychologically self-actualized woman, whom despite her childhood background is today extremely successful in her both her personal life and financial life.
You can easily reason that she wrote this memoir (with her co-author Dawn Burke), with the idea that telling her story honestly would help many people whom have gone through great tragedy, know that you can rise above your circumstances and survive, and not let it handicap you from having a successful life.
There is a sequel in the works and I look forward to reading it.
Sensuality content: Clean. You are told, but not shown that the father is a womanizer.
Source: My personal purchased library.
January 2, 2015
I like Julia Legian - Goodreads friend, a remarkable survivor, filled with vitality!
This is Julia's memoir --the courage it took living with abuse as a child -in poverty -hungry - with loss -without love when she needed it most --often betrayed in Vietnam and how she escapes.
My heart broke when she lost her one best friend.
What I didn't like was the ending. It came to a sudden stop --(a second book on its way). I didn't like the discovery.
I wanted to read Julia's story out of 'friendship-and-relationship'...(happy to do so) ...but I don't need more. One complete book would be more my style.
Julia had a story to tell --and for the most part --she told it well! Its sad any child --from any country has to experience what she did!
This is Julia's memoir --the courage it took living with abuse as a child -in poverty -hungry - with loss -without love when she needed it most --often betrayed in Vietnam and how she escapes.
My heart broke when she lost her one best friend.
What I didn't like was the ending. It came to a sudden stop --(a second book on its way). I didn't like the discovery.
I wanted to read Julia's story out of 'friendship-and-relationship'...(happy to do so) ...but I don't need more. One complete book would be more my style.
Julia had a story to tell --and for the most part --she told it well! Its sad any child --from any country has to experience what she did!
July 13, 2014
"The Ugly Daughter" is a true story of a young girl named Loan who lived in Vietnam in the 1970's. Much of the material in the book is heartbreaking as Loan and her family struggle to live day to day. Despite the hardships, this is an endearing story about a fierce young girl who never deters from who she really is despite what she is put through.
Important to note that this is just the first part of the story. The book leaves at quite a cliff hanger. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is curious about the conditions in Vietnam after the war and the lives of the families that resided there.
Important to note that this is just the first part of the story. The book leaves at quite a cliff hanger. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is curious about the conditions in Vietnam after the war and the lives of the families that resided there.
January 5, 2015
This was an incredibly interesting book about one girl's horrifying childhood in Vietnam in the 1980s. It's interesting that it's told in a matter of fact, conversational tone, although the subject matter is awful at times. The only part I disliked was the abrupt ending. I prefer complete novels to cliffhangers like that. Otherwise, this book is well worth the read. Truth is stranger than fiction, that's for sure.
March 11, 2014
I really enjoyed reading Julia Legian's biography The Ugly daughter. I recommend it to anyone who loves learning more about foreign cultures with a twist of somewhat "supenatural" stories that make it seem too good to be true!
I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did :)
I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did :)
June 21, 2014
This book is one of the most memorable books that I have ever read and I have no doubt that many other readers will feel the same way about it.
It is a remarkable and powerful story that illustrates how the human spirit can overcome the most traumatic and ghastly experiences.
Told through the eyes of an intelligent, mischievous and energetic young girl, this autobiography takes us through some of the events of Julia Legian’s earlier childhood growing up in Vietnam and beyond.
Many of these stories are unbelievably harrowing, in part as a result of the era and conditions that she lived in, but equally because of the people who were in her life at that time.
However, presented through the eyes of the innocent child that she was, with her great sense of humour and mischievousness, they lose much of their “grimness”, so that, rather than being driven to the depths of sorrow and despair as I otherwise might have been, I found myself eagerly forging on with fascinated anticipation to read of her next adventures.
And of course there are many light-hearted, happy times as well.
Julia has provided the light and shade of her early life brilliantly so the reader goes through the widest ranges of emotions. For me, reading this book became a unforgettable and emotional journey rather than a simple passive reading experience.
Having listened to the radio interview on blogradio.com with her, as I read the book, I was constantly and utterly amazed at how, after all that she experienced, that she is now such a positive and unencumbered person, who has refused to let her past define her present or her future.
More than just about any other book that I have ever read, this book demonstrates the potential of the human spirit. It shows us how, with the right mental attitude, courageous people can deal with the most extreme experiences, and, rather than being scarred by them, how they can use them for their personal emotional and spiritual growth.
It is a remarkable and powerful story that illustrates how the human spirit can overcome the most traumatic and ghastly experiences.
Told through the eyes of an intelligent, mischievous and energetic young girl, this autobiography takes us through some of the events of Julia Legian’s earlier childhood growing up in Vietnam and beyond.
Many of these stories are unbelievably harrowing, in part as a result of the era and conditions that she lived in, but equally because of the people who were in her life at that time.
However, presented through the eyes of the innocent child that she was, with her great sense of humour and mischievousness, they lose much of their “grimness”, so that, rather than being driven to the depths of sorrow and despair as I otherwise might have been, I found myself eagerly forging on with fascinated anticipation to read of her next adventures.
And of course there are many light-hearted, happy times as well.
Julia has provided the light and shade of her early life brilliantly so the reader goes through the widest ranges of emotions. For me, reading this book became a unforgettable and emotional journey rather than a simple passive reading experience.
Having listened to the radio interview on blogradio.com with her, as I read the book, I was constantly and utterly amazed at how, after all that she experienced, that she is now such a positive and unencumbered person, who has refused to let her past define her present or her future.
More than just about any other book that I have ever read, this book demonstrates the potential of the human spirit. It shows us how, with the right mental attitude, courageous people can deal with the most extreme experiences, and, rather than being scarred by them, how they can use them for their personal emotional and spiritual growth.
May 4, 2014
The Ugly Daughter is a riveting read and one that I had a hard time putting down. I am already looking forward to the next installment!
Loan (the author's given name) goes through numerous harrowing experiences that easily could have left her for dead. She believed that there was something or someone watching out for her, which I also believe had to be the case. In her youth, Loan suffered from hunger, poverty, and extreme abuse at the hands of her parents. She also comes very close to losing her life as the result of a near death experience with a falling coconut, a hand grenade exploding, and a near drowning that almost takes her entire family down.
The author's memoir is well written and fast paced. She is incredibly honest with the details of her life and her descriptions are vivid and realistic. The photos included in the book were a nice touch and I would have loved to see more, especially of her parents and siblings if any exist.
The Ugly Daughter is an emotional memoir that can be compared to others like it such as, The Late Homecomer by Kao Kalia Yang, and First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung.
It is a story of incredible odds and one that makes you fully aware of what some human beings have to go through to survive in this world. I look forward to reading the rest of Legian's incredible story.
Jill Dobbe, Author
HERE WE ARE & THERE WE GO: Teaching and Traveling With Kids in Tow
Loan (the author's given name) goes through numerous harrowing experiences that easily could have left her for dead. She believed that there was something or someone watching out for her, which I also believe had to be the case. In her youth, Loan suffered from hunger, poverty, and extreme abuse at the hands of her parents. She also comes very close to losing her life as the result of a near death experience with a falling coconut, a hand grenade exploding, and a near drowning that almost takes her entire family down.
The author's memoir is well written and fast paced. She is incredibly honest with the details of her life and her descriptions are vivid and realistic. The photos included in the book were a nice touch and I would have loved to see more, especially of her parents and siblings if any exist.
The Ugly Daughter is an emotional memoir that can be compared to others like it such as, The Late Homecomer by Kao Kalia Yang, and First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung.
It is a story of incredible odds and one that makes you fully aware of what some human beings have to go through to survive in this world. I look forward to reading the rest of Legian's incredible story.
Jill Dobbe, Author
HERE WE ARE & THERE WE GO: Teaching and Traveling With Kids in Tow
February 19, 2014
Julia Legian takes you on a very personal journey in this the first volume of her memoirs.
Reading some of the atrocities she witnessed as a young child, and the hardships she endured will bring a tear to your eye more than once.
The writing is raw and basic, never once dressing up what is without doubt one of the most shocking and compelling things I have ever read. What makes it all the more astounding is that despite living in Vietnam during an intense political and military period, young Loan (Julia) goes through much worse at the hands of her parents and extended family, than she's even aware is happening around her to her fellow countrymen.
This book will never win an award for perfect English, but than again, you're not reading it for the beauty of the language. Julia's personal story moves betweens highs and lows at such a pace; I can imagine her writing it, trying to capture every detail of what her life was like as a child. Every joyous moment and every terrifying encounter, painted on the page in honest, simple language that never fails to convey her thoughts and feelings.
I am very much looking forward to reading the next instalment.
Reading some of the atrocities she witnessed as a young child, and the hardships she endured will bring a tear to your eye more than once.
The writing is raw and basic, never once dressing up what is without doubt one of the most shocking and compelling things I have ever read. What makes it all the more astounding is that despite living in Vietnam during an intense political and military period, young Loan (Julia) goes through much worse at the hands of her parents and extended family, than she's even aware is happening around her to her fellow countrymen.
This book will never win an award for perfect English, but than again, you're not reading it for the beauty of the language. Julia's personal story moves betweens highs and lows at such a pace; I can imagine her writing it, trying to capture every detail of what her life was like as a child. Every joyous moment and every terrifying encounter, painted on the page in honest, simple language that never fails to convey her thoughts and feelings.
I am very much looking forward to reading the next instalment.
March 14, 2014
The Ugly Daughter was a free download from Amazon. I was intrigued by the graphic details of the life in Vietnam. Julia's life was so difficult. Her parents treated her with such harsh words, threats, and fear. I kept reading each page wondering how is she going to live through this situation. I'm amazed she survived.
Knowing how much I love my grandchildren, I truly understand the deep connection she had to her grandmother. Julia's story should give hope to anyone that is hungry, cold, sick, penniless,or without a trust in a higher power than humans. Her eyes saw so much and yet her trust that God would help her never wavered. This story is rich with culture, spirit, and human strength. It's the type of story that I will ponder for a long time wondering how can humans endure so much and then pull themselves up and out of terrible situations and follow their dreams.
Knowing how much I love my grandchildren, I truly understand the deep connection she had to her grandmother. Julia's story should give hope to anyone that is hungry, cold, sick, penniless,or without a trust in a higher power than humans. Her eyes saw so much and yet her trust that God would help her never wavered. This story is rich with culture, spirit, and human strength. It's the type of story that I will ponder for a long time wondering how can humans endure so much and then pull themselves up and out of terrible situations and follow their dreams.
Read
March 21, 2014This is an engaging, yet confronting account of the author’s childhood in Vietnam during the 70s and 80s. The horrors she faced at a tender age make me appreciate my own innocent, unburdened childhood. From verbal and physical abuse, to near drownings, and being witness to shootings, suicide, public execution by firing squad, and an acid attack, the author’s reactions to these disturbing events show her tough character. In between the dark moments of her childhood, there are rays of light: the love of her grandmother, and friendships formed. It is during these moments that her entrepreneurial streak and cheeky spirit shines through. I found myself rooting for her, especially when she finds herself on a boat of refugees fleeing Vietnam. I only wish the ending of the book was not so abrupt. I am hoping for a sequel so that I can read the rest of her story.
March 6, 2014
At first I thought, an autobiography who's author is a bit over 40 years old, couldn't be a very convincing. Big mistake! The book caught me - at first quite off guard - from the first to the last page. As I wrote in one of the status updates: It made me reflect on my own happy childhood and leaves me quite thoughful. You should put this on your to-read list for sure!
July 22, 2021
The book interested me because of my time in Vietnam: 1968-69 with the Marines, and 2010 when my wife and I went back so I could show her where I was. The Vietnamese that I met in 2010 fondly remembered Americans, and ok course the kids were so excited to see us. Julia writes about her childhood, the abuse she experienced from her folks and others and how the family finally escaped. The book ends while they were traveling to Australia.
Also, in 1974 my family took in a young Vietnamese family that also had escaped. Their young baby was born during the flight from Vietnam. They were so thrilled to come to America that they named their baby "Happy". We had them in our home for 6 months and along with our church members found them a house to rent, furniture, a job, and a drivers license and a car.
I hope Julia finishes part II.
Also, in 1974 my family took in a young Vietnamese family that also had escaped. Their young baby was born during the flight from Vietnam. They were so thrilled to come to America that they named their baby "Happy". We had them in our home for 6 months and along with our church members found them a house to rent, furniture, a job, and a drivers license and a car.
I hope Julia finishes part II.
May 7, 2015
WHAT!! What happened there? Mid-line this book just finished, leaving the reader feeling they’ve been ripped off. It just stopped mid-action.
This was always going to be a 3 Star, but after ripping the reader off like that it’s never going to get more than 1 Star from me, and I certainly won’t be buying Book Two just out of principal because it finished on such a cheap shot. As far as authors are concerned, this is the ultimate sin. Bringing the story to a grinding halt without even dropping down through the gears first. What a scam! I hate that!
I’ve just checked the title and this book is called ‘The Ugly Daughter: A thrilling real life journey to self discovery, riches and spirituality.’ Riches? Spirituality? Where. We finish the book and the little girl, Loan, is poor as a church mouse. And the only spirituality is a few ghosts popping up every now and again.
Now I’ve just read the book description in detail, which I don’t always do, and found the line, “The second volume of the story, not yet released, is in production and has legal implications that have to be carefully managed. It covers their arrival in Australia and the challenges and nightmares that they faced there.” So I guess it’s there, in the small print. This is only half a book. You’ve got one story in two separate books, so you have to pay twice as much. I am really pissed off!
Dictionary.com describes a “series or group of plays, novels, operas, etc., that, although INDIVIDUALLY COMPLETE, are closely related in theme, sequence, or the like.” In ancient Greece, you’d have a series of COMPLETE and usually related tragedies.” And there’s the rub, for when you pick up a book you expect it to be complete of itself.
This isn’t. What a scam.
The Ugly Daughter could be such a fascinating story; it IS a fascinating story, it describes a world that most Europeans, North Americans and Australians know absolutely nothing about, life in Vietnam in the 1970s for a dysfunctional and penurious family, destined to become Vietnamese Boat People.
Julia Legion’s parents are ferocious in their violence towards each other, and Loan and her sisters were often caught in the crossfire.
However, and this is a BIG however, Legion writes about her life in such dispassionate terms that it becomes almost like reading a little girl’s diary. Events that would traumatise most children, possibly for life, are described in rather abstract and detached terms. For example, here’s a brief extract;
“ …. A beautiful, gentle and pale young girl of sixteen or so sat. She had long shiny hair down to her waist. Next to her was another girl of about twelve, clutching the older girl’s arms. The older girl addressed Bai in this manner.
“Dear Uncle, we were being punished by the North Vietnamese. They took all our possessions and they sent our parents to death camps. My sister and I had no choice but to leave …...”
“Bai’s reply came in the form of three rapid deafening gunshots from his gun as he shot the girls at close range. I watched in shock as part of the older girl’s bloodied head landed on my feet. The two girl’s dark hair was matted with blood as they died in each other’s arms.”
Well that’s pretty dramatic, and although Loan is distraught and wipes the blood off her feet before running home as fast as she can, we move quickly on to another story about her father helping injured people. And just before that tale we hear of hundreds of people being shot as they went down the river on an overcrowded riverboat whist Loan and her family ate lunch by the shore. Loan ran to the pier and slipped onto the boat. And this is all written in such a detached and deadpan manner.
Now I could put this down to poor writing skills except for the fact that to assist her in authoring this book Legion actually hired a creative writing teacher who had “published several books on writing.” With such material available to her, you’d think a creative writing instructor would be able to really breathe life into these salient and arresting scenes, for there is much in the book that is appaling, monstrous and shocking, yet even with professional assistance Legion still fails to create emotion in the reader. And that’s how I read this book; interested but detached. It’s a crime that what should be such an absorbing tale leaves the reader feeling impassive.
Ah, who cares? 1 Star for ripping the reader off!
This was always going to be a 3 Star, but after ripping the reader off like that it’s never going to get more than 1 Star from me, and I certainly won’t be buying Book Two just out of principal because it finished on such a cheap shot. As far as authors are concerned, this is the ultimate sin. Bringing the story to a grinding halt without even dropping down through the gears first. What a scam! I hate that!
I’ve just checked the title and this book is called ‘The Ugly Daughter: A thrilling real life journey to self discovery, riches and spirituality.’ Riches? Spirituality? Where. We finish the book and the little girl, Loan, is poor as a church mouse. And the only spirituality is a few ghosts popping up every now and again.
Now I’ve just read the book description in detail, which I don’t always do, and found the line, “The second volume of the story, not yet released, is in production and has legal implications that have to be carefully managed. It covers their arrival in Australia and the challenges and nightmares that they faced there.” So I guess it’s there, in the small print. This is only half a book. You’ve got one story in two separate books, so you have to pay twice as much. I am really pissed off!
Dictionary.com describes a “series or group of plays, novels, operas, etc., that, although INDIVIDUALLY COMPLETE, are closely related in theme, sequence, or the like.” In ancient Greece, you’d have a series of COMPLETE and usually related tragedies.” And there’s the rub, for when you pick up a book you expect it to be complete of itself.
This isn’t. What a scam.
The Ugly Daughter could be such a fascinating story; it IS a fascinating story, it describes a world that most Europeans, North Americans and Australians know absolutely nothing about, life in Vietnam in the 1970s for a dysfunctional and penurious family, destined to become Vietnamese Boat People.
Julia Legion’s parents are ferocious in their violence towards each other, and Loan and her sisters were often caught in the crossfire.
However, and this is a BIG however, Legion writes about her life in such dispassionate terms that it becomes almost like reading a little girl’s diary. Events that would traumatise most children, possibly for life, are described in rather abstract and detached terms. For example, here’s a brief extract;
“ …. A beautiful, gentle and pale young girl of sixteen or so sat. She had long shiny hair down to her waist. Next to her was another girl of about twelve, clutching the older girl’s arms. The older girl addressed Bai in this manner.
“Dear Uncle, we were being punished by the North Vietnamese. They took all our possessions and they sent our parents to death camps. My sister and I had no choice but to leave …...”
“Bai’s reply came in the form of three rapid deafening gunshots from his gun as he shot the girls at close range. I watched in shock as part of the older girl’s bloodied head landed on my feet. The two girl’s dark hair was matted with blood as they died in each other’s arms.”
Well that’s pretty dramatic, and although Loan is distraught and wipes the blood off her feet before running home as fast as she can, we move quickly on to another story about her father helping injured people. And just before that tale we hear of hundreds of people being shot as they went down the river on an overcrowded riverboat whist Loan and her family ate lunch by the shore. Loan ran to the pier and slipped onto the boat. And this is all written in such a detached and deadpan manner.
Now I could put this down to poor writing skills except for the fact that to assist her in authoring this book Legion actually hired a creative writing teacher who had “published several books on writing.” With such material available to her, you’d think a creative writing instructor would be able to really breathe life into these salient and arresting scenes, for there is much in the book that is appaling, monstrous and shocking, yet even with professional assistance Legion still fails to create emotion in the reader. And that’s how I read this book; interested but detached. It’s a crime that what should be such an absorbing tale leaves the reader feeling impassive.
Ah, who cares? 1 Star for ripping the reader off!
March 1, 2014
I was enthralled from the first chapter. The author is an amazing woman to survive her journey so far after experiencing what she did. I really want to read more and find out what happened to her. Please hurry for part 2! The author paints a harrowing picture of the extremely poor and deprived living conditions, level of starvation and physical and emotional abuse she and her family experienced. I was very interested in the grandmother and how her love and devotion and that of other people at critical times made the difference between life and death, but also the author keeping hope, and a dream of a better life alive.
February 26, 2015
A free kindle book , which is poorly written still is stunning book about a Vietnamese girl child who lives in abject proverty in South Vietnam. Apparntly there will be a second book because this one left off without fulfilling the promise the author made at the beginning and has the reader hanging at the end.
January 10, 2015
Why do I read? I read to travel to other places. I read to get inside other people's lives and or minds. This book certainly satisfied all of that.
Reading about Julia Legian's life made me grateful I didn't have to live her life. Reading about her part of Vietnam made me grateful to be raised in Southern California and in the USA. Yet, I did feel enriched by reading about her young life.
Though it was a quick read, after all the author is still alive, the writing was done well. I was sorry to see the book end, but I think there may be more to come. No cliffhanger. Just as the family seems to be in a safe place, the book ended. I do look forward to reading more about the rest of Julia's life.
Oh, I guess I should tell you that Ms. Julia wrote to me to inform me that she was giving a Christmas gift of the book. Thank you. By presenting it as such, I felt no pressure to read it right away. Nor did I feel there was an expectation of a great review. I try to be honest even when that happens. By the way, it is only $2.99 or free on Kindle Unlimited.
Oh, maybe I should warn you of the abuse that could have triggers for those who have been through similar things. And this is post-war Vietnam so life is far from safe even in the best of circumstances. Still, it was nice to get to know her through her story.
Reading about Julia Legian's life made me grateful I didn't have to live her life. Reading about her part of Vietnam made me grateful to be raised in Southern California and in the USA. Yet, I did feel enriched by reading about her young life.
Though it was a quick read, after all the author is still alive, the writing was done well. I was sorry to see the book end, but I think there may be more to come. No cliffhanger. Just as the family seems to be in a safe place, the book ended. I do look forward to reading more about the rest of Julia's life.
Oh, I guess I should tell you that Ms. Julia wrote to me to inform me that she was giving a Christmas gift of the book. Thank you. By presenting it as such, I felt no pressure to read it right away. Nor did I feel there was an expectation of a great review. I try to be honest even when that happens. By the way, it is only $2.99 or free on Kindle Unlimited.
Oh, maybe I should warn you of the abuse that could have triggers for those who have been through similar things. And this is post-war Vietnam so life is far from safe even in the best of circumstances. Still, it was nice to get to know her through her story.
January 28, 2015
I found this memoir compelling and inspirational. I read it in two days, which means for me, I couldn't put it down.
Set in South Vietnam the story is told by Loan Thi Ngugen (author's given name) describing her horrific life as a young child. This is a story about survival and courage which takes you on an extraordinary journey that will pull at your heartstrings and make you feel thankful for all that you have.
Although facing many atrocities and sadness, young Loan is strong-willed and delightfully mischievous at times, which adds warmth and humour to the story. I felt compassion for Loan and was cheering for her all the way.
It's always great to learn more about foreign countries and their cultures and this story does that too. And as this is part one of Julia's story, it is unfinished, but I don't mind as I never like a great story to end. I am definitely looking forward to part two.
This memoir is raw and real and I would definitely recommend it to all.
Set in South Vietnam the story is told by Loan Thi Ngugen (author's given name) describing her horrific life as a young child. This is a story about survival and courage which takes you on an extraordinary journey that will pull at your heartstrings and make you feel thankful for all that you have.
Although facing many atrocities and sadness, young Loan is strong-willed and delightfully mischievous at times, which adds warmth and humour to the story. I felt compassion for Loan and was cheering for her all the way.
It's always great to learn more about foreign countries and their cultures and this story does that too. And as this is part one of Julia's story, it is unfinished, but I don't mind as I never like a great story to end. I am definitely looking forward to part two.
This memoir is raw and real and I would definitely recommend it to all.
May 28, 2015
Firstly, like many have said, this is raw and uncut, no sugarcoating here. If so, my God.
Julia Legian story starts off by her talking about her childhood. A childhood I find would be a difficult one to survive. Yet, I feel so many have and still do I suppose. She talks about an abusive mother, father, death, and war.
Julia shares how the hut/house she lived in is almost daily taken by the high tides. She also talk about faith, voodoo, and how her school was filled with human feces. All of this was within the first thirteenth chapters. Once I forgot I was reading a memoir. Truly, before we complain; someone could be worse off than us!
Lastly, I’ve heard many people talk about their childhood, but never before like this! The Ugly Daughter is truly an interesting read.
Julia Legian story starts off by her talking about her childhood. A childhood I find would be a difficult one to survive. Yet, I feel so many have and still do I suppose. She talks about an abusive mother, father, death, and war.
Julia shares how the hut/house she lived in is almost daily taken by the high tides. She also talk about faith, voodoo, and how her school was filled with human feces. All of this was within the first thirteenth chapters. Once I forgot I was reading a memoir. Truly, before we complain; someone could be worse off than us!
Lastly, I’ve heard many people talk about their childhood, but never before like this! The Ugly Daughter is truly an interesting read.
May 27, 2015
Loan's story is captivating, yet painful. The suffering and abuse she endured throughout her childhood makes you really feel for her character, wishing for some good fortune to come her way. The volume ended rather abruptly. I look forward to reading the next volume learn more about her story of survival.
May 3, 2015
This book is well written and chronicles the squalid conditions Loan was raised in. At the end of the book, she is a teenage refugee. It ends rather abruptly; I think there is a second book.
November 1, 2014
There is a familiar saying that conveys that often times, reality is far stranger than fiction. When in life, we encounter things that our imaginations could not have conjured up on our own, we often lament that “we couldn’t have written this stuff!” Julia Loan Legian’s life as told in the memoir The Ugly Daughter, which is also co-authored by Dawn Burke, is the embodiment of the aforementioned ideals.
Legian and Burke take us back to a time that we would all much rather have not have happened in our history as a human race, and show us the after effects that so many people were left with. We begin in Vietnam, in the late seventies and are immediately harkened by the remnants of a war gone by. The authors tell the story from the point of view of Legian, or as referred to in the book, Loan, as she looks back on her adolescent life, starting at age eight. The setting in which her story takes place is a startling reminder that wars don’t end when the treaties are signed, and that the land that these battles were fought upon remain ravaged for many years to come, leaving those who remain behind to live in lands that were unintended graveyards, haunted by events that they had no control over, and no escape from.
But Loan’s story does not focus on these wars of our past, but on the wars she faced as a child growing up in a place where the fighting, harshness, and brutality infiltrated the very souls of those living in the time in between battles. At the start of the story, Loan and her sister are living with their beloved grandmother, but because of a severe and brutal act of barbarism they were forced to leave and live with a new family. Loan and her sister are placed in a new home, with a handful of strangers in an environment that they would soon become all too familiar and comfortable with. Although calling their new residence a home is quite a generous description. Their new living quarters was basically a lean to, a hut with sheet for walls and mud for floors. And these new people are soon reveled to be the girl’s parents, and the remaining strangers are the girl’s younger sisters. When they arrived they did not arrive to a celebration, but to a knock down drag out argument between the parents. They beat each other verbally and physically with fervor and it seems with even some pleasure on the abuser’s part. Throughout this family’s time together in this particular home, the parents take turns brutally beating each other and their children relentlessly, leaving loan to pray that her grandmother would soon return.
From here the story takes us through the many different homes and families that Loan was shuffled to. Sometimes she was with family members and other times she was with onlookers who took pity on her and took her in, but there were only few things that remained constant: that wherever she went, abuse was always sure to greet her at her new destination, and that when those fleeting happy times did arrive, they were always going to be short lived.
Miraculously however, Loan seemed to find a few happy times in the midst of all the horror and tragedy that filled her life. She seemed to have easily made friends, and there are several endearing antidotes that talk of her quirky and carefree yet fiery spirit. She was determined to swim so badly that she listened to her friend’s ridiculous remedy of allowing a dragonfly to sting her belly repeatedly which would give the power to swim and once even told her sister while they were trying to steal some honey from a hive full of bees that if you can’t out run them then stand still and hold your breath and the bees will leave you alone because they won’t be able to detect you. It was amazing and heartening to see that even in these abysmal circumstances, Loan was still able to find laughter and amusement from time to time.
Even though Loan saw and told of things that most of us in our lifetimes will never even encounter once, I feel that the purpose of her book was not for the reader to feel sorry for her. It was also not for the reader to only feel shock at the horror of her circumstances, even though that was a large side effect to these retellings. As a reader I truly felt that in Legian sharing her story, it was to highlight the importance of faith. In every circumstance that she found herself in, she always relied on the necessity of her faith. Many of the scenarios she found herself in would have been too large for even the most cared for and self-affirmed adult could have handled, much less a, eight year old child with only abuse as her constant. She never felt weakness in turning to a greater force than herself in her times of need, and she always credits that faith for her eventual salvation from each hardship. Loan’s life is certainly one of the law two steps forward, one step back, but in her case it was two steps forward two miles back. Her resilience is something to be respected and replicated in ourselves, and the way to do that from Loan herself, is to trust in your faith.
Because of the extraordinary circumstances of Loan’s life, this book read more like a novel than it did a memoir, which I personally very much enjoyed. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It is a quick read that is full of twists and turns, even if those twists and turns are heartbreakingly tragic. It is a story of harrowing persistence, and the best part of it all is that the character, in which these awful situations molded and shaped, actually exists in this world, and has the opportunity to make it a better place. This book, I feel is only the beginning of those efforts, and I count myself lucky to have been someone touched by this story, and will live with her courage in mind when I find myself up against struggles that I think are too much for me to take. This is only the first part of her story, and I am on the edge of my seat for the next installment and will be one of the first in line to be able to read what comes next.
I also would like to add that the descriptions of abuse in this book are at times extremely vivid, and for someone who has been abused, these scenes would very easily be a trigger of response for them. I would recommend a disclaimer including this statement or one like it with the book to alert readers of the vivid nature of the violence this book contains.
Legian and Burke take us back to a time that we would all much rather have not have happened in our history as a human race, and show us the after effects that so many people were left with. We begin in Vietnam, in the late seventies and are immediately harkened by the remnants of a war gone by. The authors tell the story from the point of view of Legian, or as referred to in the book, Loan, as she looks back on her adolescent life, starting at age eight. The setting in which her story takes place is a startling reminder that wars don’t end when the treaties are signed, and that the land that these battles were fought upon remain ravaged for many years to come, leaving those who remain behind to live in lands that were unintended graveyards, haunted by events that they had no control over, and no escape from.
But Loan’s story does not focus on these wars of our past, but on the wars she faced as a child growing up in a place where the fighting, harshness, and brutality infiltrated the very souls of those living in the time in between battles. At the start of the story, Loan and her sister are living with their beloved grandmother, but because of a severe and brutal act of barbarism they were forced to leave and live with a new family. Loan and her sister are placed in a new home, with a handful of strangers in an environment that they would soon become all too familiar and comfortable with. Although calling their new residence a home is quite a generous description. Their new living quarters was basically a lean to, a hut with sheet for walls and mud for floors. And these new people are soon reveled to be the girl’s parents, and the remaining strangers are the girl’s younger sisters. When they arrived they did not arrive to a celebration, but to a knock down drag out argument between the parents. They beat each other verbally and physically with fervor and it seems with even some pleasure on the abuser’s part. Throughout this family’s time together in this particular home, the parents take turns brutally beating each other and their children relentlessly, leaving loan to pray that her grandmother would soon return.
From here the story takes us through the many different homes and families that Loan was shuffled to. Sometimes she was with family members and other times she was with onlookers who took pity on her and took her in, but there were only few things that remained constant: that wherever she went, abuse was always sure to greet her at her new destination, and that when those fleeting happy times did arrive, they were always going to be short lived.
Miraculously however, Loan seemed to find a few happy times in the midst of all the horror and tragedy that filled her life. She seemed to have easily made friends, and there are several endearing antidotes that talk of her quirky and carefree yet fiery spirit. She was determined to swim so badly that she listened to her friend’s ridiculous remedy of allowing a dragonfly to sting her belly repeatedly which would give the power to swim and once even told her sister while they were trying to steal some honey from a hive full of bees that if you can’t out run them then stand still and hold your breath and the bees will leave you alone because they won’t be able to detect you. It was amazing and heartening to see that even in these abysmal circumstances, Loan was still able to find laughter and amusement from time to time.
Even though Loan saw and told of things that most of us in our lifetimes will never even encounter once, I feel that the purpose of her book was not for the reader to feel sorry for her. It was also not for the reader to only feel shock at the horror of her circumstances, even though that was a large side effect to these retellings. As a reader I truly felt that in Legian sharing her story, it was to highlight the importance of faith. In every circumstance that she found herself in, she always relied on the necessity of her faith. Many of the scenarios she found herself in would have been too large for even the most cared for and self-affirmed adult could have handled, much less a, eight year old child with only abuse as her constant. She never felt weakness in turning to a greater force than herself in her times of need, and she always credits that faith for her eventual salvation from each hardship. Loan’s life is certainly one of the law two steps forward, one step back, but in her case it was two steps forward two miles back. Her resilience is something to be respected and replicated in ourselves, and the way to do that from Loan herself, is to trust in your faith.
Because of the extraordinary circumstances of Loan’s life, this book read more like a novel than it did a memoir, which I personally very much enjoyed. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It is a quick read that is full of twists and turns, even if those twists and turns are heartbreakingly tragic. It is a story of harrowing persistence, and the best part of it all is that the character, in which these awful situations molded and shaped, actually exists in this world, and has the opportunity to make it a better place. This book, I feel is only the beginning of those efforts, and I count myself lucky to have been someone touched by this story, and will live with her courage in mind when I find myself up against struggles that I think are too much for me to take. This is only the first part of her story, and I am on the edge of my seat for the next installment and will be one of the first in line to be able to read what comes next.
I also would like to add that the descriptions of abuse in this book are at times extremely vivid, and for someone who has been abused, these scenes would very easily be a trigger of response for them. I would recommend a disclaimer including this statement or one like it with the book to alert readers of the vivid nature of the violence this book contains.
March 12, 2019
"The Ugly Daughter" is based on a true story of a young girl named Loan and her family who lived in Vietnam in the 1970's. The family lived with poverty, family struggles and numerous adversity that they had to live through hardship, lack of love, poverty stricken and heart breaking where loosing important people in her life. Despite the hardships and challenges, Loan continues to live fiercely though her journey. A courageous spellbounding book from poor to riches and filled with spiritual moments that left me hopeful and on the edge of my seat.
The book ended with a cliff hanger, so note that this is the first part of the story as the second part is still on hold for legality reasons. I can't wait to read more of her story and I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand how to be resilient, conditions during the Vietnam war and the families that resided there.
The book ended with a cliff hanger, so note that this is the first part of the story as the second part is still on hold for legality reasons. I can't wait to read more of her story and I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand how to be resilient, conditions during the Vietnam war and the families that resided there.
May 12, 2014
I am happy to have received this book as a gift. I could not put it down.
It is a captivating story and a very easy read, though often the subject matter is hard on the heart. The author does a good job of drawing the reader in and holding their interest. She did a good job of capturing the voice of the child she was at the time. It was a pleasure to read a book that has been proofread and had no spelling or usage errors.
This woman had a fascinating childhood in Vietnam and Malaysia. The book covers her early childhood and escape from Vietnam.
The abuse she suffered, not only from her immediate family but the abuse that seems to be part of the culture is difficult to read. The atrocities this child witnessed and the dead bodies she had contact with at such an early age are hard for someone from the American Middle Class to comprehend. It amazes me when people can withstand such abuse without permanent physical or mental damage. I am sure it has taken a lot of strength and work to overcome the emotional damage. It is also hard to read about the physical deprivation and hardships of being poor in Vietnam.
I feel this is an important book to help us understand life in Vietnam after the war. For spending so many years at war in this country, most of us know almost nothing about life there.
I also appreciated the pictures in the book that help us to understand what the author is trying to convey.
It ends with a little cliffhanger and I look forward to reading the next volume.
It is a captivating story and a very easy read, though often the subject matter is hard on the heart. The author does a good job of drawing the reader in and holding their interest. She did a good job of capturing the voice of the child she was at the time. It was a pleasure to read a book that has been proofread and had no spelling or usage errors.
This woman had a fascinating childhood in Vietnam and Malaysia. The book covers her early childhood and escape from Vietnam.
The abuse she suffered, not only from her immediate family but the abuse that seems to be part of the culture is difficult to read. The atrocities this child witnessed and the dead bodies she had contact with at such an early age are hard for someone from the American Middle Class to comprehend. It amazes me when people can withstand such abuse without permanent physical or mental damage. I am sure it has taken a lot of strength and work to overcome the emotional damage. It is also hard to read about the physical deprivation and hardships of being poor in Vietnam.
I feel this is an important book to help us understand life in Vietnam after the war. For spending so many years at war in this country, most of us know almost nothing about life there.
I also appreciated the pictures in the book that help us to understand what the author is trying to convey.
It ends with a little cliffhanger and I look forward to reading the next volume.
January 22, 2015
I thought this book was very interesting to read about. I've never read a book like this before. I thought it was going to be really different than what it turned out to be. I mean I didn't know how bad it was in Vietnam. They had really really bad over there for a long time or until now. I thought it was interesting to find out about. The people over their were trying to do everything in their power to make their homes and have healthy children. It didn't seem to be working out. The children seemed to be getting the brute end of everything. It didn't seem to be fair to me. I thought they should of been able to do something better with the children. It was very sad to learn about.
The story does end abruptly so I can't wait to read the rest of the books!
The story does end abruptly so I can't wait to read the rest of the books!
March 20, 2014
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a raw and detailed account of a Vietnamese girl's formative years. I encourage you to read the book's summary and then imagine the shamefully unthinkable examples to prepare yourself before reading this true story. I respect anyone who would share their traumatic story artistically. It's construct is similar to a chronological diary however without dates. There aren't any lulls throughout because each account is captivating to all degrees.
This GOOD READ is a MUST READ. Bravo to the co- authors and thank you for your contribution to the literary world!!
This was a raw and detailed account of a Vietnamese girl's formative years. I encourage you to read the book's summary and then imagine the shamefully unthinkable examples to prepare yourself before reading this true story. I respect anyone who would share their traumatic story artistically. It's construct is similar to a chronological diary however without dates. There aren't any lulls throughout because each account is captivating to all degrees.
This GOOD READ is a MUST READ. Bravo to the co- authors and thank you for your contribution to the literary world!!
July 8, 2014
Written sometimes with the candid fervour of the child who went through all the episodes of poverty, violence and neglect, Julia Legian first volume of her memoir is very challenging for the reader. Born and raised in Vietnam for the first years of her life, Julia recounts in small details her first years of life, till the escape by boat to Malaysia and further on, to Australia, where she lives today. More about the review on my dedicated blog post: http://wildwritinglife.blogspot.de/20...
September 19, 2016
I knew this book was going to be a difficult read, but given the smiling face on the cover and what I know of Julia from online interviews and interaction on Goodreads, it was really surprising and downright shocking to discover the extent of her suffering and abuse. It is hard to imagine that anyone could even survive the hardships detailed in this book, much less grow into such a kind, generous, and happy person! Julia's life story of courage and determination can bring hope and encouragement for anyone who is struggling or suffering. She is definitely an inspiration to me.
March 14, 2014
This book is hard to review. It was an emotional read; very difficult because of the cruelty, violence, and tragedy. It's hard to believe that family members can be so cruel to each other. The book ends somewhat abruptly, but I would recommend it if you have a thick skin.
April 21, 2014
I loved this book even though it was hard to read about the life events that Julia has endured. It is a heartfelt book that is well written, very interesting, and gives the reader a real insight into a different kind of upbringing. I can't wait for the next book.
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