Crossing the Bamboo Bridge: Memoirs of a Bad Luck Girl

by Mai Donohue

This vivid, compulsively readable memoir of courage, grief and redemption illuminates the life of Mai, a young girl from Vietnam’s rice fields, who risks everything to escape poverty, abuse and war. Her battle is not against soldiers but against her neighbors and a thousand years of tradition. Born during Ho Chi Minh’s revolution against the French, she was just a baby when his followers in the village, out of spite, came to her home one night and murdered the men in the family, driving her mother mad with fear and rage. She was fourteen when her mother forced her to marry and have a child with a brutal man who beat and tortured her, finally leaving her for dead beside the road. Recovered, she ran away with her infant son, only to discover there was no place for them. To save her baby’s life, she returned home in disgrace, only to face the Viet Cong. In desperation she escaped again, leaving her child in safety, she thought. On Saigon’s deadly streets, with no identity papers, she became an outlaw, hiding from her ex-husband, grieving for her lost child. Homeless, penniless and pursued, only her dream of freedom kept her alive. Then one day she would meet a saintly woman, who gave her hope, and an Irish-American naval officer, who gave her love. Crossing the Bamboo Bridge is a tale of mothers and daughters, and of their children. It is a tale of war, and grief, and a young girl’s dreams. It is a stunning epiphany of hope where there is none, of courage in the face of despair, of love, respect and freedom.

Genres: Book Club, Memoir

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2016

About the author

Mai Donohue left Vietnam in 1970 to move to the United States with her husband Brian. Mother of seven children, Mai received her Bachelor’s Degree, cum laude, from the University of Rhode Island in 2002 after twelve years of study.

After raising her children Mai worked with students in the Alternate Learning Program at Barrington High School in Rhode Island for fifteen years.

Mai grew up in a country at war. Her small village, Thong An Ninh village in the Quang Ngai Province in the central region of Vietnam, was torn between north and south. From age 7, too small and frail to work in the fields, Mai cared for her nieces and nephews, winning their hearts with stories and delicious meals.

Some sixty years later, Mai still wins people’s heart with her inspirational stories and delicious cuisine. She has precise taste memory, and can reproduce a dish after tasting it once, even recalling flavors from 30 years ago. She spreads the love with food through cooking for community dinners to raise funds for orphanages and infrastructure for underserved children in Vietnam and schools in need in the U.S.

In her first book "Crossing the Bamboo Bridge - Memoirs of a Bad Luck Girl, " Mai tells her inspirational life-story of poverty, rebellion, and war.

Reviews

[Marcus Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mai Donahue is a true warrior and inspiration. Reading her memoirs gives a different level of perspective and I think there is something for everyone to take away from reading about what she overcame.

[Karen Schnabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courageous lady with such a good soul. I am happy to know her and yo have heard some of her memories firsthand.

[Suzanne Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had the great pleasure and honor of being Mai's friend and colleague for many years, and as life would have it, I thought I knew most of the details of her improbable journey from Vietnam to the United States. Throughout the years, Mrs. Donohue has shared her firsthand account of living in the Vietnam War Era to my American Literature and American Studies classes. Even though I have listened, wept, and laughed with her at every telling of her tale to my students, and have shared many lunchtime conversations in our teacher's room at the high school Mai dedicated her time to, I was not prepared for the overwhelming and complex details of Mai's challenges, as told in Crossing the Bamboo Bridge. The strength, conviction, intelligence, self-respect and delightful sassiness of Mai's younger self is palpable and colorfully illustrated in her storytelling. I feel lucky to have heard her story in person, as it is inspiring and provides a younger generation of Americans necessary perspective of what it means to fight for the life you deserve, but I also feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to read her memoir. I will never forget the stories told, from insisting that she receive an education as a young girl, to setting out completely on her own in war-torn Vietnam to protect herself from the violence of an abusive first marriage, to finding truth and respect from the man with whom she eventually marries and raises a family. This is truly a story of survival, courage, and faith - from one who all odds seemed stacked against.
As always, Mai does not disappoint.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of perseverance and love is truly remarkable. Mai wonderfully describes her trials in life against what seem to be impossible adversity. It is the type of book that inspires hope and faith.

I met Mai through the East Bay Toastmasters a number of years ago . Through her speeches, many f which touched upon her past, the other toastmasters got to know a truly remarkable woman.

[NG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Local author tells of her experiences growing up in Viet Nam. Had the pleasure of hearing her speak and talking to her afterwards.

[Katarina Lukacsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unwaveringly captivating and tirelessly gut-wrenching, the story of Mai’s life is presented to us through a cozily simple language yet the reader is fully immersed into the horrors of the daily struggles through her affable narrative.

Mai opens before us a window into a deeply conservative and reserved culture challenged by difficulties of the unfolding war and its effects on the Vietnam society and family dynamics. We watch Mai traverse the grueling Vietnam landscape literally as well as figuratively, manifesting striking levels of physical and mental resilience.

With a clear objective in her mind for how she wants her life to be, Mai delicately mixes humble obedience with likable roguery. Unlike for many in her class and position, working hard is not the end goal for her. It is merely a tool that provides her the means to move closer to her dreams. Her sharp intuition and ingenious resourcefulness unlocks the door to her literacy, understanding of the western ways and the English language.

Mai’s relentless determination and steadfast resolve to only ever move forward in her life paves her way to true love. The bad luck runs out and a Vietnamese country girl finds her independence, freedom and profound happiness by the side of the man she chooses for life.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crossing the Bamboo Bridge is an extraordinary memoir. If you didn’t know better you would think it was a book of fiction about a child who grew up in the worst of circumstances, in a world of too little of everything; too little food, too little shelter, too little opportunity and too little love. And yet this is a true story and somehow the child rises above her circumstances by refusing to accept what life offered her. She does this as a uneducated country’s girl in a country where class distinctions are rigid and where people of her stature are treated as worthless and capable of only the lowest occupations. Like in a fairy tale Mai overcomes her hardships with the help of people who magically develop a strong affection for her. They help her survive in the turmoil of Vietnam during its long standing war with itself. This war even provides her with the Prince Charming of this fairy tale who eventually takes her to America where she accomplishes all of those things she was denied in her own country. It is a fascinating story which will remind you that good things are possible for any person in the vicissitudes of life.

[Bigi Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a woman with grit and determination who from childhood wished to escape from the boundaries imposed upon her by her culture. That she survived at all after being beaten, contantly disparaged and after suffering horribly for just being wretchedly poor is amazing. In a time of heightened sensibility about male domination this book made me realize how little we know about the indignities women suffer in so many parts of the world where women are schooled from childhood on to be compliant to the men around them. Something in Mai made her want to live by her own terms, no matter what the consequences might be. An unusual heroine.

[Peter Quesnel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Mai's story of struggle and hardship is like going through it all with her. At least emotionally. As a reader I kept hoping for some good luck to come her way. But, the relentless series of impossible situations never seemed to end, and her dreams of escaping her situation and finding a better life seemed insurmountable. Mai survived a culture and a society that seemed determined to keep her defeated through her determination and, ironically, through the good luck of meeting and falling in love with an American soldier in Vietnam for the war. The woman cursed with bad luck finally repudiates the curse and finds love.

[Diane Luzar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story about a young Vietnamese girl who grew up during the Vietnam War and how her family was affected. She was made to go through many of their customs, not all very good. I've read other true stories like this and am always amazed at the resilience of people. Even though she had many bad things happen to her, she carried on with life, became an adult and put it all behind her. Met her true love, an American service man that she met in Vietnam. Married and had more children.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping memoir that takes us from a small village in rural Vietnam to the slums and mansions of Saigon during wartime. A young girl, constantly berated by her mother and siblings for being "selfish," must overcome terrible circumstances and crushed dreams in order to succeed. Mai's is a journey of tremendous ups and downs, as she fights to be a woman with a future. An inspirational story of perseverance.

[Martha Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must-Read Memoir

You’ll find it difficult to pause your reading of this riveting memoir. Written from the heart, Mai Donohue paints vivid pictures of the abject poverty and cruelty that defined her childhood, as well as her indomitable strength and courage as she sought a better life for herself. Brava, Mrs. Donohue!

[SkyeBlue Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended!

I highly recommend this book. I could not put it down. I read the entire book in less than 24 hours. The strength and courage of Mai is beyond anything I've ever experienced. You deserve all of the happiness this world has to offer.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I stumbled across this book while browsing bol.com! No matter how many lemons life threw at her she still managed to press them into lemonade. I also enjoy learning about Vietnam's history and the culture.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book--sometimes I had to remind myself that this was NOT fiction! Mai--you are truly inspirational!

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent writing - I hope to meet the author some day. She is an amazing woman.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mai came to speak at our Rotary club- I was drawn to her great personality from the start- Loved the book- her story was tough and she was tougher. Let love conquer all in the end.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this one down. Mai's life was fascinating to read- many ups and downs and a beautiful ending.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible memoir of trauma and triumph. In her wonderfully unique voice, Mai Donohue details growing up against the backdrop of poverty and the Vietnam war. An absolute page turner.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read & I was fortunate to meet the author ~ a strong & fascinating woman!

[Maggie Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written, brutally honest autobiography by an incredible woman. It is very hard to put down because you are so worried about what is going to happen to Mai. Wow!

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating memoir of the author's life growing up in war-torn Viet Nam. Her life as a woman there was harsh, to say the least. She was forced into marriage at 13 and gave birth soon after. Her story is gut-wrenching, but ends happily.

[PHarrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought she'd never make it out of that awful life. Such an uplifting story -- makes me feel incredibly grateful for the life I have had.

[Judith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Crossing the Bamboo Bridge: Memoirs of a Bad Luck Girl by Mai Donahue follows her from childhood poverty in rural Vietnam to Saigon during the war where she met her American husband. Reading about the abasement of women and girls in Vietnam, not to mention in wartime conditions, was not surprising, but it was painful even so. Her extraordinary courage and stamina saw her through punishing conditions and mistreatment to meet the man she loves.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this true story...her life is very sad but it turns out well. Recently met the author. You just cannot imagine what those people went through.