A memoir of a South Vietnamese Colonel's daughter, chronicling the tumultuous years growing up in a war-torn country of Vietnam, and the abrupt and brutal regime change that forced her disruptive and disorienting coming of age between two vastly different cultures.
My favourite book I've read all summer. I recommend this to EVERYONE. It is a rare gem, easy to read and understand, while expressing powerful emotions and action. The author speaks in a clear and simple voice, telling the story of her life as a child during the Vietnam War. As her social status grew and fell, her family remained the most important part of her life. Richly detailed and lovingly explained, this memoir lucidly expresses the fear, pain, loneliness, irritation, mourning, love, and hope of a family sticking together to beat all the odds. The fact that the author originally wrote this for her daughter, as a sort of family history, makes each word more precious. The truth is told without pity or anger, just love. If you ever want to read an immigrant's story, or sense the bravery of a girl on her journey to freedom, this book encapsulates the inspiration we all hope for. Thank you, Hoang Chi Truong, for sharing your story with us.
I feel I know Hoang Chi Truong as a long lost childhood friend after reading this well written biography. We lived on the same timeline living parallel lives as children and teenagers; listening and watching the same shows, music and had many similar thoughts and fears. . Reflecting back upon our wonder years I truly feel a lot of my childhood friends whom I grew up with see these confusing times differently now in hindsight. Most of us so called "Military Brats" were being raised under the protective military wing of our parents and didn't understand how come some of our daddy's or brothers never came back home to us or what they were fighting for. Reading this thought provoking story of a little Vietnamese girl and her family brought a human element to what I didn't understand and enlightened me to many of my personal misconceptions of the Vietnam War. The world our children will inherit seems a lot more desensitized now and I can't help but wonder who holds the master plans that keeps senseless wars continuing. Through this opening line in communication between the children of the Vietnam era maybe humanity has a graceful opportunity to ask the hard questions and come together in the understanding that all people are worthy of a safe home and protection from harm.
"Do you see how beautifully this hardship has shaped and formed the stretching branches and foliage, like long slender fingers pointing toward the sea?" Hoang Chi Truong's autobiography is a fascinating story on many levels: as an insight into Vietnamese culture, both before and after the war; as a harrowing tale of the upheaval and existential terror of having to flee your own country to save your life; of the nuanced and changing feelings towards the culture and people that take you in as a refugee. I found the story gripping from start to finish. The language is precise and evocative, with moments of poetic beauty, such as the quote above. I recommend you read the story of TigerFish, not only for its own many merits, but as a stark reminder of the need for countries to be bigger and wiser and kinder towards refugees.
This is one of those books that can take you to places you've never been. In this case, that place was within the life of a young Vietnamese woman during the years of war that ravaged her country, eventually forcing her family to flee and find refuge in the US. Wonderfully told as a letter to her children, the author permeates both historical information as well as personal triumphs and tragedies. Speaking in a relaxed, conversational tone, you are transported to the many homes she lived in with her army office father, mother, grandmother, and many brothers and sisters. Her descriptions bring the environments and characters to life. You may even find yourself tasting the foods she writes about. What a wonderful 'coming of age' story during such a violent and turbulent time. High praises and highly recommended reading!
In this autobiographical letter to her descendants, Truong tells of her life in VietNam before she left in 1975. Her father was an officer in the South VietNamese military and was away much of the time. She was one of 7 children, and well schooled in manners, respect, and independence. She loved her mother and the various people in their household, and was vaguely aware that her life was different from those around her because the children at school treated her with disdain, saying that she was spoiled.
She didn't feel spoiled. She felt uprooted, as the family moved from place to place to be near her father and to be safe. Finally, they moved to the U.S.
The details of daily life and how she thought about things are the strengths of this memoir; for example, on the day that they had to leave the home country, she worried about her favorite shoes, a kid-like thing to worry about, as well as for the safety of her family. As they lived in a refugee camp, she was aware that she couldn't have dinner with others because she had no shoes...again, a very child-like thing to focus on. The writer's ability to include these details makes the memoir real.
She also writes about going through junior high school, a hell if ever there was one. The other kids did none of the things that her classmates in VietNam had done. They didn't listen to the teacher, they didn't take notes, they didn't bring materials, they didn't dress or speak respectfully. She was astonished, as most immigrants are when they find out what American schools -- at least those in less than wealthy areas -- are like.
I read TigerFish over two days, and only put it down because I thought I'd better go to sleep. This autobiography of war torn Vietnam and the family that lived through it and fought for preservation, had me fighting alongside them all the way through. Hoang Chi's story of herself and her families' experiences made me in awe of the strength and unity amongst them. Her description of the places and devastation she witnessed as a child made me horrified and captured my imagination almost as if I was with her. When they eventually made it to America I felt like cheering, but when they were sponsored by the first couple I wanted to rage over the injustice of it all. Things got better of course especially when Hoang Chi met her true love Chris and even though her parents didn't approve she fought for her happiness and love prevailed. I would thoroughly recommend this excellent autobiography. Hoang Chi's' skill as a writer shows through in every page, it raised my awareness of the struggles that the people of Vietnam had to go through. All I can say is read this book, don't miss out on this amazing truth.
I found Tiger Fish to be a very emotional, thought provoking and disturbing read. I had mixed feelings. This was a very turbulent and angry time. I did not agree nor did I support this so very controversial war in a small country on the other side of the world. It did not make sense to me. However, I did support and had the utmost respect for those who served and fought in this war and those who gave their lives without really knowing the reasons why. The devastation was tremendous for all affected. Having read TigerFish, I have a better understanding of both sides of the bullet. I now have a frame of reference through the eyes of a thirteen year old girl who lost a shoe while running and fleeing for her life admist being fired and bombed upon. War does have a way of distinguishing between what is important and what is not...This same gutsy, yet timid, girl found the strength and perseverance to assimilate into America while still holding on to her own heritage. Hoang Chi Truong has managed to build a literary bridge to heal a nation’s old wounds and those wounded with compassion and understanding. I read TigerFish with tears as I held her in my hands.
Many parts of the world are suffering a refugee crisis as we speak and it is easy to forget that waves of forced emigration have been happening for years and event centuries, most predominantly in times of war.
In her remarkable debut novel, Tigerfish, HoangChi Smith (nee Truong) reminds of us of the struggles faced by Southern Vietnamese families who were forced to flee death or imprisonment after the fall of Saigon, as the Vietnam war came to a close in 1975.
Her memoir, written for her daughter, is a fascinating tale of what is was like for Truong and her large family, to adjust from their privileged life in their home country, to refugee status in America, starting all over again. The story of the family’s assimilation, told through the innocent eyes of young ‘Chi’ is an endearing one. Beautifully and honestly written, it will no doubt resonate with many who have faced similar circumstances, out of their control, and survived to share their experiences with younger generations.
Hoang has written a moving memoir about her and her family's escape from Viet Nam. Her storytelling ability transports the reader. You get a palpable feel for the fear she experienced but also for the struggle her parents experienced to keep the family together with chaos and uncertainty all around them. However this book is also more than just the Troung family's dangerous journey, it's also a YA coming of age story. Hoang shares the real emotions of young girl in a large family coupled with the political unrest that constantly threatens the family.
Tigerfish is a wonderful book. Author Hoang Chi Truong portrays a detailed, vivid picture of a life and experience in Vietnam that I would not otherwise have been exposed to. Truong's impeccable attention to detail is truly second to none. The memories that she describes are so specific and very well-written that they told an incredibly engaging story that piqued my interest from start to finish. Growing up during the time period of the Vietnam War, I had always seen images of the author's native country, but never had any true insight to a life there. Tigerfish gave me a look into someplace I've always heard about and showed me a unique and vivid perspective. Not having been to Vietnam myself, I was transported through literature in a wonderful way. This incredible picture of the every day struggle of a refugee is a must-read for anyone looking for insight on the American refugee experience. Tigerfish is heartfelt, personal and riveting the whole way through.
This book thrilled me in personal ways. It is the true story of a harrowing escape which ultimately led to a life in the U.S. Author arrived in Fresno at age 13 with her parents and brothers and sisters. Her father was a high ranking colonel who aided American troops under the command of Lt Colonel W. Ray Bradley (General Omar Bradley's son). The author has put her heart and soul into sharing her experience. Fresno is my home town and it was my church, Bethel Lutheran, that sponsored her family of nine in the late 70's. This story is a gift in that it shows what can happen when we help others and how far forward it goes.
Chi attended Hoover High School and graduated from Fresno State. Before publishing her book, she served as the GIS Chief for Emergency Response at the California Governor's Office. She has taken time off to promote her book. She spoke to my book club a few days ago, went to coffee with a few of us yesterday morning at La Boulangerie and has had an event at Petunia's Place Children's Bookstore. She has been approached to be on PBS in a Ken Burns documentary on Vietnam.
This book was interesting, but I was also a little disappointed. The most interesting part to me was when she relocated to Fresno (because that’s where I live!). (I also learned of her book through a local publication here.). I found some of the earlier parts (the first 100 pages of so) a bit tedious, but I realize that for her it was an exercise of recording and preserving her memories of her early childhood and having a memento for her daughter.
The narrative itself is somewhat choppy and verbose and the story ends abruptly when the author is 16 and meets her first boyfriend, a Caucasian (whom we later learns becomes her husband six years later after much family turmoil because of the different ethnicities). I would’ve liked to hear more about that transition. I would also would like to hear more about what happened to all her siblings that we become acquainted with in the story. It’s obvious that her relationship with her mother was or is strained, and I would’ve liked more detail on that. Plus, of the eleven children, the last is born in the US and I found that interesting as well, but little information offered. I was very impressed with how resourceful her father was in keeping the family together (all 9 of them: though 3 adult brothers get left behind), escaping Vietnam, and being able to adapt and relocate within the US (first to Camp Pendleton, then Wyoming, then Fresno, CA). Also, his ability to navigate Fresno and its schools and put his family in a position to get the best education possible. (Though I wonder if oldest sister Kim Chi ever did get to go to school vs. working jobs to support the family). I have always been in awe of first-generation immigrants/refugees who sacrifice their position in life in order to improve the lives of their offspring and lineage.
The author is repeatedly touched by the kindness of those who aid her family and those memories are indelible. A stark contrast to the unscrupulous couple who exploited their family in Wyoming. The contrasting experiences made me wonder about the refugees of today’s time and the sponsors who help them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
TigerFish is a detailed and heartfelt love letter to her children. As a Vietnamese refugee in the mid-1970’s, Trương chronicles her strict but delightful childhood experiences. Her life is recalled through the raw terror from fleeing her homeland to the trauma of being repatriated in the United States. Not only does this book feature her life, but it captures the sights, smells, fears and cries of innocence robbed. Trương shares historical and cultural details to the reader, to the point that we can travel back in time with her. TigerFish gives shocking, yet poignant details of how each family member survived the horrors of war. She was able to illustrate sympathy, empathy fear, and love - - not just for her family, but for everyone she met along the way. TigerFish invited me to question my beliefs about war, history, religion, culture clashes and loyalty. Truong’s experiences allowed her the ability to save a place in her heart for her one true love, and from this love, her children can understand and know her. TigerFish is the genesis of their identity. It teaches them how to navigate the ebb and flows of the life and gives birth to a generational foothold into a legacy that will continue to blossom with time. Sacrifice, respect, commitment, unconditional love, and honesty are woven throughout this book. Trương leaves no stone unturned as she pours out her heart and soul to connect her words to the reader. Everyone can benefit from reading this book. You cannot remain unchanged as you partake in her journey. Many of us refuse to leave the past. TigerFish shares the past and reveals the present. It allows us to use tragedies as springboards to the future. The book makes it possible to discover our own ‘TigerFish,' and it has encouraged me to feel pain, move on, never forget and to continue to love."
I am really glad I read this book. Evidently the author wrote this as a memoir for her daughter - to explain her heritage and give her a background of why she is the way she is! It was fascinating to read about Chi's life in Vietnam, before the war and after the fall of DaNang, where they lived. There were a lot of kids in the family and her parents definitely valued education. I can't even imagine the culture shock of coming to America and trying to blend in. And I appreciate the difficulty of coming to terms with American brashness and disrespect for elders and the Vietnamese emphasis on loyalty and obedience to parents. The writing of the book was ok - a bit repetitious at times. But the "story" she shared was worth it. And the ending was very sweet.
This book is a beautiful and honest coming of age memoir following a girl who witnessed the horror of the Vietnam War through her family’s journey through acculturation in America. Its an inspiring story and one from a unique perspective especially here in the US when the story of our involvement in Vietnam has been regulated to a paragraph in a history book and maybe one question on a history test. Rarely is anything mentioned about the Vietnamese who helped the Americans and even less is told about what happened to their families. I would hope this book became required reading in some history and some sociology classes in the near future. This book is a definite must read .
I don't generally read a lot of memoirs, but this story is captivating from the beginning to the end. The writing is beautiful and enables the reader to visualize the sights, smells and sounds depicted in each scene. The writer is also quite vulnerable, and I am impressed by her ability to share such devasting moments with her readers. The writer's vulnerability helped me feel a connection to her and her family. TigerFish is certainly a book you need to add to your reading list!
As a teenager and young adult during the Vietnam war, I have vivid memories of what I saw of the was on TV and the fall of Saigon. However, I was pretty much unaware of the struggles the refugees had after they came to America. This very personal story will make you think about the plight of all refugees everywhere.
nonfiction; family memoir A family history documenting the author's experiences growing up in 1960s S. Vietnam, becoming a refugee in '75, coming to US at age 13 and adjusting to American culture/life as a teen. I wish I had as thoughtful a record for my own family's history.
I actively seek out other's stories who deal with an inner dictomy.
I can only empathize in a very small way with the author. Not wholly, not the depth of their experiences, but rather that schism of self.
But I want to hear their stories. Perspectives. Survival. Their unique differing ideas.
Hoàng Chi Trương chronicles her life eloquently and beautiful, from her earliest memories, her childhood in Vietnam during the rising of and ultimate fall to the Viet Cong, fleeing to America and her struggles in bridging a dual sense of self, East & West, culminating in her moment of self-acceptance.
While this is a memoir, it is also a love-letter of sorts to her daughter, literally opening as such. It’s poignant, tear-jerking, soul-breaking, and heart-mending all at once.
It’s an eye-opening look into an asylum-seeker’s journey, emotional and physical, while coming to America and coming of age, simultaneously.
Her story reminds me and reaffirms my belief that, while the US isn't perfect, we are all so incredibly blessed to be here, with the freedoms enjoyed.
“[My father said] we didn’t come to America merely for economic reasons ...
He wanted to be in America for a safe & brighter future for his children & their descendants, in a place where we could pursue higher education ...
for us to be well-educated individuals who could think broadly, find personal fulfillment, & be a positive influence in society.”
I received my pre-ordered Tigerfish, in April, and read it deliberately, to savor rather than gulp the story. It's gripping, rings totally valid, and stays true to her story even if that story could be embellished to be a "better" one. Chi's story brings her life straight to the reader with reality steaming out of every chapter. She's telling it like it was - from Vietnamese traditions and customs, the happiness and frustrations of early childhood insulated from the outside world as only an Asian family does it, to her coming of age in a new land and culture, clashing with her Vietnamese roots. As Farmers' Insurances says, "I know a thing or two because I've seen a thing or two." I saw Vietnam from the US military viewpoint for a year in '67-'68. My own wife's family were chronic refugees in China during the revolution, and my wife was a literal "boat person," born on a ship leaving port just ahead of the oncoming army. I helped refugees as a volunteer in Guam in 1975 and saw the chaos they experienced there. And I worked with resettled refugee families in the US. Chi brings the emotions and facts of such situations to life in Tigerfish, and brings her life lesson to the reader - persevere.
This book really gave insight into what immigrant life is like and was like for this family... really makes you appreciate their efforts to find their way in the US. Inspiring and interesting
I found TigerFish to be fascinating! I loved how Truong was able to share her story in a way that was both moving and relatable, bringing together some of the horrors of war and the refugee experience, with humor and wonder in her coming-of-age story. Though originally written for her children, I believe Truong’s story is especially poignant at this time. Too often, it’s easy to label those of another skin color, country, or religion as “other.” Yet in sharing her story, Truong gives us a powerful reminder that beyond the labels, refugees and immigrants are human beings, just like us. Through this inspiring account of her experience as a refugee and building a new life in America, Truong thoughtfully reminds us that we (all of humanity) have so much in common, if we will only have the courage and compassion to reach out and connect.