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The Boat
The title story is set in Vietnam, in a fishing trawler crowded with refugees, where a young woman's bond with a mother and her small son forces both women to a shattering decision.
Brilliant, daring, and demonstrating a jaw-dropping versatility of voice and point of view, The Boat is an extraordinary work of fiction that takes us to the heart of what it means to be human, and announces a writer of astonishing gifts.
Available at: www(dot)sbs(dot)com(dot)au/theboat/
Brilliant, daring, and demonstrating a jaw-dropping versatility of voice and point of view, The Boat is an extraordinary work of fiction that takes us to the heart of what it means to be human, and announces a writer of astonishing gifts.
Available at: www(dot)sbs(dot)com(dot)au/theboat/
49 pages, Interactive Graphic Novel
First published January 1, 2015
14 people want to read
About the author
Nam Le
27 books138 followersNam Le came to Australia from Vietnam with his parents, when he was less than a year old, as a boat refugee. He went to Melbourne Grammar School and the University of Melbourne, from where he graduated with a BA (Hons) and LLB (Hons). His Arts thesis supervisor was the Australian poet Chris Wallace-Crabbe. He worked as a corporate lawyer and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2003/2004.
However, he decided to turn to writing, and in 2004 attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop in the United States of America where he completed a Masters in Creative Writing. He became fiction editor at the Harvard Review. His first short story was published in Zoetrope in 2006. Nam Le also held fellowships at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown in 2006, and at the Phillips Exeter Academy, in 2007.
In an interview on Australian ABC radio, he said he turned from law to writing due to his love of reading: "I loved reading, and if you asked me why I decided to become a writer, that's the answer right there, because I was a reader and I was just so enthralled and thrilled by the stuff that I'd read that I just thought; what could be better? How could you possibly better spend your time than trying to recreate that feeling for other people". In the same interview he said that his first writing was poetry.
He returned to Australia in 2008, but is moving to Great Britain to take up a writing fellowship at the University of East Anglia.
When asked about his source of inspiration, Nam Le said in 2008 that "I’d say I’m most inspired by my parents for the choices and sacrifices they’ve made. It still boggles me".
However, he decided to turn to writing, and in 2004 attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop in the United States of America where he completed a Masters in Creative Writing. He became fiction editor at the Harvard Review. His first short story was published in Zoetrope in 2006. Nam Le also held fellowships at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown in 2006, and at the Phillips Exeter Academy, in 2007.
In an interview on Australian ABC radio, he said he turned from law to writing due to his love of reading: "I loved reading, and if you asked me why I decided to become a writer, that's the answer right there, because I was a reader and I was just so enthralled and thrilled by the stuff that I'd read that I just thought; what could be better? How could you possibly better spend your time than trying to recreate that feeling for other people". In the same interview he said that his first writing was poetry.
He returned to Australia in 2008, but is moving to Great Britain to take up a writing fellowship at the University of East Anglia.
When asked about his source of inspiration, Nam Le said in 2008 that "I’d say I’m most inspired by my parents for the choices and sacrifices they’ve made. It still boggles me".
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 23, 2020
OH MY GOD this was so heartbreaking
May 26, 2020
asian readathon book #8 ❀
April 5, 2020
https://www.sbs.com.au/theboat
I pay my internet subscription for THIS.
I pay my internet subscription for THIS.
May 31, 2020
The Interactive Web Comic aspect of this whole thing made this a superb experience. I loved the idea of reading through this in a "picture book" way with sound effects. It made this whole thing so interesting and scary and I loved it. The subject is very dark and based on the refugees from the Vietnam War back in the 70's and their escape to Australia and to have this as an interactive story, it made it like you were there and it made me feel so immersive and I couldn't look away from the screen while the page slowly scrolled down and you didn't know what sound effect or what pictures were coming next. Definitely, a fantastic experience and I need to find more comics done this way. I'm amazed by the work that was put into this and by the talent and creativity that went into this and I just loved it. What a great experience that was.
December 26, 2019
https://www.sbs.com.au/theboat/
It is only the titular story of the novel but really loved the experience of the website so had to share it! Read in about 15 minutes, I thought that it deserved more attention- especially considering the times we live in.
(Today, it is 26/12/2019 and there is a new wave of Syrian immigrants (250,000+ people) who had to leave their homes, has much changed?)
The story is about an immigrant who escapes the Vietnam War by going on a boat and I'll leave it at that. It's a graphic novel that should be delved into blindly- I think- or that's what worked for me.
Short and impactful, recommended for everyone who can spare 15 mins! (Thanks Cindy!)
It is only the titular story of the novel but really loved the experience of the website so had to share it! Read in about 15 minutes, I thought that it deserved more attention- especially considering the times we live in.
(Today, it is 26/12/2019 and there is a new wave of Syrian immigrants (250,000+ people) who had to leave their homes, has much changed?)
The story is about an immigrant who escapes the Vietnam War by going on a boat and I'll leave it at that. It's a graphic novel that should be delved into blindly- I think- or that's what worked for me.
Short and impactful, recommended for everyone who can spare 15 mins! (Thanks Cindy!)
May 27, 2020
Read for the Asian Readathon
The Boat
I really enjoyed the web comic. The animation and music enhanced the reading experience. I thought the art style was beautiful, yet disturbing. My only 'problem' was the writing style. In some parts it felt quite choppy and I didn't quite understand what was going on. This might be because of the language barrier. I would have liked there to be more historical context given, but I understand that there are limitations due to the format of a short story.
The Boat
I really enjoyed the web comic. The animation and music enhanced the reading experience. I thought the art style was beautiful, yet disturbing. My only 'problem' was the writing style. In some parts it felt quite choppy and I didn't quite understand what was going on. This might be because of the language barrier. I would have liked there to be more historical context given, but I understand that there are limitations due to the format of a short story.
May 14, 2021
I only read the interactive webcomic rather than the entire short story collection, but the webcomic is stunning. The production quality is incredible and I felt transported into the story. Please read if you want to experience a taste of the struggles that the Vietnamese boat people endured.
https://www.sbs.com.au/theboat/
https://www.sbs.com.au/theboat/
December 12, 2025
hjärtskärande.
Inte nog med historien, grafiska designen, ljuden och alla intryck förstärkte alla mina känslor. Hoppade till när hon blev slagen och när båten gick emot grund/eller bomb?
Underhållande medie, bidrar positivt men vill inte läsa t.ex. Werther på detta sätt - men i detta manuskript är de perfekt.
Stark, gripande, adhd-vänlig och jävlar va snabbt man ska läsa på Auto-scroll… rekommenderar att läsa men i egen skrolltakt
Inte nog med historien, grafiska designen, ljuden och alla intryck förstärkte alla mina känslor. Hoppade till när hon blev slagen och när båten gick emot grund/eller bomb?
Underhållande medie, bidrar positivt men vill inte läsa t.ex. Werther på detta sätt - men i detta manuskript är de perfekt.
Stark, gripande, adhd-vänlig och jävlar va snabbt man ska läsa på Auto-scroll… rekommenderar att läsa men i egen skrolltakt
March 31, 2024
Well, that made me cry. If you are thinking about reading this definitely try this webcomic.
April 3, 2026
short story in print was so good
June 17, 2020
I read the interactive webcomic for AAPI month and Asian Readathon.
Based on the titular short story in a larger collection of stories by Aussie Vietnamese writer Nam Le, this web comic can be likened in tone and genre to Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (with way less story) or Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini (but more graphic). But what this web comic lacks in length or plot points or clarity (it is a short story, after all) it more than makes up for in how interactive and immersive the whole reading experience is. The panels in this comic are animated and accompanied by sound effects to perfectly set the mood and tone of the story. The flow and layout, as well as smart choices made in the drawings themselves, are perfectly timed with all of the extra effects.
During a storm, the panels rock with the violent motions of the boat and are accompanied by thunder and a backdrop of shooting rain. When the passengers sing the haunting melodies of Vietnamese folk songs, we get to hear it, as well as read the lyrics and see Mai's memories that are surfaced by the singing.
In a few words, this story is heart wrenching and haunting, and I'm glad I finally got around to it.
Based on the titular short story in a larger collection of stories by Aussie Vietnamese writer Nam Le, this web comic can be likened in tone and genre to Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (with way less story) or Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini (but more graphic). But what this web comic lacks in length or plot points or clarity (it is a short story, after all) it more than makes up for in how interactive and immersive the whole reading experience is. The panels in this comic are animated and accompanied by sound effects to perfectly set the mood and tone of the story. The flow and layout, as well as smart choices made in the drawings themselves, are perfectly timed with all of the extra effects.
During a storm, the panels rock with the violent motions of the boat and are accompanied by thunder and a backdrop of shooting rain. When the passengers sing the haunting melodies of Vietnamese folk songs, we get to hear it, as well as read the lyrics and see Mai's memories that are surfaced by the singing.
In a few words, this story is heart wrenching and haunting, and I'm glad I finally got around to it.
May 13, 2019
This review is for the animated book that is online. There is a link in the book description. It is based on the short story "The Boat." The format for this book was amazing! I highly recommend putting on some headphones, clicking on full-screen and auto scroll, and just enjoying the format this story is told in. It is so immersive and adds a tone to the story that I don't know would have been there if I'd just read it. I'm not feeling very articulate, but it was moving.
The story itself was sad. I did go into this story not knowing anything about it though, so I don't know if that helped with enjoying the story. I would definitely recommend though if only for its originality.
I found this through the recommendation of readwithcindy on YouTube for the Asian Readathon.
Challenges:
2019 Goodreads Challenge
Asian Readathon
The story itself was sad. I did go into this story not knowing anything about it though, so I don't know if that helped with enjoying the story. I would definitely recommend though if only for its originality.
I found this through the recommendation of readwithcindy on YouTube for the Asian Readathon.
Challenges:
2019 Goodreads Challenge
Asian Readathon
May 1, 2020
Note: I read the online version, so my review is based on that.
This was a wonderfully immersive experience, with absolutely amazing animation, production quality, attention to detail, and sound design. I think that was its strongest point, and I do not think that I would've like it as much if I read a static graphic novel. The overall production alone would be 5 stars, but the actual story would be 3 stars. As someone who knows very little about this time period, it would've been nice to get a bit more historical information. When I started reading, I barely knew what was going on. However, I could bear to give such a visual masterpiece 3 stars, so I went in the middle with 4. Also, the fact that it's available for free online is another bonus!
Thank you for reading!
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This was a wonderfully immersive experience, with absolutely amazing animation, production quality, attention to detail, and sound design. I think that was its strongest point, and I do not think that I would've like it as much if I read a static graphic novel. The overall production alone would be 5 stars, but the actual story would be 3 stars. As someone who knows very little about this time period, it would've been nice to get a bit more historical information. When I started reading, I barely knew what was going on. However, I could bear to give such a visual masterpiece 3 stars, so I went in the middle with 4. Also, the fact that it's available for free online is another bonus!
Thank you for reading!
Blog | Tumblr | Pinterest
March 2, 2026
3.5*
rarely have i encountered graphic novels that are so well-written and designed. i loved this one since it was a very different reading experience. the audio in the background, the graphic novel being online, the heart-wrenching illustrations and the story, in general, left me shook and my eyebrows were locked in a frown the whole time i was reading this. mai is very resilient yet emotive — everything i love in a strong female protagonist. a lot of the illustrations were so intricate and painful to see. i loved truong too. the historical context, attached at the end of the novel, provided more clarity into the setting and atmosphere and i'd recommend this to anyone who is looking for a unique graphic novel to read but also a gut-wrenching story about love, loss, and natural disasters.
rarely have i encountered graphic novels that are so well-written and designed. i loved this one since it was a very different reading experience. the audio in the background, the graphic novel being online, the heart-wrenching illustrations and the story, in general, left me shook and my eyebrows were locked in a frown the whole time i was reading this. mai is very resilient yet emotive — everything i love in a strong female protagonist. a lot of the illustrations were so intricate and painful to see. i loved truong too. the historical context, attached at the end of the novel, provided more clarity into the setting and atmosphere and i'd recommend this to anyone who is looking for a unique graphic novel to read but also a gut-wrenching story about love, loss, and natural disasters.
April 28, 2021
You see a lot more of digital interactive fiction (the bulk of the story mainly being text, I mean), but man, whenever I find something like this that's so vivid, so rooted in truth and memory, in reality, I'm always blown away by the care and effort gone into what's first and foremost, an experience to be had.
Context enhances the story, in regards to the Vietnam War, especially on the side of the Vietnamese and not the more publicised point of view of the American sacrifice in the war, but even without it, the story really carries you through the grim, oppressive sensation of being lost at sea, lost at life and lost of a home.
Excellent design in sound, art and writing. Absolutely fantastic.
Context enhances the story, in regards to the Vietnam War, especially on the side of the Vietnamese and not the more publicised point of view of the American sacrifice in the war, but even without it, the story really carries you through the grim, oppressive sensation of being lost at sea, lost at life and lost of a home.
Excellent design in sound, art and writing. Absolutely fantastic.
Read
May 19, 2020i watched/read this...graphic novel? interactive story? yeah.
i don't know what to rate this, so i'm going to leave it blank. it feels weird to give this a rating anyway. but this was incredibly emotionally powerful and bleak, and i think people need to be careful when they read this. meaning, if you're feeling not at your best mental health, i think you should put this one off until you're ready. it's a lot. especially with the historical context at the end...nothing is more powerful than knowing something is based on real life (which i knew going in, but still, sometimes seeing the numbers for something like this is overwhelming.
overall, an exceptional production of a terrible and beautifully told story.
i don't know what to rate this, so i'm going to leave it blank. it feels weird to give this a rating anyway. but this was incredibly emotionally powerful and bleak, and i think people need to be careful when they read this. meaning, if you're feeling not at your best mental health, i think you should put this one off until you're ready. it's a lot. especially with the historical context at the end...nothing is more powerful than knowing something is based on real life (which i knew going in, but still, sometimes seeing the numbers for something like this is overwhelming.
overall, an exceptional production of a terrible and beautifully told story.
June 1, 2020
http://www.sbs.com.au/theboat/
This is an incredible webcomic adaptation of Nam Le's original short story The Boat. The story is interactive and completely immersive, with amazing sound and production quality. The text of the story itself is a bit sparse--following the experience of a girl named Mai escaping post-war Vietnam in a small boat filled with fellow refugees--but the experience of this webcomic adds dimension and emotion. The overall impact is intense and haunting. I really appreciated the inclusion of historic photos and video, which makes the story feel more vital. 3.5 stars
🌊 I read this title for the 2020 Asian Readathon! 🌊
This is an incredible webcomic adaptation of Nam Le's original short story The Boat. The story is interactive and completely immersive, with amazing sound and production quality. The text of the story itself is a bit sparse--following the experience of a girl named Mai escaping post-war Vietnam in a small boat filled with fellow refugees--but the experience of this webcomic adds dimension and emotion. The overall impact is intense and haunting. I really appreciated the inclusion of historic photos and video, which makes the story feel more vital. 3.5 stars
🌊 I read this title for the 2020 Asian Readathon! 🌊
May 3, 2020
This was a really well-designed story. The animations, the transitions, the sound effects and the atmosphere were all perfect. I would highly recommend reading this, especially since it's available online for free.
If I was judging this based on the story alone then I would rate it 3 stars. The length and choppy writing don’t provide much historical context and didn't help to make me emotionally connected to the characters.
However, I would highly recommend the webcomic.
If I was judging this based on the story alone then I would rate it 3 stars. The length and choppy writing don’t provide much historical context and didn't help to make me emotionally connected to the characters.
However, I would highly recommend the webcomic.
May 10, 2020
The production value on this online graphic novel was incredible. The sound effects made it so atmospheric. I wasn't super familiar with this part of history so its really useful being able to learn from a very emotive source. History books are important but I think it is also important to attempt to understand what it felt like and what the individual experience was like.
Also, recommend you click the arrows when you see them. They add to the story and take you back to the main story after.
Also, recommend you click the arrows when you see them. They add to the story and take you back to the main story after.
May 11, 2020
Essa webcomic é uma obra de arte, efeitos sonoros e gráficos que engrandecem imensamente a história e te aproximam mesmo que muito pouco da experiência das personagens em um barco de refugiados vietnamitas rumo à Austrália. Uma leitura importante.
É rápido de ler, mas isso de maneira nenhuma tira o quanto esse trabalho é impactante. Está gratuita neste link (http://www.sbs.com.au/theboat/) e eu recomendo MUITO.
É rápido de ler, mas isso de maneira nenhuma tira o quanto esse trabalho é impactante. Está gratuita neste link (http://www.sbs.com.au/theboat/) e eu recomendo MUITO.
April 14, 2020
Graphics were great but.... I don't think I'm reading this again anytime soon.
Or maybe I might have read this during night, and not during sunny spring noon.
It felt like I was watching an art exhibition at the national museum of Vietnam or Singapore. (I know this is not about Singapore, but for some reason, it reminded me of the museum I went couple of years ago there)
Or maybe I might have read this during night, and not during sunny spring noon.
It felt like I was watching an art exhibition at the national museum of Vietnam or Singapore. (I know this is not about Singapore, but for some reason, it reminded me of the museum I went couple of years ago there)
May 1, 2020
This was a beautifully told story. The soundtrack, the art, the movement... All of it came together to just enchant and draw me in and then to, ultimately, break my heart. I'm very interested to read the full story, but I think everyone should take the half an hour it takes to experience this story in this format.
May 10, 2020
The story, unfortunately, was very choppy and needed to be longer and go into more detail. Based on the story alone it would have been 3 stars. But what the story lacked was compensated on the production value of this online comic. It's my first time seeing anything like this. I really think it was well done. because of the innovative storytelling, I think it bumped it up a full star.
May 26, 2021
The animations, art, and music were absolutely amazing. They made the story come to life in such a unique way. I was confused at some parts each chapter was disjointed and separate from the previous one. Some of the chapters did not give enough context to the story I wished there was more given. It's still worth checking out this interactive graphic novel is such an immersive experience.
May 26, 2019
I read the online graphic novel version of this story, which included sound effects, drawings and photographs. It was a very well-done, brief, yet moving, account of one girls experience onboard a fishing boat full of Vietnamese refugees.
May 1, 2020
this was really such an outstanding experience. like nothing i've ever seen before. it wove together all these types of media seamlessly wherein i feel everything is chosen to carefully & beautifully.
May 10, 2020
Read as a part of the #AsianReadathon2020
Ethnicity represented: 🇻🇳
Thoughts: My first webcomic ever. A touching story with nice animation and evocative sound effects. Could have been a little longer, especially the last "educational" slide.
Ethnicity represented: 🇻🇳
Thoughts: My first webcomic ever. A touching story with nice animation and evocative sound effects. Could have been a little longer, especially the last "educational" slide.
May 14, 2020
I read the graphic novel produced by SBS and while I appreciated the intricate design process of the novel, I didn't find the writing to be compelling or fluid enough to be impressive. I could sort of put the pieces together, but the writing didn't move me despite the heaviness of the story.
April 18, 2019
I am totally geeking out over this interactive reading experience. I can’t wait to check out more digital stories. This genre is fascinating and engaging.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews