Play Book Tag discussion

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai - 4* - My Review

The Mountains Sing tells the intertwined stories of three generations of Vietnamese women - grandmother Diệu Lan, her daughter Ngọc, a doctor, and her granddaughter Hương. It is a story of a family torn apart by war. It is told in alternating perspectives: Diệu Lan's memories of surviving land reform, famine, and displacement, and young Hương's coming-of-age in North Vietnam during what they called the American War (and Americans call the Vietnam War). Ngọc is a doctor who volunteers to go south during the war to search for Hương's father, who has been missing for four years, leaving Hương with her grandmother. Ngọc comes home badly traumatized.

It covers events that took place in what was, at the time, both North and South Vietnam, with family members occasionally pitted against each other. The historical details feel authentic and well-researched. I have not found many books that address this time in history from a Vietnamese perspective. It helps that the author was born in Vietnam and has intimate knowledge of the culture. The prose references Vietnamese proverbs, folk wisdom, and the importance of ancestral reverence. The descriptions of food, landscape, and daily rituals create a vivid sense of place. The voice never feels overly explanatory and is accessible to those unfamiliar with Vietnamese culture.

This book sheds light on one of the 20th century's most complex conflicts through the eyes of the local people. It will appeal particularly to readers interested in realistic historical fiction, multigenerational sagas, and stories of resilience in the face of adversity. It is a reminder that every historical tragedy contains countless individual stories of love, loss, and survival – on both sides. It is certainly an ambitious undertaking, especially for a debut, and I enjoyed it very much.

Great review - and a perfect book for the Strong Women tag!

Thanks, Sue! After reading The Women and Going After Cacciato, I wanted to read something from the Vietnamese perspective. These books work well as a grouping.