Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Wandering Souls

Grade: A+

Some subjects are just hard to write about. When an author can create a story that tackles that subject head-on but with compassion and hope, they create a novel that must be read. Cecile Pin does just that thing with her debut novel.

Anh and her younger brothers, Minh and Thanh, are sent ahead of the rest of their family to make their way from Vietnam to their Uncle in the United States as boat people, with the understanding that the rest of their family will join them only a few weeks later. When tragedy strikes, and Anh and her siblings are left on their own, they end up not in the United States but in Thatcher's England.

Pin does not shy away from the refugee experience but is also fair. While it is a grueling journey, she shows us both the trials and the unexpected blessings that Anh, now having to raise her brother, faces. We also see this small family's struggles as they try to assimilate into a new country they are sent to, without any relatives on whom to rely.

The real heart of this novel is generational trauma and how it continues until it is consciously treated. Pin uses some very interesting devices here. A reader may be confused while reading and wondering how everything fits together, but it all comes into focus at the end in a powerful way.

My only criticism comes at the end of the book. The Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting anti-Asian bigotry are mentioned, almost in passing. I felt that this was a strange element to add without addressing. I wished Pin had either elaborated on it (this book is less than 250 pages, so she had the room to expand on it) or left it out. This is a small complaint and probably only an issue because it happens in the end.

Cecile Pin's debut novel is a jewel that belongs in anyone's library. Wandering Souls has a place on my keeper shelf, and I can't wait to see what Pin brings us next.

Content Warnings

kirstym25's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Content Warnings

amy_park's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Utterly heartbreaking, but a crucial read for an insightful look into the treachrous and lonely route for refugees to find settlement. Initially I wanted to read this book as it has been longlisted for the women's prize 2023, the premise intrigued me but I wasn't prepared at how sad and heartbreaking this novel is. I loved the multiple perspectives flickering to Anh and her siblings, the ghost of Dao and the mysterious narrator. The ghost of Dao was incredibly hard to read and made me well up with tears on many occasions. The use of spacing was genius and really demonstrated the lost and floating narrative of his "wandering soul". I enjoyed the resolution at the end, feeling the shared relief but also the reference to generational trauma. Would definitely recommend, the narrative will be with me for a long time!

Read in March 2023: Essential reading for the current political decisions by the UK government! Highlights the cruel lack of empathy the Conservative government has, now and decades before!!!

Content Warnings

linguaphile412's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

fictionalsarah's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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