Reviews with content warning for Death - Wandering Souls

I picked this book up on a trip to London to dive deeper into the UK immigrant experience. The author takes us on an emotional journey of her own family history, expertly weaving different sources and perspectives into a compelling narrative. She inserts herself late into the book in a way that brings the whole story together. Emotional, hopefully, and touching, I loved this book from start to finish. Get your tissues ready for the last chapter!

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sakisreads's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful reflective 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? No

4.5

I kept seeing this pop up in the bookshop and in the library, so I knew I had to give it a go.

Flitting between narratives is brilliant when it is well-executed, and Cecile Pin absolutely nails it 👏🏼

I love that we got a little bit of Dao and a little bit of Jane too. I felt honoured to get a glimpse into Anh’s nuances through their narratives (Dao being her dead little brother, Jane being her daughter researching and writing Anh’s past.)

I was gripped throughout and thought Pin had cleverly and concisely expressed this story. I am looking forward to exploring her other writing. 4.5 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨

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ireadsstuff's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative 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? No

4.5

Adored it, a beautiful ”fictional” retelling of what it was like to be a refugee from the Vietnam War. Almost cried on the train - recommend it.

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gemmascott's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-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? No

4.0

I really enjoyed this book, particularly towards the end as the various threads were woven together. I would have liked some more in depth character development (particularly around the experience of the older brother), and some of the political analysis was a little on the nose at times. However, overall, a beautiful, well-written and “quiet” (unassuming) narrative that highlighted what was, for me, a hidden history.

The book details Anh and her family’s journey from Vietnam to London, over the course of around 40 years, from small village, across the sea to Hong Kong and through refugee camps to a council house and eventually a forever home.

I loved the fact that, for Anh and her brothers, there was no fairytale ending (they had ordinary lives and they and their children experienced lasting trauma from their experiences). Yet, the book still ends on a happy and hopeful note, as Anh looks on at her family enjoying their lives together - so much pressure is often put on refugees and immigrants to achieve in ways that people born in this country are not, as if they need to be “deserving” of their place, which is simply not the case. However, I imagine that for many people like Anh, that guilt is real.

I had no idea Vietnamese refugees were housed in this country and so it opened up a new perspective for me on 80s politics and the aftermath of the Vietnam War, as well as a new culture. The chapters from the perspective of Dao didn’t make sense to me at first, but they were a very poignant way to share the story of those migrants who lost their lives and to introduce Vietnamese ideas on the afterlife, as well to explore the themes of grief, loss and displacement.

As I was finishing this book, i had been sent home from work due to a potential riot by far right protesters, so this quote in particular stood out for me:

“Anh pitied these people. She pitied their ignorance, their misconceptions, which blurred their minds into oblivion. She sensed their hate and sensed their fears, that she was the scapegoat for their feelings, she and her family. It wasn’t personal, she kept telling herself, they just don’t know any better”.

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