rrickman33's review
4.0
A really moving story, but the time changes and POV switching every chapter had me pretty confused for a while. Wish I got to know the characters more but still worth a read!
chasingholden's review
4.0
Eric Nguyen's debut novel, Things We Lost to the Water , is a beautifully written look at an immigrant Vietnamese family, and how their lives are shaped or reshaped by America.
Huong and her two young sons leave Vietnam in 1979 and move to New Orleans. Huong’s husband, Cong, stays in Vietnam, although she looks forward to the day they will be reunited. The book moves forward as snapshots in time, from 1979 to 2005, narrated by Huong and her sons. Huong becomes more acclimated to life in America and becomes involved with a Vietnamese car salesman
Although the structure of the novel took some getting used to, ultimately I couldn't put it down. Beautiful and heartbreaking its hard to believe this is a debut novel! I'm excited to see what else Eric Nguyen has to offer us in the future.
Thanks to netgalley and publishers for providing and e-copy for me to read and leave my honest thoughts. This book was such a joy and I'm glad I got to experience it early, though the wait will definitely be worth it for everyone else. I highly recommend you pick this up as soon as it hits shelves!
Huong and her two young sons leave Vietnam in 1979 and move to New Orleans. Huong’s husband, Cong, stays in Vietnam, although she looks forward to the day they will be reunited. The book moves forward as snapshots in time, from 1979 to 2005, narrated by Huong and her sons. Huong becomes more acclimated to life in America and becomes involved with a Vietnamese car salesman
Although the structure of the novel took some getting used to, ultimately I couldn't put it down. Beautiful and heartbreaking its hard to believe this is a debut novel! I'm excited to see what else Eric Nguyen has to offer us in the future.
Thanks to netgalley and publishers for providing and e-copy for me to read and leave my honest thoughts. This book was such a joy and I'm glad I got to experience it early, though the wait will definitely be worth it for everyone else. I highly recommend you pick this up as soon as it hits shelves!
mbleakley828's review
4.0
Such a great read- one of the first AAPI stories I have read and was not disappointed. There is a very raw realness to Eric Nguyen's writing and I am a huge fan of his writing style.
dotuke's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cheetoburrito's review
5.0
Holy Christ. Eric, you must write another novel.
I'm in love with this book. It is one of my new favorites. As someone who grew up in Louisiana this book was cathartic on so many levels. I've learned so much of my own history through Eric's eyes.
I'm in love with this book. It is one of my new favorites. As someone who grew up in Louisiana this book was cathartic on so many levels. I've learned so much of my own history through Eric's eyes.
puglord's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
shh_fbi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
sabrinat98's review
2.0
I'm Vietnamese and I was so excited to see how anticipated this new book was. I had never read a story that was so similar to the refugee stories that I heard about growing up straight from my parents. That being said, I wasn't overly in love with where this story went and how it ended. I was really hoping for characters with a strong sense of family, but it ends with them still all apart. Sure it's hinted that they reach back out to Binh, but he is literally in a different country. He could not be further away. The storytelling was captivating and very pleasing to read, but I think the development of the characters was lacking for me. Sometimes stories can really thrive without strong connections to the characters, but I think I needed much more of that from this book.
jessjang's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5