A review by booktalkwithkarla
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

4.25

A multigenerational tale of the Tran family, this book is poetic and informative about the Viet Nam War. The author essay at the end of the book explains the origin of the story. Set in wartime, The Mountains Sing explores the impact of war and the power of kindness from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves.

Nguyen Phan Que Mai is a poet and has written many books. This is her first novel to be written in English. She writes beautifully about complicated situations and relationships. Two examples are “My mother was like a tree uprooted,” and, “They surrounded her, becoming the soil of her life, demanding that she grow new roots.”

I read this in paperback in tandem with audio. Hearing the Vietnamese language alongside English was powerful. And I loved the culture and proverbs woven together with the story of a family and the Vietnamese people.  I  learned so much. I cared deeply for the Tran family. I recommend this book especially for book clubs for the rich discussions that will ensue.