A review by inlaraland
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My heart is so full - I am literally in a glass case of emotion right now.
The Mountains Sing tells us the the story of Vietnam's history through the eyes of Huong and her family. There is a dual timeline that sets up the plot, with the perspective changing between Huong and her grandmother.
This book portrays the heartbreaking reality of war, and the author doesn't shy away from tackling the tough subjects like starvation, death, assault and abandonment. The writing style is very poetic, and I found the lyrical lines quite moving during key emotional points in the story. One of my favorite things about this story is how the author is able to highlight the beauty of life amidst all the tragedy, adding an element of hope to the pivotal point of the story.
I can really go on about how much I enjoyed this book. I knew from early on that I would be giving it five stars. If you enjoyed Min Jin Lee's "Pachinko" you'll find similar parallels in this book, but The Mountains Sing has a life all it's own. For a gripping historical fiction read, I would recommend this one!
The Mountains Sing tells us the the story of Vietnam's history through the eyes of Huong and her family. There is a dual timeline that sets up the plot, with the perspective changing between Huong and her grandmother.
This book portrays the heartbreaking reality of war, and the author doesn't shy away from tackling the tough subjects like starvation, death, assault and abandonment. The writing style is very poetic, and I found the lyrical lines quite moving during key emotional points in the story. One of my favorite things about this story is how the author is able to highlight the beauty of life amidst all the tragedy, adding an element of hope to the pivotal point of the story.
I can really go on about how much I enjoyed this book. I knew from early on that I would be giving it five stars. If you enjoyed Min Jin Lee's "Pachinko" you'll find similar parallels in this book, but The Mountains Sing has a life all it's own. For a gripping historical fiction read, I would recommend this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, War, and Death
Minor: Sexual assault and Abortion