In this stunning novel about a Vietnamese family resettling in the isolation of California gold country, Dao Strom investigates the myth of westwar...
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reviews
Jan 09, 2009
Mari
rated it: 
"Concerning love, she told herself she was practicing the Buddhist paradox of "living simultaneously": immersion and non-attachment together."
I was ready to give up on this book halfway through simply because the plot shifted (intentionally) off of the main character (the main character in the beginning at least.) The first part of the book, set in Saigon, is riveting - especially to a female writer. I was wrapped up in her story - that when the plot shifted to an More...
I was ready to give up on this book halfway through simply because the plot shifted (intentionally) off of the main character (the main character in the beginning at least.) The first part of the book, set in Saigon, is riveting - especially to a female writer. I was wrapped up in her story - that when the plot shifted to an More...
Apr 29, 2009
Powells.com
rated it:
This novel follows Tran, a Vietnamese woman, from her days of working for a politically charged newspaper in Saigon in the '70s to her family life in California and on into her children's lives. A precise story about the nature of belonging. I loved it.
Recommended by Aubrey, Powells.com
http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=06181...
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Recommended by Aubrey, Powells.com
http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=06181...
Have you read this book? Add your own review to our website and enter for the chance to win a $20 gift certificate.
Sep 22, 2009
Sandy
rated it: 
This is an interesting personal history of a Cambodian (?) girl being raised in the States after a tough childhood in S.E. Asia..... but it wasn't very well written and ultimately I lost interest in it..... I see now from the 'find books by title or author' list that she has written several others, among them 'The Gentle Order of ' I like the title so perhaps I'll read that, or give this one a second chance.
Oct 28, 2009
Jenn
rated it: 
This novel is the story of a refugee family that relocates to California after the Vietnam war. Like several of the other reviewers here, I was much more engaged in the novel during the first and last chapters that take place in Vietnam. The middle portion of the book is set in Sacramento and just wasn't as intriguing to me. I've been to Sacramento, maybe that is why. All together I enjoyed it though.
Jul 26, 2011
Jobiska (Cindy)
rated it: 
SPOILER IN REVIEW
Weirdly episodic and scattered, and I don't know what the author was tring to convey/get me to feel. The most compelling character (to me) was the mother, who dies less than half way through.
Weirdly episodic and scattered, and I don't know what the author was tring to convey/get me to feel. The most compelling character (to me) was the mother, who dies less than half way through.
Aug 05, 2011
I found this book a bit odd in its structure but quite compelling. I enjoyed the vignettes that provided an insight into the immigrant experiences (differing by generation, country of origin, and personality).
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