The Mountains Sing

I adore this novel. The subject matter, the endurance, perseverance, redemption, triumphs and tribulations of a Vietnamese family from the 1930s to the near present, challenged me in ways I admire. Nguyn Phan Qu Mai’s talent as a poet shines through in this needed historical novel. The novel, which Qu Mai took 7 years (and a lifetime of experience) to write, evokes strong, heart wrenching emotions while beautifully supplying a context within which the two main characters (Trn Diu Lan, the indomitable grandmother, and Hng, her granddaughter) navigate trial after trial to their country, their family and their lives. The book is a fast read given the well-developed characters and the pacing, but I found myself slowing down to relish the story.

I wish I could give this book 6 stars. It is that beautifully written and that important. I cared enough for the Trn family that serval vignettes brought literal tears to my eyes. I wanted to MEET these people and hug them and help them and know them even more.

To that end, I found myself wanting a sequel!! Hng in the present day world and her further journey toward self-realization? The parallel story of HNgs father? I just want MORE of these characters/family/writing. (This even prompted me to order one of Qu Mais books of poetry, The Secret of Hoa Sen.)

This wonderful novel, its family and its depiction of Vietnam will stay with me for a long time. The book has garnered copious rave reviews and awards, and all are so very well deserved.

Finally, a note on the audiobook (I purchased it as well, so I could continue with the story during my daily commute): Quyen Ngo takes Qu Mais poetic prose and renders it lyrical. I found myself wanting to revisit portions of the book I had already read so that I could savor Quyens narration. I hope she narrates more, because I would buy a book on the strength of her involvement alone.

In short: buy this book (in any format). I loved it so much, Ive already bought multiple copies as gifts for others. It is THAT incredible.

I predict this will be my favorite book of 2020. I cannot imagine a book being better or me loving a book more.

This book is about a multi-generational family and their survival in Vietnam from WWII to after the Vietnam War. There are two stories: the past told from grandmother to granddaughter and the present as told by the granddaughter. The book shifts between the two stories and gradually reveals more about the characters. I was never left confused as this is done perfectly and organically.

I have never felt it was as much honor to read a book as I did this one. The characters are so well written that you feel as if these were people you knew in real life. I want to meet this family that defied these horrors with such grace and love. The topics in this book are often difficult and tragic but they are approached with such optimism and frankness by the characters that its not a hard book to read. It would be simple for the characters to focus on the tragedies they have faced and allow that to defeat them, but they dont. The grandmother especially is an inspiring figure. She loves her family fiercely and has done what she needed to do for them to survive whether they always understood or appreciated it. I cannot say enough about the writing in this book. The language is beautiful and lyrical. I loved the frequently use of proverbs by the characters. This book was written with such descriptive detail I can still see Vietnam in my mind.

I would normally say you should buy this book. But this is more of an experience. Perhaps, I should just recommend that you should meet this family. Either way, it is not a book to miss. Be prepared for it to stay with you for a while, in all the best ways.

I grew up in a small a town in southern Illinois during in the Vietnamese war era. My child’s knowledge of this conflict was very cut and dried, black and white, America Good, Vietnam bad, North Vietnam very bad. As a resident in st Paul in the 1980s, i dealt with a large number of hmong immigrants. As I began to learn more and more about the Vietnamese people, i realized how very little i knew.
Reading about this family’s lives through the 3 generations gave a poingient perspective. Very enjoyable

Few American book junkies speak/read Vietnamese, so this literary bombshell is our introduction to Nguyen Phan Que Mai, and what a debut it is!

The Mountains Sing features a grandmother / granddaughter team, Tran Dieu Lan and Huong (Guava), who lead us through a tale that leaves the reader feeling anguish, elation, dread, relief, confusion, love, and shock. Their story leaves the reader emotionally drained, in a good way.

As a participant in what I knew as the Vietnam War, I always appreciate opportunities to experience the American War from the opposing point of view. What that conflict did to relationships at all levels: country, province, district, village, family, and with ones own self … its all laid out in exquisite detail. The only logical conclusion one can reach is that nothing like this should ever be allowed to happen again.

Thanks so much, Nguyen Phan Que Mai, for this enthralling novel; now, get to work on the sequel … cm n!

This heartrending book will change your perspective about the Vietnam-American War and Vietnamese people. As a fellow Vietnamese well-versed in Vietnamese history, I am grateful to ch Qu-Mai’s thorough research and truthful account of the war and for her courage to shed light on its darkest moments. Thank you ch for putting your heart and soul into creating this beautiful gem and sharing it with the world.

“Patience teaches me how to love other human beings. Only through love can we drive away the darkness of evil from this earth.” ~ Nguyn Phan Qu Mai

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