Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Dust Child

Interesting story that essentially follows four characters across four different decades in Viet Nam during and after the war. 

I loved the two sisters, originally farm girls who end up in Saigon working as bar girls to help pay off their parents debts. Phong, a man of mixed Vietnamese and Black American heritage I felt was left a bit underdeveloped due to his storyline just being absolutely jam packed. And Dan from the US, god I hated. 

This story isn't a happy one, yet it ends on a tidy, happy note that felt so contrasting to the overall tone. I hated that Dan got a happy ending he didn't deserve. I hated that even though the entire book illustrated the irresponsibility and arrogance of the US during the war, Dan was ultimately able to be the White Savior™️ and make everything better in the end. Hated it. I enjoyed this overall as a somewhat historical fiction novel, but the ending fell incredibly flat for me. And why/how did Quynh lie???? You mean to tell me she had that story locked and loaded for 40-some years??? This question will haunt me.

Julia Rivera

Interesting story that essentially follows four characters across four different decades in Viet Nam during and after the war. 

I loved the two sisters, originally farm girls who end up in Saigon working as bar girls to help pay off their parents debts. Phong, a man of mixed Vietnamese and Black American heritage I felt was left a bit underdeveloped due to his storyline just being absolutely jam packed. And Dan from the US, god I hated. 

This story isn't a happy one, yet it ends on a tidy, happy note that felt so contrasting to the overall tone. I hated that Dan got a happy ending he didn't deserve. I hated that even though the entire book illustrated the irresponsibility and arrogance of the US during the war, Dan was ultimately able to be the White Savior™️ and make everything better in the end. Hated it. I enjoyed this overall as a somewhat historical fiction novel, but the ending fell incredibly flat for me. And why/how did Quynh lie???? You mean to tell me she had that story locked and loaded for 40-some years??? This question will haunt me.

Dust Child

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