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

4.25

  •  historical fiction and a multigenerational story following one family in Vietnam during and after the war
  • told from the perspectives of two generations of women (the grandmother, and the granddaughter), the central narratives of past and present are woven together towards an ending that highlights hope, resilience, and healing from trauma.
  • this book draws from the author's own family's experiences and the experiences of others she spoke with while writing this novel
  • the writing is beautiful & lyrical and the core theme of family & love surviving despite hardship were super moving
  • also loved the way the book talked about the importance of honouring our elders and their gifts to us by bearing witness to and passing down their stories