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38 Comments

  1. Anasua Basu
    March 24, 2023 @ 3:45 pm

    This book is going to be a very new addition to my self. i really love to dive in books related to wars and lives if people around it. As you mentioned in your review, how people are affected by the war made me know its my genre of reading.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:31 pm

      That is great, Anasua. Looking forward to reading your thoughts on it. 😊

      Reply

  2. Docdivatraveller
    March 24, 2023 @ 10:25 pm

    Even before I started reading your review, I saw the picture of the book cover and thought that the scrip lt is Vietnamese! And voila I was right! The war era was so brutal and disheartening. I would love to read this book.

    Reply

    • Kaveri Chhetri
      March 26, 2023 @ 3:52 pm

      Like history, I have an inclination for anything based on war. When I was in my late 20s I used to read on and research the lives of POWs.

      I m sure this book is a masterpiece Ritu. You have set the stage with your review and I am looking forward to read it. I haven’t read The Mountains sing but I’ve heard rave reviews about that one as well.

      Reply

      • Ritu
        March 28, 2023 @ 4:33 pm

        Do read it too, Kaveri. Although I a bit partial to Dust Child.

        Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:32 pm

      Yes, that is a dead giveaway. The war served no purpose.

      Reply

  3. Shail Thosani
    March 25, 2023 @ 6:34 pm

    Your reviews are always amazing and so are the books you list. Such different genres always. Dust Child seems very very interesting read. I am adding this to my TBR list and I am sure I will love it.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:34 pm

      Thank you such Shail 😊. You are too kind.

      Reply

  4. Samata
    March 25, 2023 @ 11:04 pm

    War…. the word is something which always ticks negative in my mind and so you can say that I prefer to avoid picking books of this genre. But that does not mean I dont read this genre at all… yes I am choosy . Being the child of a history teacher I witnessed my mom preparing her lessons before every class to help the student understand better and there were a learned a lot about various wars, their effects and results on the whole and in some cases on particular nations… from her I got a overview of the life of the Vietnam people before and after the war and from your review I can relate it more… so now the book is a must read for me and thanks for the recommendation

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:35 pm

      Very true, Samata. It is not an easy one to read. Books on wars never are.

      Reply

  5. Harjeet Kaur
    March 25, 2023 @ 11:12 pm

    Very well-written review of a war book. But as you gave a warning, I am not comfortable reading such books. There is so much sorrow in real life that I steer clear of such books and movies. Romance and comedy are the genres I read now.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:36 pm

      That is completely understandable, Harjeet. I too am looking to pick a few romance picks now.

      Reply

  6. Ambica Gulati
    March 25, 2023 @ 11:55 pm

    As I started reading your review, it struck me that I had never read anything detailed on Vietnam. I have seen Platoon and know about the war. And this book took 7 years, am sure your stars are for the right novel. Going to check this out now.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:37 pm

      Do pick it up, Ambica. I highly recommend The Mountains Sing from the author too. It is more about the history of Vietnam we never read about.

      Reply

  7. Varsh
    March 26, 2023 @ 12:20 am

    This is such an important read, especially now when there’s war all around us and casualties keep piling up every day. People who suffer for no fault of theirs are conveniently forgotten. Not sure if I have the heart to read this, Ritu. Beautiful as it might be, it’ll bomb me out for sure.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:39 pm

      Completely understandable, Varsha. That is why I included trigger warnings. Hope you do pick it up one day, though.

      Reply

  8. Flavia Cutinho
    March 26, 2023 @ 9:02 am

    The book title actually caught my attention, definitely the time taken and the moments added may have done wonders in this book. Worth a read

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:39 pm

      Definitely Flavia. It is a labor of love.

      Reply

  9. Neeta Kadam
    March 26, 2023 @ 11:25 am

    War, prostitution, trigger points are tricky. I don’t like to read emotional things because I too get involved in such things. I have experience what is war and the effects of war in real life. So try to avoid such topics. But your review is too good as always. And it is always helpful to the reader whether they should picked it or not.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:41 pm

      Absolutely Neeta. We all have our trigger books and genres. We should read what we do want to read.

      Reply

  10. Meetali Kutty
    March 26, 2023 @ 4:17 pm

    This is a very informative book review. While it isn’t the genre I typically veer towards, the way you made it sound makes me think I may give it a chance!

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:42 pm

      Thank you Meetali. 😊 Do pick it up.

      Reply

  11. Sivaranjini Anandan
    March 26, 2023 @ 4:21 pm

    Hardships, war, love betrayal the bool seems to be an interesting and emotional read. War sequences always make me emotional. I loved the title and book cover.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:42 pm

      It is emotionally draining. But an important book nonetheless.

      Reply

  12. Sivaranjini Anandan
    March 26, 2023 @ 4:25 pm

    War, hardship, supporting family I think the book is interesting and emotional read. War sequences make me emotional but I liked the title and the book cover.

    Reply

  13. Zenobia Merchant
    March 26, 2023 @ 5:16 pm

    The perils surely last longer than the actual war ends. Your review of the book makes the book a must-read for me. I am a History lover, so I’m sure the book will resonate with me.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:43 pm

      Thank you Zenobia 😊. Looking forward to reading your thoughts.

      Reply

  14. Janaki
    March 26, 2023 @ 6:39 pm

    Ritu, I love your recommendations. You pick interesting and wonderful books. I have not heard of this community among Vietnamese before and reading a review about them fills me with curiosity to know more. Thanks for this review.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:44 pm

      Thank you so much Janaki. 😊 I always try to share lesser known books that deserve more love.

      Reply

  15. Jeannine
    March 26, 2023 @ 7:03 pm

    This book review is very interesting and well-written. I totally agree with this, “The war doesn’t just kill people, it robs our livelihood and destroys nature” and wouldn’t wish anyone to be in any situation near war. It’s just something that we as humans shouldn’t explore and simply live with peace and harmony. And I’m totally aware, for those reading….” if only it was that simple.” =(

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:46 pm

      Thank you so much, Jeannine 😊. So very true. Yet everyday we hear of wars and strife. We never learn from history.

      Reply

  16. Sakshi Bindra
    March 26, 2023 @ 7:19 pm

    Ritu you amaze me with you wide range and depth of reading. You have written a beautiful review, given pertinent details and explaining your reasons. Books like these are important to bring awareness towards the horrors of war and not make it seem like a game. The chaos of war leaves so much heart ache and for generations.. I wish the best to the author for writing with her heart.
    I look forward to reading more great reviews by you.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:49 pm

      Thank you so much for your kind words, Sakshi 😊. The author deserves accolades and more for sharing the Vietnamese side we never got to know. Her debut book was equally heartbreaking.

      Reply

  17. Pamela Mukherjee
    March 27, 2023 @ 1:12 am

    I am going to add this book in my booklist. I loved the plot and the theme of this book. You have written an amazing review for sure. I am going to read it soon.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      March 28, 2023 @ 4:49 pm

      Thank you so much Pamela 😊. Do pick it up.

      Reply

  18. Shalini
    April 5, 2023 @ 9:14 am

    Not just a hard-hitting book but a fabulous review of it, too Ritu. I have fallen in love with the book thanks to your reviewing process and will definitely be picking it up.

    I have the Mountains Sing on my TBR and am ordering this one from Amazon too. I love historical fiction, and each has shown me a unique perspective of the wars that have been glorified in the history books but for all the wrong reasons. So much lies hidden/ignored under these stories. Thank you for sharing this review.

    Love your blog feel and look and will explore more of it to add to my TBR.

    Reply

    • Ritu
      April 5, 2023 @ 6:25 pm

      Thank you so much, Shalz 😊. Means a lot coming from you. You have been my go-to for book recommendations.

      Que Mai’s books are such eye openers. We rarely if ever got to read the Vietnamese perspective.

      Reply

  19. Noor Anand Chawla
    April 29, 2023 @ 11:10 am

    Seems like a fascinating read. Another one I would recommend on a similar subject is Ocean Vuong’s ‘On Earth, We’re Briefly Gorgeous’.

    Reply

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