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Dust Child

The International Bestseller
By Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
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Check link for latest rating. ( 17,929 ratings, 2,235 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, the story unfolds in both past and present Vietnam, weaving the lives of two sisters working in a Saigon bar during the Vietnam War with those of an American veteran and a Vietnamese woman nearly fifty years later. As their journeys intersect, they confront the consequences of war and the search for redemption and belonging. The narrative explores themes of love, identity, and the enduring impact of history.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3699
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are captivated by multi-layered narratives exploring personal and historical stories. Set against the backdrop of post-war Vietnam, it deftly navigates themes of identity, forgiveness, and the long-lasting impact of war, drawing you into the lives of its richly developed characters. If you appreciate thought-provoking tales that weave together past and present while highlighting cultural and emotional complexities, this book may appeal to you.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A powerful, captivating tale of family secrets and hidden heartache from an internationally acclaimed author

A suspenseful and moving novel about the little-known plight of a generation of the Amerasian children left behind after the Viet Nam war

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Dazzling. Sharply drawn and hauntingly beautiful. Elif Shafak, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Island of Missing Trees.

In 1969, two sisters from rural Viet Nam leave their parents' home and travel to the bustling city of Sài Gòn. Soon, their lives are swept up in the unstoppable flames of a war that is blazing through their country. They begin working as 'bar girls' in one of the drinking dens frequented by American GIs, forced to accept that survival now might mean compromising the values they once clung to.

Decades later, two men wander through the streets and marketplaces of a very different Sài Gòn: modern, forward-looking, healing. But neither of these men can escape the shadow of decisions made by themselves and others during a time of war.

Through the interwoven stories of these four unforgettable characters, Dust Child exposes the devastating legacy of conflict, and asks what it takes to move forward. Heartfelt, suspenseful, and poetic, this is Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai at her very best.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai has garnered praise for its profound empathy, compelling storytelling, and intricate examination of Vietnam's history. Reviewers have highlighted the novel's lyrical prose, emotional depth, and compassionate portrayal of its characters. Likened to works by renowned authors, the book is celebrated for its ability to evoke empathy and understanding for lives affected by conflict and displacement.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780861546121

Publisher: Oneworld Publications

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 14 March 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Oneworld Publications

Edition: TPB

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 352

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

About the Author

Nguyen Phan Que Mai is an award-winning Vietnamese poet and novelist. She is the author of eleven books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Her debut novel and first book in English, The Mountains Sing, is an international bestseller and runner-up in the 2021 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Winner of the Blogger's Book Prize 2021 and the 2021 PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award among other awards. For more information, visit: nguyenphanquemai.com

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