Of all the books I have read about the Vietnam War (1954-1975), none had revisited the conflict strictly from the South Vietnamese non-military point of view. So, when I saw this book by Kien Nguyen, I made the purchase to learn about the conflict from a survivor of the war whose life was permanently altered by it. And what I found is an unforgettable story about a war, which divided both Vietnam and the United States. The story begins in the spring of 1975 as American forces are slowly withdrawing from South Vietnam. Young Kien and his family are still in their family home, but everyone knows the People’s Army of North Vietnam, also known as the North Vietnamese Army (“NVA”) is steadily approaching. The fallout from the American withdrawal is swift and chaotic, with Kien, brother Jimmy, their mother Khuon and her love interest Lam, and the family’s servant Loan attempting to join thousands of others desperately trying to escape the NVA. And from the outset, there is confusion mixed with the explosion of tensions simmering below the surface which bring everything to a grinding halt. And it soon becomes clear that there are secrets harbored in this family.

Nguyen pulls no punches and delivers a shocking revelation which would come back to haunt Lam later in the story. Lam, as readers will learn, emerges as the book’s antagonist, and never fails to provide a source of disgust throughout the story. But there is a comeuppance for him towards the conclusion of the book which proves to be one of the most uplifting moments in the story. However, before we reach that part in Nguyen’s account, we must first follow his journey as life under communist rule becomes a haunting reality, and his mother finds herself a target due to her past success and social status. Lam’s actions early in the book leave her on the ropes as she is forced to defend herself, her family, and her unborn child in the face of relentless humiliation. But when Lam makes his return, the story takes a dark turn which I did not expect and removed any doubt that Lam could redeem himself. Yet, in the face of adversity, there are guardian angels in the book in the form of Kien’s grandparents and the servant Loan who takes on the role of big sister and provides the love and attention the brothers needed. Sadly, her story becomes a tragedy on its own in ways I did not anticipate. There are instances in the story wherein Kien’s mother is abrasive and curt, but I also had to remind myself of the reality she faced in the wake of a war which tore her country apart. Further, Kien’s life is complicated by the fact that his father is American and returned to the United States when he was an infant. His brother Jimmy is also the child of an American father, and this proves to be the ammunition needed by party members and other citizens who despise Khuon and her family. The vitriol is mind-bending, yet she stands her ground through it all.

As the story progresses, the difficulties of life under communist rule become vividly apparent. Kien’s mother does all that she can to find a way out of their situation which is dire at times. The addition of a sister further complicates matters. I also noted the interactions between Kien’s household and that of his aunt who lives across the street. The tension is unsettling and the occasional eruptions of physical and verbal altercations are surreal. I personally could never imagine my mother and aunt having interactions described by the author. It was clear that the war had ruined everyone’s life and nothing was the same. A small window of opportunity opens through a neighbor Ms. Dang, who has found a questionable path to America. It is risky but Khuon agrees that Kien should make the trip. This part of the book is where the story goes completely left and I was speechless at the series of events which occur as they embarked on their perilous journey. The fallout from the problematic escape plan is off the rails and it is a miracle that Kien survived to tell this story. His ordeal, however, was far from over and his next stop is a place where no one wants to be. But this is also the place where the love between mother and son sets everything in its place and for the first time in the story, I was able to smile.

Despite the setbacks, Kien never loses sight on a way out for the family. And out of left field comes a path to a new life in America. This section of the book moves fast, and I could feel Kien scrambling as he and his family set their plan in motion to leave Vietnam. And while he is working on his future life, a troubling truth about the war emerges. Kien remarks on his towards the conclusion when he looks back on his life as the child of a Vietnamese mother and American father whom Kien also discusses in the book. Kien and his family eventually make their flight out of Saigon, but it is a wild journey up until the very end. And he left behind endless memories, both positive and negative, of the place he called home. I did not know what to expect before I read this book, but having finished it, I can say that it is a story that needed to be told. His story is a complicated aspect of the Vietnam War rarely discussed, but its effects were fare more reaching than the bombs dropped and bullets spent. If you are curious about the aftermath of the fall of Saigon and life for the Vietnamese left behind, this book is for you. It is a mix of love, betrayal, violence and harsh truths, but also a story which will reach you. Highly recommended.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001IZC3TC
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Back Bay Books, Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 22, 2008