The Mountains Sing

I learned a lot about the history of Viet Nam that pre-dated the 1960’s war. Grandma was badass. It was interesting to read about the Northern Viet Cong POV. I loved the close relationships portrayed across generations. And the love stories woven throughout.

Content warning for violence, state-sponsored violence, war, interpersonal abuse, famine, and related topics. I liked parts of this historical fiction, but on the whole the pacing didn't work for me. There were some really lovely moments, and the overall perspective is wonderful, but I thought the language in the book relied on a lot of cliches.

Absolutely poetic even as a novel- I thank the author for offering me this inside perspective on Vietnam's history and the long-standing struggle of its people- loving, compassionate and visually rich storytelling....a truly endearing read...

I almost gave up by page 91 of 340. The story is incredibly violent and sad. Feels like endless suffering. The Vietnam people have experienced much tragedy in their collective history, and it is a lot to handle in reading for leisure. I did like to learn about The Great Hunger, Land Reform, impact of the war, living in communist Vietnam. There is little Good to hang onto in this book. I've read Homegoing and Pachinko which also focus on suffering - and have come away with a much more uplifting message. This one felt particularly stomach wrenching.