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Dust Child

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Dust Child

By: Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
Narrated by: Quyen Ngo
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About this listen

In 1969, two sisters from rural Việt 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 treasured.

Decades later, two men wander through the streets and marketplaces of a very different Sài Gòn: modern, forward-looking, healing. Phong – the son of a Black American soldier and a Vietnamese woman – embarks on a search to find his parents and a way out of Việt Nam, while Dan, a war veteran, hopes that retracing the steps of his youth will ease the PTSD that has plagued him for decades.

When the lives of these unforgettable characters converge, each is forced to reckon with the explosive events of history that still ripple through their lives. Now they must work out what it takes to move forward in this richly poetic saga from Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai at her very best.

©2023 Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (P)2023 Audio production copyright Hachette Audio, all rights reserved. Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction World Literature War

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Critic reviews

"Dazzling. Sharply drawn and hauntingly beautiful." (Elif Shafek, Women's Prize-shortlisted author of The Island of Missing Trees)

"Achingly honest and ultimately hopeful." (Library Journal, starred review)

"Another triumph! Powerful and deeply empathetic. A heartbreaking tale of lost ideals, human devotion, and hard-won redemption." (Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer)
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The story brings to life the experiences of both Vietnamese and Americans and the offspring of their unions, during and post the Vietnam war. The characters are beautifully written and totally believable, not surprisingly as they are based on characters in real life.

I found myself, with tears in my eyes on many occasions, following the juxtaposition between romantic love and the horrors of a pointless war. The story, based on both the women and those around them and the children that were born of these unions, is both tragic and hopeful. Sadly, despite what we should have learned from war and its pointlessness, man continues to forget the lessons of the past. There are no winners in wars, just the tragic tales of individuals.

The narration is stunning and has made the book even more realistic.

Thank you for writing it.

A beautiful and heart breaking story

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I know very little about Vietnam from any perspective, so this was a fascinating story about this period and its people. Once I’d got used to the interspersed Vietnamese and English words, I was drawn into the plot, (inspired by real narratives) and kept listening. The narrator was excellent- a good mix of voices and accents - and she brought the story to life.

One star dropped as I found some of the plot confusing. I’d probably have to listen again to work out who was who and how different plot lines related to each other in the final quarter of the book.

Captivating story of an unfamiliar culture

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The background of this story and research make it fabulous . The prose can seem stiff in parts where there is a disconnect but i think overall is fabulous

Incredible story

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This was a beautifully written and superbly narrated book. The storyline was captivating with each of the main characters’ back stories developing well. The background of the war in Vietnam with the impact felt by combatants, civilians and their families and communities was portrayed effectively and sympathetically.

beautifully written and superbly narrated

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I adore this author. I've devoured both of her books and can't wait for the next.

Incredible!

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Best storyline ever . Highly recommended and so emotionally charged. Bringing characters to life. True to life.

Brilliant heart felt

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This is well researched and atmospheric book which captures the lives of bar girls in Vietnam. The story is similar to depictions of GI relationships in the musical Miss Saigon, but this book has given me far more insights into the culture and experiences of Vietnamese women. It was quite easy to guess how the characters lives are interconnected so the historical detail was the main draw of the book.

Reminds of Miss Saigon but with much more context

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Fantastic writing born out by brilliant narration - this title is a must-listen! The characters are so real and believable and the events described in a way that draws the reader into the story. I’ve highly recommended this book to family and friends,

Wonderful - Highly Recommend

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This book opened up a world I knew nothing about. So we'll written, heartbreaking and compelling at the same.

compelling novel

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