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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 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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