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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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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. Family Life Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction War & Military Women's 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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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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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 absolutely loved this book. I knew a bit about the Vietnam War but this story not only further educated me about the nuances of this war but the characters are so real and engaging that I gladly trusted the author to take me along with her as the story progressed. I really hope this book is adapted into a movie. Overall, a wonderful story emerges whilst set in an impossible and painful backdrop of war, without losing its heart and learnings. A must read!

Truly excellent book

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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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This is the second novel by this author that I have listened to. I read The Mountains Sing first, both novels are excellently researched and written, and beautifully narrated. And I highly recommend if you are interested in the history of Vietnam and this period. The culture of this part of the world is so beautiful, the people are so gentle, respectful, generous and kind and humble, and they did not deserve all of the suffering they endured. Terrible what devastation government leaders can cause and the suffering they have inflicted on others. I wonder if they ever had a conscience or a heart. I thank Nguyen Phan Que Mai for teaching me so much about the beautiful people and the history of Vietnam and Quyen Ngo for reading this novel so beautifully. 🤍 📚

The Beautiful Vietnamese People 🤍

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