When Iris’s father dies she promises him him that she will travel to Vietnam to finish work on plans that he had to open a center for street children. Though at the time her primary motivation is to comfort a dying man with whom she has had a troubled relationship, Iris ultimately decides that she will go for a month to ensure that the center does indeed open.
Before Iris can leave for Vietnam, she receives a visit from the mother of a childhood friend, Noah, who has become disabled in the Iraq War and has been despondent and abusing alcohol for months. His mother is convinced that Iris taking her son with her to Vietnam is the only way to save his life. Iris is skeptical but she agrees that Noah can come along. Neither is prepared for the sights that they will see nor the experiences that they will have.
As I was reading this novel I was immediately taken with the wonderfully vivid descriptions of the city of Vietnam. I really felt as if I was on the street with all of the tourists, dodging the scooters, smelling the food, and seeing the people wearing the masks that enable them to have some protection from the horrible pollution caused by all of the traffic and congestion. The wonders of the city as well as the poverty had me in awe and I found myself alternately smiling or wrinkling my nose up in response to scenes in the novel.
Shors’ characterizations are just as moving as his scenic and atmospheric descriptions and even though the painful pasts of Iris and Noah are explored in some detail I was equally interested in the touching stories of Mai and Minh, the two street children who for so long only, had each other; Qui and Tam, the grandmother and her sickly granddaughter whose mother has abandoned her; Thien, Iris’ father’s cheerful, helpful and resourceful assistant; and Sahn, the crotchety old police officer trying to hide that he is disabled, and come to terms with the fact that the same Americans whom he killed and were the enemy in the Vietnam war are the same people who are now coming to help and rebuild in the country.
I loved getting to see all of these characters meet and interact and the subtle influences that they had on each other. There were lots of interesting mirror images within the novel as both Sahn and Noah have to come to terms with being war veterans along with the demons that haunt them from the war, then there is the way that Iris and Thien have different reactions to Noah and his drinking, and that Noah and Minh are similarly disabled. I received a full and moving picture of the lives of the less fortunate in Vietnam and the dangers that they face and I have to admit to shedding a few tears in places because I was so taken by the incidents in the characters’ lives.
In addition there is a little adventure and mystery here as they face dangerous setbacks in opening the center. It had me wondering until the very end as to whether everything would work out for the characters I had come to love. Though, Loc, the villain in the story struck me as a little wooden, he wasn’t a major hindrance in what was an informative and thoughtful novel. I am looking forward to reading more from John Shors.
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Challenges: Winter Reading Challenge
FTC Disclosure – I am an Amazon Associate. Review copy provided by the author.
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Well, again, I think I am on the list of last people to read this. Not only does this sound like a great book, but the author does a really interesting guest post too.
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Wroclaw #6 =-.
I loved this book, and for anyone interested I have one copy to give away to a reader.
Great review. I think your review is much more succinct than mine! Wonderful job.
.-= Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)´s last blog ..Nadirs by Herta Muller =-.
I grew up watching the war in Vietnam on tv every evening. I think it would be lovely to explore this country in another light.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..More Challenges for 2010 =-.
Fabulous review. I shared almost all of your reactions to this novel!
.-= Julie P.´s last blog ..Review: Omaha Steaks & Giveaway =-.
I love that the author is calling attention to a real problem. This book sounds great!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Wondrous Words Wednesday =-.
This one has been on my radar for a while….I certainly want to read it!
.-= Staci´s last blog ..Library Loot-December 16 =-.
Yours is the first review I actually read…for some reason the cover made me skim the others. But it sounds interesting! I didn’t realize there was so much about Vietnam. I might just have to hunt this one down.
I have a copy of this one and am looking forward to reading it this next year. I am glad you enjoyed it, Nicole. Thank you for your insightful review.
Glad you enjoyed this one; great review. I like Jon S’s writing style, and enjoyed this book too.
.-= diane´s last blog ..Waiting on Wednesday – The Language of Secrets =-.
I read a great book by a Vietnamese author this year (The Paradise of the Blind), and I’ve been wanting to read more books set in Vietnam since.
.-= Eva´s last blog ..Challenge Insanity, Part the Third =-.
I love vivid descriptions of place I’ve never been, I’ll have to check this out.
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..Saffron Dreams – Mini Book Review =-.
I’ve heard a lot about this book, but knew nothing about it. I’m definitely going to give it a chance!
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..The Girl Next Door – Elizabeth Noble =-.
Sounds like a great book. Will keep a look out for this book ..
.-= Shweta´s last blog ..Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater =-.
I read and reviewed this book in June of this year and LOVED it. It is wonderful to read your review of this and see that you really enjoyed it as well.
.-= Sheila DeChantal´s last blog ..Morning Meanderings… =-.
I grew up watching movies about WOII but was a teenager during the war in Vietnam. I agree with Lisa ,it is a wondefull idea to explore Vietnam in another light.
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