Dust Child

De: Que Mai Phan Nguyen

Narrado por: Quyen Ngo

From the internationally bestselling author of The Mountains Sing, a suspenseful and moving saga about family secrets, hidden trauma, and the overriding power of forgiveness, set during the war and in present-day Việt Nam.

In 1969, sisters Trang and Quỳnh, desperate to help their parents pay off debts, leave their rural village and become “bar girls” in Sài Gòn, drinking, flirting (and more) with American GIs in return for money. As the war moves closer to the city, the once-innocent Trang gets swept up in an irresistible romance with a young and charming American helicopter pilot. Decades later, an American veteran, Dan, returns to Việt Nam with his wife, Linda, hoping to find a way to heal from his PTSD and, unbeknownst to her, reckon with secrets from his past.

At the same time, Phong—the son of a Black American soldier and a Vietnamese woman—embarks on a search to find both his parents and a way out of Việt Nam. Abandoned in front of an orphanage, Phong grew up being called “the dust of life,” “Black American imperialist,” and “child of the enemy,” and he dreams of a better life for himself and his family in the U.S.

Past and present converge as these characters come together to confront decisions made during a time of war—decisions that force them to look deep within and find common ground across race, generation, culture, and language. Suspenseful, poetic, and perfect for fans of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing, Dust Child tells an unforgettable and immersive story of how those who inherited tragedy can redefine their destinies through love, hard-earned wisdom, compassion, courage, and joy.

©2023 Que Mai Phan Nguyen (P)2023 Algonquin Books

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai will win many more readers with her powerful and deeply empathetic second novel. From the horrors of war and its enduring afterlife for men and women, lovers and children, soldiers and civilians, she weaves a heartbreaking tale of lost ideals, human devotion, and hard-won redemption. Dust Child establishes Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai as one of our finest observers of the devastating consequences of war, and proves, once more, her ability to captivate readers and lure them into Viet Nam’s rich and poignant history."—Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Sympathizer and The Committed

"Dazzling. Sharply drawn and hauntingly beautiful."—Elif Shafak, author of The Island of Missing Trees

"Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai shows us the capacity we hold to confront our pasts, for the purpose of life is not to remain intact, but to break open, to let loss be a guide, to face the echoes of longing. In Dust Child, rupture leads to emotional richness and pain creates the pathways worth walking. I truly cannot wait for the rest of the world to celebrate this book."—Chanel Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Know My Name

Beautiful

One of the best audio books I’ve ever listened to. Beautifully written and performed! Will seek out more works from this author.

Another amazing book by Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Nguyen Phan Que Mai brings you into the life of people living out the aftermath of the Vietnam War. She places you in the life of various characters to understand many perspectives. Eye opening for me! As always, her writing is wonderful.

Wonderful

The story and narration were both really wonderful. It made me want to learn much more about Vietnam and also about Amerasians.

So compelling!

I loved all the characters in the book. Please Give it a go. I learned so much about the heart wrenching realities that so many people lived during the Vietnam war and after.

Intersecting stories of grief and promise

The Mountains Sing is one of my all-time favorites, so I was interested to read the author’s new book. This one is not the expansive epic of her first novel, but the characters are interesting and teach history on a more granular level. For my taste there’s a bit too much Americanized dialogue coming from characters who obviously would have been speaking in their own language. This made the stories come alive, but at the expense of the poetic, literary quality that is the author’s forte. The narration is captivating if not too emphatic at times.

Please read this book

This book is so good. It makes you feel so many emotions, and gives a view through fiction of a perspective that Americans rarely, if ever get and is very powerful

relatable, emotional, informative

A well written story with sympathetic characters. it depicts a most human aspect of American Vietnam war. it is thought provoking and touching. the marathon was expert as well

Beautiful!

Very informative and well written. I loved all the characters that display their human nature and condition. I will look for other books from this author.

What an excellent book

I just love this book. This was a very thoughtful look at other aspects of war.

Inspiring

This book wrecked me, but then built me back up and has given me hope. A great story of growth and forgiveness. Of suffering but also love. Beautifully written and beautifully performed.