Tales from a Mountain City: A Vietnam War Memoir
Description:
* Shortlisted for the Asher Literary Award in 2011 *
* Shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing in 2012 *
What happens to a Vietnamese family when a change of government turns their whole world upside down? How would you feel if your money lost its value overnight? If a group of soldiers moved into your house? If your books were thrown on a bonfire in your yard? If your children were taught to chant slogans at school instead of learning language, and dug holes instead of studying science?
Tales from a Mountain City is a blend of history and memoir told by a young Vietnamese girl growing up during the last years of the war and the communist regime. This is a poignant account of the innocence of a child, the innocence of a people, shattered again and again by the cruel tides of power and dogma, clinging tenaciously to their traditions, their home provinces, their hometowns, until the sheer pervasiveness of a communist value system drives them to suicide or exile.
Indirectly, this story raises many questions on nationalism and qualities of power, freedom and independence, human rights and human nature.
* Shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing in 2012 *
What happens to a Vietnamese family when a change of government turns their whole world upside down? How would you feel if your money lost its value overnight? If a group of soldiers moved into your house? If your books were thrown on a bonfire in your yard? If your children were taught to chant slogans at school instead of learning language, and dug holes instead of studying science?
Tales from a Mountain City is a blend of history and memoir told by a young Vietnamese girl growing up during the last years of the war and the communist regime. This is a poignant account of the innocence of a child, the innocence of a people, shattered again and again by the cruel tides of power and dogma, clinging tenaciously to their traditions, their home provinces, their hometowns, until the sheer pervasiveness of a communist value system drives them to suicide or exile.
Indirectly, this story raises many questions on nationalism and qualities of power, freedom and independence, human rights and human nature.
We're an Amazon Associate. We earn from qualifying purchases at Amazon and all stores listed here.