The Mountains Sing
The Mountains Sing by Que Mai Phan Nguyen, published by Algonquin Books on March 16, 2021, is a poignant narrative that unfolds the multigenerational story of the Trần family against the backdrop of the Việt Nam War. This edition, comprising 368 pages, presents a vivid exploration of the human costs of conflict, as experienced by the Vietnamese people. The novel follows Trần Diệu Lan, who, along with her six children, is forced to flee her family farm during the Land Reform, and later, her granddaughter Hương comes of age amidst the turmoil of war.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of cultural heritage woven throughout the narrative, highlighting themes of resilience and hope. The story delves into the impact of war on family dynamics and personal identity, offering insights into the struggles faced by those living through one of the most challenging periods in Vietnamese history. With its lyrical prose and deep emotional resonance, The Mountains Sing captures the essence of a nation’s history while emphasizing the enduring power of kindness. This edition is presented in English, making it accessible to a wider audience.
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The International Bestseller
New York Times Editors’ Choice SelectionWinner of the 2020 Lannan Literary Awards Fellowship
“[An] absorbing, stirring novel . . . that, in more than one sense, remedies history.” —The New York Times Book Review
“A triumph, a novelistic rendition of one of the most difficult times in Vietnamese history . . . Vast in scope and intimate in its telling . . . Moving and riveting.” —VIET THANH NGUYEN, author of The Sympathizer, winner of the Pulitzer Prize
With the epic sweep of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing and the lyrical beauty of Vaddey Ratner’s In the Shadow of the Banyan, The Mountains Sing tells an enveloping, multigenerational tale of the Trần family, set against the backdrop of the Việt Nam War. Trần Diệu Lan, who was born in 1920, was forced to flee her family farm with her six children during the Land Reform as the Communist government rose in the North. Years later in Hà Nội, her young granddaughter, Hương, comes of age as her parents and uncles head off down the Hồ Chí Minh Trail to fight in a conflict that tore apart not just her beloved country, but also her family.
Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Việt Nam, The Mountains Sing brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves, while showing us the true power of kindness and hope.
The Mountains Sing is celebrated Vietnamese poet Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai’s first novel in English.
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