When Ariel and I started to compile our buddy read list for this year, we were looking for books set in different parts of the world and one way to achieve this goal is to read translated books. I suggested The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai when its cover caught my eye and I am so glad this was such an exceptional read for us. Take a look at the synopsis below and then dive into our discussion.
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 Tran family, set against the backdrop of the Viet Nam War. Tran Dieu 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 Noi, her young granddaughter, Hương, comes of age as her parents and uncles head off down the Ho Chí Minh Trail to fight in a conflict that will tear not just her beloved country but her family apart.
Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Viet 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. This is celebrated Vietnamese poet Nguyen Phan Que Mai’s first novel in English.
Content Notes: Ableism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Violence.
The Mountains Sing
Whole book Discussion
I originally thought The Mountains Sing is a translated book because of its historical and geographical setting. However, when I learned that it is actually the first book in English by the author, I appreciated its lyrical prose even more. Ariel, did the writing of this book stand out to you too?
I really enjoyed the storytelling elements within this book. Beautifully written with an elegant prose, The Mountain Sings is a story that speaks directly from the heart about family, connection, belonging, and community. I listened to this book in audiobook format, and hearing the author narrate the emotions and the emphasis throughout helped this book really come to life.
That is such a powerful experience in audiobook form! My physical book also moved me at numerous instances and that kept me immersed and wanting more.
I did not know a lot about Vietnam and I loved how this book encompassed so much of its history through Hương and Grandma Diệu Lan. Some of the situations in this book reminded me of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and having read that book about conditions during the second World War in France, I found the experience of Hương family to be similar in war times. It was heartbreaking to learn about the Land Reforms in the country and see the widespread influence of communism in society. What did you think of the timeline and historical setting of this book?
I really liked the generational aspect of this story, and how it was used as a mechanism for detailing historical events that happened over history. As someone who has specifically studied colonization throughout the world, Vietnam was one that I have studied academically, but I really enjoyed the literary approach to a wide spread of national tragedies within the country. At one point in the book, the narrator ponders the fact that Vietnam had been invaded and colonized by foreigners for thousands of years. The Land Reform and a national pushback from capitalism and foriegn imperialism was definitely an event that had been building up for many generations even before the lens that we see.
The other powerful aspect of this story for me was that it represented a wide range of experience during hard times of war and famine. A lot of people and their families who have been through similar experiences would probably be able to see a glimpse of themselves and the obstacles that they faced through at least one of the characters.
Being able to see how various characters approached the different hardships based on their situation felt very real to me. It highlights the complexities of humanity and what different people will do in order to survive. The ending wrapped up a little too nicely for me, and there were several instances where generalizations were made that glossed over some important critiques of imperialism, but that didn’t take away from the story. The point of the story is to show the limited perspectives that the characters had, and the choices they made in order to preserve what was important to them.
And I feel the story succeeds in doing that. 🙂
Yes!
Grandma Diệu Lan’s storyline was particularly engaging to me. First of all, her relationship with Hương is really close to my heart because it reminded me of my own grandmother. Having special nicknames for each other, bedtime storytelling about family and legends were all things that my grandma and I shared too. Secondly, Diệu Lan had to make so many hard choices when it came to the kids. Her experience made me realize that as much as society judges mothers for their actions, mothers themselves can be particularly hard on themselves for their decisions.
The choices that the Diệu Lan made in the book were incredibly difficult, and it really highlights how dire the circumstances were. It was these passages that made the book a bit rough to read at times, but ultimately this is a very important experience that should be read, and I’m really glad we read it.
This book had a discussion guide and I thought we could discuss this one:
Hương thinks that if people are willing to learn about other cultures, there will be no war on earth. Do you think Hương feels differently about America and American people because of her reading? What books have made your world bigger?
Personally, reading has always made my world bigger. It has led me to the passions that I have today, and has allowed me to travel beyond my experiences in profound ways. It is through reading and research that I’ve pursued my Master’s Degree, and eventually want to go for a Doctoral Degree. What I’ve ultimately learned is that learning is really the first step. There’s a lot to be done beyond learning that will lead to peace and the absence of wars, but for me, reading and learning has set that foundation to build and create connections with experiences outside of my own. Some of my favorites that have expanded my horizons were: Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Sabrina & Corina: Stories by Kali Fajardo-Anstine and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.
These are some great recommendations! Thanks Ariel.
I loved how much reading was part of Hương’s childhood in The Mountains Sing, speaking to the power of reading and how it builds empathy and knowledge about experience through characters. This is exactly why I look for books that broaden my perspective even more and help me learn more about the world we live in.
Concluding Thoughts on The Mountains Sing
We hope you enjoyed our discussion of The Mountains Sing’s and would give it a read if it appealed to you. We quite enjoyed it and it made it to one of our favorite buddy reads this year.
The Mountains Sing is available in stores starting today. Be sure to check your local library and support them.
Amazon Print
Amazon Kindle
Thank you for reading! For more book discussions, check out the books with * in the Book Review Index.
Cover Image: Photo by Peter Hammer on Unsplash
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