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book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
The novel focuses on a group of residents of Hanoi. Hung is an elderly pho merchant, moving his portable kitchen cart from location to location, but maintaining a loyal following. Tu is a young tour guide leading tourists, including American Vietnam Vets, through the city. He and his father, Binh, try to watch out for the old man. Maggie is Vietnamese by birth but raised in America. She has come to Hanoi as an art curator for a major luxury hotel; but her real purpose is to seek out clues as to what happened to her father, a dissident artist who survived a re-education camp in the 1950s.
I have to thank my F2F book club buddy for recommending this book, as I had totally missed it when it was first published. Told from multiple points of view, and moving back and forth in time, it requires some attention by the reader. I found it very atmospheric. I’ve been to Vietnam and her descriptions of the sights of Hanoi – the markets, the new construction, the lake, the restaurants and art galleries – were exactly what I remember. Gibb also perfectly captured the noise and bustle, the traffic (crossing the street!!!), the torrential rains, and the smell of pho.
My heart broke for Hung and Lan, the woman who lived in the shack next to his. I was equally touched by the heartache that Maggie faced, not knowing what happened to her father.
I have to thank my F2F book club buddy for recommending this book, as I had totally missed it when it was first published. Told from multiple points of view, and moving back and forth in time, it requires some attention by the reader. I found it very atmospheric. I’ve been to Vietnam and her descriptions of the sights of Hanoi – the markets, the new construction, the lake, the restaurants and art galleries – were exactly what I remember. Gibb also perfectly captured the noise and bustle, the traffic (crossing the street!!!), the torrential rains, and the smell of pho.
My heart broke for Hung and Lan, the woman who lived in the shack next to his. I was equally touched by the heartache that Maggie faced, not knowing what happened to her father.
sairz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
shesagift's review against another edition
4.0
I was leary about this book at first, being very unfamiliar with Vietnamese history/culture (besides what I know about the American war in Vietnam). However, after some brief wiki-research, I was able to glean the historical context of the book, and I really enjoyed the novel. The gradual unfolding of all the backstory was very enjoyable, especially of Old Man Hung; he's 70 or so years old, and has lived through wars and revolutions, and his story was the most fascinating to me. Tu and Maggie are also great characters, though their stories are less nuanced than Hung's because they are decades younger (though Maggie's experiences as a "Viet Kieu" were enlightening).
Coming into the book with little knowledge of Vietnamese history, culture, and food, I felt much more knowledgable by the end of the book. Others have said this is a pretty accurate portrayal of modern Vietnam, and I wouldn't deny that; it felt very genuine to me in all of the descriptions. I learned a lot about what goes into pho, and I have a much better idea of how Vietnam's history has molded it into what it is today (right now, as it will surely change in years to come). Though I was hesitant to read the book because I didn't know much, I'm glad I did because I feel much more informed now than I was a week ago. Definitely recommend to anyone who would like to learn more about Vietnam but through a fictional, entertaining story which will make you think and warm your heart.
Coming into the book with little knowledge of Vietnamese history, culture, and food, I felt much more knowledgable by the end of the book. Others have said this is a pretty accurate portrayal of modern Vietnam, and I wouldn't deny that; it felt very genuine to me in all of the descriptions. I learned a lot about what goes into pho, and I have a much better idea of how Vietnam's history has molded it into what it is today (right now, as it will surely change in years to come). Though I was hesitant to read the book because I didn't know much, I'm glad I did because I feel much more informed now than I was a week ago. Definitely recommend to anyone who would like to learn more about Vietnam but through a fictional, entertaining story which will make you think and warm your heart.
richard_f's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable read. Came to care for the characters and glean some insight in Vietnam. Time well spent.
skizzyskee's review against another edition
5.0
2021 DIY Book Club: our pick for the month of April/May.
This teeters between being a 4 1/2 or a 5 star book for me, but I’m leaning towards a full 5 stars.
I was nervous about reading this novel by a white author about the cultural and societal nuances and history of Vietnamese culture. But Camila Gibb gave a very thorough depiction of modern Vietnam vs traditional Vietnamese and American influence through her different characters.
Old Man Hung represents traditional Vietnam, and we are guided through his life from flashbacks of childhood and early adulthood to the present with Binh, Tu, and Miss Maggie. The author is able to portray the facade of hope and then harsh cruelty of Ho Chi Minh’s Communist regime, while still paying mine to the soft nuances of love between a young Hung and Lan
Tu represents a modern Vietnamese man that wants to stick to tradition where he can (especially his love life) while his friend Phuong is very influenced by Western culture.
Maggie is Viet Kieu, a Vietnamese girl raised in the West, returning to Vietnam after her mother has passed. Her ideals clash with both Tu and Hung, but they all have something to gain from one another.
Amidst the tragedy that Gibb outlined from the Communist regime, she was able to intertwine the lives of her characters so beautifully and wrapped up the ends with a nice bow. The Beauty of Humanity Movement is a book with real cultural and political implications with a feel-good ending that doesn’t undermine the importance of what’s been presented earlier.
This teeters between being a 4 1/2 or a 5 star book for me, but I’m leaning towards a full 5 stars.
I was nervous about reading this novel by a white author about the cultural and societal nuances and history of Vietnamese culture. But Camila Gibb gave a very thorough depiction of modern Vietnam vs traditional Vietnamese and American influence through her different characters.
Old Man Hung represents traditional Vietnam, and we are guided through his life from flashbacks of childhood and early adulthood to the present with Binh, Tu, and Miss Maggie. The author is able to portray the facade of hope and then harsh cruelty of Ho Chi Minh’s Communist regime, while still paying mine to the soft nuances of love between a young Hung and Lan
Tu represents a modern Vietnamese man that wants to stick to tradition where he can (especially his love life) while his friend Phuong is very influenced by Western culture.
Maggie is Viet Kieu, a Vietnamese girl raised in the West, returning to Vietnam after her mother has passed. Her ideals clash with both Tu and Hung, but they all have something to gain from one another.
Amidst the tragedy that Gibb outlined from the Communist regime, she was able to intertwine the lives of her characters so beautifully and wrapped up the ends with a nice bow. The Beauty of Humanity Movement is a book with real cultural and political implications with a feel-good ending that doesn’t undermine the importance of what’s been presented earlier.
jove64's review against another edition
4.0
I can't remember when I finished this book. Several months ago (writing this at end of May, 2014). I really loved it.
ldv's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this modern-day story that allows the reader to look back on Vietnam and its history. The realities of the effects of the war on its citizens is not sugar-coated or glossed over, but because it is done as memories, I found it less gut-wrenching to read, while still aware of the horror of it. It was also enjoyable to read how the country has this very real juxtaposition of old world and 21st century technology, of poverty and excess, in its everyday life.
The characters are all likable and interesting; the writing is good, too. It moves along but still creates strong pictures, scenes, and feelings. A good read.
The characters are all likable and interesting; the writing is good, too. It moves along but still creates strong pictures, scenes, and feelings. A good read.
eososray's review against another edition
4.0
What a beautiful tale. A story of belonging and not, of success and not, of love and abandonment, of finding your history and your place.
cortg15's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75