The Mountains Sing

Written by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Narrated by Quyen Ngo

This novel follows one family through years of conflict during the Vi?t Nam war and brings to life the human costs of this conflict through an important point of view.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media
• Release date: Mar 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781666566260

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai was born into the Việt Nam War and grew up witnessing the war's devastation and its aftermath. Having worked as a street seller and rice farmer, she won a scholarship to attend university in Australia. The author of eight books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, she has had her writing translated and published in more than ten countries and was the 2010 recipient of the Poetry of the Year Award. She currently resides with her family in Jakarta.

Reviews for The Mountains Sing

[marykathryn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing story of resilience and love. Heartbreaking and brutal at times - an important story. Absolutely worth the time. Great narration.

[Linda Mooney · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was phenomenal. Although the content was often harsh, it was incredible to learn about the side of the Vietnamese who struggled through war. The suffering. We all need to know this.

It was beautifullly written and very poetic; I could imagine every scene so vividly.

Highly recommend it. ?

[Joyce M. Chapman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A BOOK THAT DEMONSTRATES WHAT ADVERSITY TEACHES. THIS BOOK IS ABOUT TENDERNESS AND THE ART OF FORGIVENESS. IT IS A BLESSING TO ALL WHO READ IT.

[Thelma Obosi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. Really interesting talking about war and the effects on a family. Its not for everyone though. No crazy thriller or mad suspense. Just a nice balance of everything including love
I listened to the audio book. The narrators voices were a perfect match for the book. And they seemd to have the Vietnamese accent

[Aisha O · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So powerful and emotional, I loved how much she balanced horror with heart

[Ioana Ciobanu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was incredible! I cried my eyes out, it was so touching and endearing and grueling at times, but raw and powerful.

[Opeyemi Ojo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Book taught me some life lessons to keep moving on no matter what...

[Elizabeth Hernandez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a wonderful story. It really makes you be more aware of the horrors of war and to be more understanding about what happened in people’s lives. Very beautiful writing as well.

[Mike Rolfs · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The long history of the family struggles in Vietnam.

[Gwyn Hampton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.5. Powerful sad story about life pre and post Vietnam war with some stories during the later years and start of the war. Told in first person through both the grandma and her grand daughter which made it slightly difficult to follow for audio. Pay attention who Wicked Ghost is; important for end of the story. Would recommend to anyone who has visited Vietnam.

[Edith Amoafoa-Smart · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a fantastic debut! Just marvelous, looking forward to forthcoming work from the author.

[Jen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Some of the past and present jumping is a little confusing but still a lovely tale of challenges and family

[Susan Priest · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful, descriptive writing that made me feel like I was in Vietnam. I appreciated the insights into their culture, beliefs, and the effects of the Vietnam War on them.

[Jackie Hall · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very moving book about love for family and love for people. Historical information on Vietnamese war and their families traditions.

[Jane Siemon · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I loved the sayings of the Vietnamese. I learned about their life and the history of Vietnam. It was very hard to listen to the many atrocities of war the people in the book endured. It was like the author wanted us to know every atrocity committed during the many years of war.

[Anam Azam · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This story of generations shows the horrors of the war and its brunt that people bear.
Incredible book. Amazing storyline.

[Shealea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Masterpiece. The Mountains Sing has redefined what "life-changing" means to me. Hauntingly powerful, beautiful evocative. Highly, highly recommended.

[AJ Esguerra · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

▪️This is so fun to listen to. ▪️BUT the story is HEARTBREAKING. ▪️I love how it got more Asian due to grandma’s stories. ▪️The historical background seems well-researched. ▪️Everyone should read so you’ll know how colonization and war changes everything.

[NoelReneCisnerosPeña · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai construye una novela conmovedora cuyas protagonistas (y narradoras) nos introducen al Vietnam que pasó de ser un reino bajo control francés a una nación dividida y en guerra. Narra la vida de la abuela, que nació en una familia bien acomodada de granjeros y la de la nieta, la joven que espera noticias de sus padres y del resto de su familia que está en el frente. Es una novela conmovedora que muestra la forma en que la historia aplasta a las personas, pero también cómo éstas pueden sobreponerse a su avance. Ignoro si es por efecto de la traducción pero hay momentos en los que las voces de la abuela y la nieta son indistinguibles, salvo por detalles temporales o circunstanciales.