Book Review by Subhadra Jayaraman

𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰’𝒎 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒚”

This book is pure, raw, unpretentious truth. It flows through you like the breath you take, easy and fulfilling. I can’t even pretend to describe the pleasure I felt reading this literary marvel. It takes the hard truths and presents them to the reader with a fearless dash of emotions.

“𝑰 𝒔𝒊𝒕, 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒐𝒏, 𝑩𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔, 𝑫𝒖 𝑭𝒖, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒓, 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕, 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕, 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅”

The story of Little Dog, a Vietnamese American from Hartford, Connecticut, written as a letter to his mother – his Ma – who can’t read. It’s the story of three generations of Vietnamese immigrants starting from the War to the present day. I will say no more than that, for this is a story to be lived in, to imbibe, to feel, and not to be summarized in a few hasty words.

Ocean Vuong is a superhero, one blessed with the power of expression. He takes a story and weaves a tapestry so powerful and so articulate; you can never forget what you just witnessed. It happened, but it is also happening right in front of you with every word you read.

“𝑨 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆, 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒏𝒐 𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅”

This marvel will always have a place in my heart and in my soul and I will thank the Earth forever for producing artists like Vuong. It took him 8 years to write this book, and every word reflects his deep passionate love for poetic writing.

𝑴𝒚 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Pair this book with a glass of iced Vietnamese coffee and explore the beauty of Vuong’s writing. Share your thoughts with us and check out my ‘bookstagram’ @theramanlibrary for more reviews and suggestions.