Book Review of
The Mountains Sing

Lynn's Review

The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai was published in 2020. It is a historical fiction book set in Viet Nam. 

I bought this book after hearing an interview with the author on the Friends and Fiction show. The author was fascinating as she talked about her life growing up in Viet Nam. There is not a lot written about the Viet Nam War, especially from the perspective of someone from Viet Nam, so I knew that I wanted to read her books. I instantly bought both of them. 

The author has written quite a few books, poetry, and articles, but The Mountains Sing is her first book written in English. Although you could tell in some sentences that English was not the author’s first language, I loved this book!

Books often transport you to a time and place that you will never be able to visit. That is exactly what this book did. 

It alternates between the 1940s and 1970s Viet Nam. The book is historical fiction, but it is based on the experiences of the author’s family and the people she knows. 

It was very interesting and eye-opening to read about the before, during, and after the Viet Nam War from the perspective of the author. War has two sides and it is valuable to read them both. 

If you love historical fiction that shares a side of history that you probably have not read, this is a great read. I can’t wait to read her second book, Dust Child.