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Summary
THE TIKTOK SENSATION 'A marvel' Marlon James Brilliant, heart-breaking and highly original, discover Ocean Vuong's shattering coming of age novel. This is a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read. Written when the speaker, Little Dog, is in his late twenties, the letter unearths a family's history that began before he was born. It tells of Vietnam, of the lasting impact of war, and of his family's struggle to forge a new future. And it serves as a doorway into parts of Little Dog's life his mother has never known - episodes of bewilderment, fear and passion - all the while moving closer to an unforgettable revelation. 'Reminded me that every word can be an incantation, and that beauty does hard and important work' Rebecca Solnit
Reviews and Comments
4 reviewsFinished reading 15/02 I feel... A bit torn about this one. I thought it was poetry (because Ocean Vuong is a poet), but it was a memoir. On one hand, I acknowledge and admire the writer's craft, his ability to dip into his memories like individual pools of darkness that reflect the light of his present; his understanding of human psyche, of interconnectedness ; his way with words. On the other, it felt a bit disconnected at times as he goes back and forth between his grandmother's story, his dedication to his mother, and his own story and sexual awakening with boyfriend Trevor. Because of the absence of plot and the mild verbosity, it felt a bit like Notes app poetry. There were some interesting parts on mother tongue which I saved by dog-earing the book
