Overview

'Dazzling. Sharply drawn and hauntingly beautiful.' Elif Shafak, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Island of Missing Trees In 1969, two sisters from rural Viet Nam leave their parents' home and travel to the bustling city of Sài Gòn. Soon their lives are swept up in the unstoppable flames of a war that is blazing through their country. They begin working as 'bar girls' in one of the drinking dens frequented by American GIs, forced to accept that survival now might mean compromising the values they once clung to. Decades later, two men wander through the streets and marketplaces of a very different Sài Gòn: modern, forward-looking, healing. But neither of these men can escape the shadow of decisions made by themselves and others during a time of war. Through the interwoven stories of these four unforgettable characters, Dust Child exposes the devastating legacy of conflict, and asks what it takes to move forward. Heartfelt, suspenseful and poetic, this is Nguyen Phan Que Mai at her very best.

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9780861546121

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Reviews

'Powerful and deeply empathetic... A heartbreaking tale of lost ideals, human devotion, and hard-won redemption.' -- Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prizewinning author of The Sympathizer 'Beautifully crafted, haunting... A masterful display of Que Mai's capacity to evoke compassion through her lyrical prose.' -- Irish Times 'Dazzling. Sharply drawn and hauntingly beautiful.' -- Elif Shafak, Women's Prize-shortlisted author of The Island of Missing Trees 'Quế Mai is interested in the personal cost of conflict. She is a skilled storyteller, and her lyrical turn of phrase reflects her characters' backgrounds as well as their emotions… Quế Mai demonstrates a deep understanding of splintered lives. The compassionate treatment of her characters, insights into the period and eloquent prose are impressive.' -- FT 'Intricately weaved, the characters coax you into their world effortlessly. An important historical moment and Nguyen Phan Que Mai is a knowledgeable and sympathetic guide.' -- Melody Razak, author of Moth 'Notable for its boundless compassion for all the characters, from young, brutalised US soldiers to the girls who pretend to love them and the dust children left behind.' -- The Times 'A family epic to remember... Dust Child brings together an unforgettable cast of characters whose lives have forever been changed by past violence. Spanning decades and disparate lives, the book deftly explores the ways we both inherit trauma and redefine our own paths forward.' -- Chicago Review of Books 'Once again, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai has written a beautiful novel that shines a light on the history of Vietnam... Dust Child is simply stunning.' -- Eric Nguyen, author of Things We Lost to the Water 'A heartbreaking, beautifully told, utterly unique story of love, loss, and longing that speaks to the very heart of the human experience.' -- Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars 'Quế Mai shows us the capacity we hold to confront our pasts, for the purpose of life is not to remain intact, but to break open, to let loss be a guide, to face the echoes of longing. In Dust Child, rupture leads to emotional richness and pain creates the pathways worth walking. I truly cannot wait for the rest of the world to celebrate this book.' -- Chanel Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Know My Name 'Well-researched, realistic, and compassionately written... This eye-opening and fascinating novel is a must-read!' -- Le Ly Hayslip, bestselling author of When Heaven and Earth Changed Places 'Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is one of the most unique storytellers of our time... She creates plots which are Dickensian in their breadth and mastery, while bravely probing the complex emotional challenges of living in a modern world full of disruption and displacement.' -- Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society 'An evocative tale that sheds lights on a legacy of the Vietnam war that more should know about, Nguyễn’s love for her country and its citizens shines through the pages of Dust Child.'   -- Jing-Jing Lee, author of How We Disappeared 'Scenes of past and present Việt Nam come alive in these pages... With her generous heart and unmatched ability to write across languages and cultures, Quế Mai is the perfect guide for the wounded who search for home and healing.' -- Thi Bui, author of The Best We Could Do 'From the author of the bestselling book The Mountains Sing comes this epic story of those who lived through the Việt Nam conflict or were otherwise deeply affected by it decades later.' -- Ms Magazine, 'Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2023' 'Mai's American debut (after numerous books in her native Vietnam) was The Mountains Sing, a devastatingly poetic account of how political strife tore one family apart over generations. Dust Child now takes on the difficult subject of Amerasians left behind once the American military fled its own misadventures in Southeast Asia. Look for a reception akin to Min Jin Lee’s bestselling Pachinko.'   -- LA Times 'The intimate care for every character is phenomenally beautiful.' -- Australian Women's Weekly 'Nguyen's novels, suffused with kindness and understanding, are an important and accessible tool to delve deeply into the perspectives of those whose lives were changed by the conflict. Her kaleidoscopic view opens doors of empathy and humanity.' -- Sydney Morning Herald 'Dust Child stays with you. There is something so deeply sincere, even guileless, about it, a genuine sympathy and compassion that somehow subverts the usual expectations and rules of fiction.'   -- New Zealand Listener 'Epic in scope... Dust Child is a poignant, upsetting work, telling of multiple nationalities wrecked by war. It is about searching for meaning, and of forgiveness, or the impossibility of it. As [she] ponders, how fickle is perceived identity: that through emigration, and only through that, a child of dust could, perhaps be turned into a person of gold.'   -- Otago Daily Times 'Phenomenally beautiful.' -- Australian Women's Weekly

'Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai will win many more readers with her powerful and deeply empathetic second novel... A heartbreaking tale of lost ideals, human devotion, and hard-won redemption.' -- Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prizewinning author of The Sympathizer 'Intricately weaved, the characters coax you into their world effortlessly. An important historical moment and Nguyen Phan Que Mai is a knowledgeable and sympathetic guide.' -- Melody Razak, author of Moth 'Dazzling. Sharply drawn and hauntingly beautiful.' -- Elif Shafak, Women's Prize-shortlisted author of The Island of Missing Trees 'Quế Mai is interested in the personal cost of conflict. She is a skilled storyteller, and her lyrical turn of phrase reflects her characters' backgrounds as well as their emotions… Quế Mai demonstrates a deep understanding of splintered lives. The compassionate treatment of her characters, insights into the period and eloquent prose are impressive.' -- FT 'Notable for its boundless compassion for all the characters, from young, brutalised US soldiers to the girls who pretend to love them and the dust children left behind.' -- The Times 'A family epic to remember... Dust Child brings together an unforgettable cast of characters whose lives have forever been changed by past violence. Spanning decades and disparate lives, the book deftly explores the ways we both inherit trauma and redefine our own paths forward.' -- Chicago Review of Books 'Once again, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai has written a beautiful novel that shines a light on the history of Vietnam... Dust Child is simply stunning.' -- Eric Nguyen, author of Things We Lost to the Water 'A heartbreaking, beautifully told, utterly unique story of love, loss, and longing that speaks to the very heart of the human experience.' -- Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars 'Quế Mai shows us the capacity we hold to confront our pasts, for the purpose of life is not to remain intact, but to break open, to let loss be a guide, to face the echoes of longing. In Dust Child, rupture leads to emotional richness and pain creates the pathways worth walking. I truly cannot wait for the rest of the world to celebrate this book.' -- Chanel Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Know My Name 'Well-researched, realistic, and compassionately written... This eye-opening and fascinating novel is a must-read!' -- Le Ly Hayslip, bestselling author of When Heaven and Earth Changed Places 'Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is one of the most unique storytellers of our time... She creates plots which are Dickensian in their breadth and mastery, while bravely probing the complex emotional challenges of living in a modern world full of disruption and displacement.' -- Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society 'An evocative tale that sheds lights on a legacy of the Vietnam war that more should know about, Nguyễn’s love for her country and its citizens shines through the pages of Dust Child.'   -- Jing-Jing Lee, author of How We Disappeared 'Scenes of past and present Việt Nam come alive in these pages... With her generous heart and unmatched ability to write across languages and cultures, Quế Mai is the perfect guide for the wounded who search for home and healing.' -- Thi Bui, author of The Best We Could Do 'From the author of the bestselling book The Mountains Sing comes this epic story of those who lived through the Việt Nam conflict or were otherwise deeply affected by it decades later.' -- Ms Magazine, 'Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2023' 'Mai's American debut (after numerous books in her native Vietnam) was The Mountains Sing, a devastatingly poetic account of how political strife tore one family apart over generations. Dust Child now takes on the difficult subject of Amerasians left behind once the American military fled its own misadventures in Southeast Asia. Look for a reception akin to Min Jin Lee’s bestselling Pachinko.'   -- LA Times

'Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai will win many more readers with her powerful and deeply empathetic second novel... A heartbreaking tale of lost ideals, human devotion, and hard-won redemption.' -- Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prizewinning author of The Sympathizer 'Intricately weaved, the characters coax you into their world effortlessly. An important historical moment and Nguyen Phan Que Mai is a knowledgeable and sympathetic guide.' -- Melody Razak, author of Moth 'Dazzling. Sharply drawn and hauntingly beautiful.' -- Elif Shafak, Women's Prize-shortlisted author of The Island of Missing Trees 'Nguyen makes the suffering of the Vietnamese people during and after the war painfully real, while moving forward to reconciliation… Achingly honest and ultimately hopeful; essential reading.' -- Library Journal (starred review) 'A family epic to remember... Dust Child brings together an unforgettable cast of characters whose lives have forever been changed by past violence. Spanning decades and disparate lives, the book deftly explores the ways we both inherit trauma and redefine our own paths forward.' -- Chicago Review of Books 'Once again, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai has written a beautiful novel that shines a light on the history of Vietnam... Dust Child is simply stunning.' -- Eric Nguyen, author of Things We Lost to the Water 'A heartbreaking, beautifully told, utterly unique story of love, loss, and longing that speaks to the very heart of the human experience.' -- Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars 'Quế Mai shows us the capacity we hold to confront our pasts, for the purpose of life is not to remain intact, but to break open, to let loss be a guide, to face the echoes of longing. In Dust Child, rupture leads to emotional richness and pain creates the pathways worth walking. I truly cannot wait for the rest of the world to celebrate this book.' -- Chanel Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Know My Name 'Well-researched, realistic, and compassionately written... This eye-opening and fascinating novel is a must-read!' -- Le Ly Hayslip, bestselling author of When Heaven and Earth Changed Places 'Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is one of the most unique storytellers of our time... She creates plots which are Dickensian in their breadth and mastery, while bravely probing the complex emotional challenges of living in a modern world full of disruption and displacement.' -- Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society 'An evocative tale that sheds lights on a legacy of the Vietnam war that more should know about, Nguyễn’s love for her country and its citizens shines through the pages of Dust Child.'   -- Jing-Jing Lee, author of How We Disappeared 'Scenes of past and present Việt Nam come alive in these pages... With her generous heart and unmatched ability to write across languages and cultures, Quế Mai is the perfect guide for the wounded who search for home and healing.' -- Thi Bui, author of The Best We Could Do 'From the author of the bestselling book The Mountains Sing comes this epic story of those who lived through the Việt Nam conflict or were otherwise deeply affected by it decades later.' -- Ms Magazine, 'Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2023' 'Through compelling multilayered fiction, Nguyễn intimately humanizes war's victims, regardless of nationalities… Nguyễn deftly wields her own polyglot talents to reclaim lives too long overlooked.' -- Shelf Awareness 'Mai's American debut (after numerous books in her native Vietnam) was The Mountains Sing, a devastatingly poetic account of how political strife tore one family apart over generations. Dust Child now takes on the difficult subject of Amerasians left behind once the American military fled its own misadventures in Southeast Asia. Look for a reception akin to Min Jin Lee’s bestselling Pachinko.'   -- LA Times

'Dazzling. Sharply drawn and hauntingly beautiful.' -- Elif Shafak, Women's Prize-shortlisted author of The Island of Missing Trees 'Nguyen Phan Que Mai will win many more readers with her powerful and deeply empathetic second novel... A heartbreaking tale of lost ideals, human devotion, and hard-won redemption.' -- Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prizewinning author of The Sympathizer 'Intricately weaved, the characters coax you into their world effortlessly. An important historical moment and Nguyen Phan Que Mai is a knowledgeable and sympathetic guide.' -- Melody Razak, author of Moth 'Nguyen makes the suffering of the Vietnamese people during and after the war painfully real, while moving forward to reconciliation... Achingly honest and ultimately hopeful; essential reading.' -- Library Journal (starred review) 'Once again, Nguyen Phan Que Mai has written a beautiful novel that shines a light on the history of Vietnam... Dust Child is simply stunning.' -- Eric Nguyen, author of Things We Lost to the Water 'A heartbreaking, beautifully told, utterly unique story of love, loss, and longing that speaks to the very heart of the human experience.' -- Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars 'Que Mai shows us the capacity we hold to confront our pasts, for the purpose of life is not to remain intact, but to break open, to let loss be a guide, to face the echoes of longing. In Dust Child, rupture leads to emotional richness and pain creates the pathways worth walking. I truly cannot wait for the rest of the world to celebrate this book.' -- Chanel Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Know My Name 'Well-researched, realistic, and compassionately written... This eye-opening and fascinating novel is a must-read!' -- Le Ly Hayslip, bestselling author of When Heaven and Earth Changed Places 'Nguyen Phan Que Mai is one of the most unique storytellers of our time... She creates plots which are Dickensian in their breadth and mastery, while bravely probing the complex emotional challenges of living in a modern world full of disruption and displacement.' -- Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society 'An evocative tale that sheds lights on a legacy of the Vietnam war that more should know about, Nguyen's love for her country and its citizens shines through the pages of Dust Child.' -- Jing-Jing Lee, author of How We Disappeared 'Scenes of past and present Viet Nam come alive in these pages... With her generous heart and unmatched ability to write across languages and cultures, Que Mai is the perfect guide for the wounded who search for home and healing.' -- Thi Bui, author of The Best We Could Do 'Rewarding... with a cinematic clarity.' -- Publishers Weekly 'One of the most important works of historical fiction in recent times.' -- Sofia Akel, cultural historian and writer 'From the author of the bestselling book The Mountains Sing comes this epic story of those who lived through the Viet Nam conflict or were otherwise deeply affected by it decades later.' -- Ms Magazine, 'Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2023' 'Through compelling multi-layered fiction, Nguyen intimately humanizes war's victims, regardless of nationalities... [She] deftly wields her own polyglot talents to reclaim lives too long overlooked.' -- Shelf Awareness

'Dazzling. Sharply drawn and hauntingly beautiful.' -- Elif Shafak, Women's Prize-shortlisted author of The Island of Missing Trees 'Nguyen Phan Que Mai will win many more readers with her powerful and deeply empathetic second novel... A heartbreaking tale of lost ideals, human devotion, and hard-won redemption.' -- Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prizewinning author of The Sympathizer 'Intricately weaved, the characters coax you into their world effortlessly. An important historical moment and Nguyen Phan Que Mai is a knowledgeable and sympathetic guide.' -- Melody Razak, author of Moth 'Nguyen makes the suffering of the Vietnamese people during and after the war painfully real, while moving forward to reconciliation... Achingly honest and ultimately hopeful; essential reading.' -- Library Journal (starred review) 'A family epic to remember... Dust Child brings together an unforgettable cast of characters whose lives have forever been changed by past violence. Spanning decades and disparate lives, the book deftly explores the ways we both inherit trauma and redefine our own paths forward.' -- Chicago Review of Books 'Once again, Nguyen Phan Que Mai has written a beautiful novel that shines a light on the history of Vietnam... Dust Child is simply stunning.' -- Eric Nguyen, author of Things We Lost to the Water 'A heartbreaking, beautifully told, utterly unique story of love, loss, and longing that speaks to the very heart of the human experience.' -- Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars 'Que Mai shows us the capacity we hold to confront our pasts, for the purpose of life is not to remain intact, but to break open, to let loss be a guide, to face the echoes of longing. In Dust Child, rupture leads to emotional richness and pain creates the pathways worth walking. I truly cannot wait for the rest of the world to celebrate this book.' -- Chanel Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Know My Name 'Well-researched, realistic, and compassionately written... This eye-opening and fascinating novel is a must-read!' -- Le Ly Hayslip, bestselling author of When Heaven and Earth Changed Places 'Nguyen Phan Que Mai is one of the most unique storytellers of our time... She creates plots which are Dickensian in their breadth and mastery, while bravely probing the complex emotional challenges of living in a modern world full of disruption and displacement.' -- Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society 'An evocative tale that sheds lights on a legacy of the Vietnam war that more should know about, Nguyen's love for her country and its citizens shines through the pages of Dust Child.' -- Jing-Jing Lee, author of How We Disappeared 'Scenes of past and present Viet Nam come alive in these pages... With her generous heart and unmatched ability to write across languages and cultures, Que Mai is the perfect guide for the wounded who search for home and healing.' -- Thi Bui, author of The Best We Could Do 'From the author of the bestselling book The Mountains Sing comes this epic story of those who lived through the Viet Nam conflict or were otherwise deeply affected by it decades later.' -- Ms Magazine, 'Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2023'

'Powerful and deeply empathetic... A heartbreaking tale of lost ideals, human devotion, and hard-won redemption.' -- Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prizewinning author of The Sympathizer 'Beautifully crafted, haunting... A masterful display of Que Mai's capacity to evoke compassion through her lyrical prose.' -- Irish Times 'Dazzling. Sharply drawn and hauntingly beautiful.' -- Elif Shafak, Women's Prize-shortlisted author of The Island of Missing Trees 'Dust Child is satisfying, lyrical, and deeply empathetic. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is a born storyteller.' Gabrielle Zevin, author of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow 'Quế Mai is interested in the personal cost of conflict. She is a skilled storyteller, and her lyrical turn of phrase reflects her characters' backgrounds as well as their emotions… Quế Mai demonstrates a deep understanding of splintered lives. The compassionate treatment of her characters, insights into the period and eloquent prose are impressive.' -- FT 'Intricately weaved, the characters coax you into their world effortlessly. An important historical moment and Nguyen Phan Que Mai is a knowledgeable and sympathetic guide.' -- Melody Razak, author of Moth 'Notable for its boundless compassion for all the characters, from young, brutalised US soldiers to the girls who pretend to love them and the dust children left behind.' -- The Times 'A family epic to remember... Dust Child brings together an unforgettable cast of characters whose lives have forever been changed by past violence. Spanning decades and disparate lives, the book deftly explores the ways we both inherit trauma and redefine our own paths forward.' -- Chicago Review of Books 'Once again, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai has written a beautiful novel that shines a light on the history of Vietnam... Dust Child is simply stunning.' -- Eric Nguyen, author of Things We Lost to the Water 'A heartbreaking, beautifully told, utterly unique story of love, loss, and longing that speaks to the very heart of the human experience.' -- Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars 'Quế Mai shows us the capacity we hold to confront our pasts, for the purpose of life is not to remain intact, but to break open, to let loss be a guide, to face the echoes of longing. In Dust Child, rupture leads to emotional richness and pain creates the pathways worth walking. I truly cannot wait for the rest of the world to celebrate this book.' -- Chanel Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Know My Name 'Well-researched, realistic, and compassionately written... This eye-opening and fascinating novel is a must-read!' -- Le Ly Hayslip, bestselling author of When Heaven and Earth Changed Places 'Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is one of the most unique storytellers of our time... She creates plots which are Dickensian in their breadth and mastery, while bravely probing the complex emotional challenges of living in a modern world full of disruption and displacement.' -- Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society 'An evocative tale that sheds lights on a legacy of the Vietnam war that more should know about, Nguyễn’s love for her country and its citizens shines through the pages of Dust Child.'   -- Jing-Jing Lee, author of How We Disappeared 'Scenes of past and present Việt Nam come alive in these pages... With her generous heart and unmatched ability to write across languages and cultures, Quế Mai is the perfect guide for the wounded who search for home and healing.' -- Thi Bui, author of The Best We Could Do 'From the author of the bestselling book The Mountains Sing comes this epic story of those who lived through the Việt Nam conflict or were otherwise deeply affected by it decades later.' -- Ms Magazine, 'Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2023' 'Mai's American debut (after numerous books in her native Vietnam) was The Mountains Sing, a devastatingly poetic account of how political strife tore one family apart over generations. Dust Child now takes on the difficult subject of Amerasians left behind once the American military fled its own misadventures in Southeast Asia. Look for a reception akin to Min Jin Lee’s bestselling Pachinko.'   -- LA Times 'The intimate care for every character is phenomenally beautiful.' -- Australian Women's Weekly 'Nguyen's novels, suffused with kindness and understanding, are an important and accessible tool to delve deeply into the perspectives of those whose lives were changed by the conflict. Her kaleidoscopic view opens doors of empathy and humanity.' -- Sydney Morning Herald 'Dust Child stays with you. There is something so deeply sincere, even guileless, about it, a genuine sympathy and compassion that somehow subverts the usual expectations and rules of fiction.'   -- New Zealand Listener 'Epic in scope... Dust Child is a poignant, upsetting work, telling of multiple nationalities wrecked by war. It is about searching for meaning, and of forgiveness, or the impossibility of it. As [she] ponders, how fickle is perceived identity: that through emigration, and only through that, a child of dust could, perhaps be turned into a person of gold.'   -- Otago Daily Times 'Phenomenally beautiful.' -- Australian Women's Weekly 'A poetic saga that deftly examines oft-marginalized elements of war, race, trauma and healing, Dust Child transports readers to Vietnam to witness the powerful role of compassion in the wake of humankind's efforts to inflict great harm on itself.' -- The Saigoneer 'This is an important history lesson that everyone should read about, one that you can’t find in textbooks. And of course, the book itself is wonderfully written. The POVs are chosen well and interwoven perfectly, and the themes that range from motherhood to PTSD to discrimination are all treated with great sensitivity.' -- United by Pop

Author Information

Nguyen Phan Que Mai is an award-winning Vietnamese poet and novelist. She is the author of eleven books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Her debut novel and first book in English, The Mountains Sing, is an international bestseller and runner-up in the 2021 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Winner of the Blogger's Book Prize 2021 and the 2021 PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award among other awards. For more information, visit: nguyenphanquemai.com

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