I've been reading these short stories since my holiday in Vietnam at Easter.I have thoroughly enjoyed each one, so I have no idea why it has taken me son long to get through this book.Actually, yes, I do.It's the font and the paper.My edition of A Good Scent from A Strange Mountain came from an … Continue reading A Good Scent From A Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Butler
Earlier on in the year I attended an author event with Thuy and read Ru. I adored it. It was beautiful, heart-felt and poetic.Last week I was in need of some beauty and picked up Thuy's latest book, Man in anticipation.Once again, Thuy explores the immigrants story. The search for self, family and belonging is … Continue reading Man by Kim Thuy
Hourra!!Vive La Paris! This is one of my favourite times of year - when all things French and Parisian takes over my life. Thyme for Tea's, Paris in July event is the perfect antidote to freezing cold winter holidays in Canberra and cold, grey July days back at work.Tamara has already run a badge making … Continue reading Paris in July
I love it when I discover a new author that simply bowls me over with the beautiful simplicity of her story. Reading Thuy's (pronounced twee) autobiographical novel, Ru has been a magical, moving experience."I came into the world during the Tet Offensive, in the early days of the Year of the Monkey, when the long … Continue reading Ru by Kim Thuy
At work I often get asked which travel guide people should take with them on holidays.In the past I have been known to travel with up to three or four guides tucked into my backpack and suitcases.I like them all for different reasons - the weight be damned!Our recent trip to Vietnam gave me a … Continue reading Which Travel Guide?
The Frangipani Hotel is a collection of contemporary short stories predominantly set in Vietnam - which made for the perfect holiday read whilst travelling through said Vietnam.The stories featured Saigon, Hanoi, the Mekong, the USA and a convent. The cast of characters included refugees, nuns, siblings, ex-pats, soldiers and ghosts.Plenty of ghosts in fact, as … Continue reading The Frangipani Hotel by Violet Kupersmith
"Getting in touch with the beauty of nature makes life much more beautiful, much more real." You Are Here by Thich Nhat HanhHalong Bay is beautiful, magical and impossible to capture.There is a majesty in the simplicity of these limestone karsts. It's difficult to accurately capture their scale & depth.But there is another side to … Continue reading A few views from Halong Bay Vietnam….
Anh Do's funny/sad autobiography won this years Indie Award for non-fiction. The Happiest Refugee was very easy to read, full of self-deprecating humour and honesty. I grew up with tales of Vietnamese boat people on the news. During the 70's there was a lot of media backlash against the boat people. Racism and fear about Asian … Continue reading The Happiest Refugee | Anh Do
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