Rated of 5
by Freya H. (Phoenix, AZ) The Beauty of Humanity Movement
This was a wonderful book! The story line was captivating and the characters so well developed you felt as though, surely, you wanted to know them. I will be recommending the book to my Book Group.
Rated of 5
by Carol J. (Isle, MN) A Peek at Vietnam
As I read this delightful book, The Beauty of the Humanity Movement, my mouth watered for a bowl of pho! Unfortunately, no Vietnamese restaurants nearby. Camilla Gibb skillfully transported me to VietNam, both past and present. I loved getting to know her character's and learning more about the history of VietNam and its people. The only distractor for me was the Vietnamese words and expressions, would have loved to have a dictionary/translator. I would highly recommend the book. I am looking forward to reading one of Ms. Gibb's other books and hoping it is as entertaining. Definitely a book club recommendation!
Rated of 5
by Margaret H. (Springfield, VA) Beauty of Humanity Movement
This is a slow starting book that makes up for it with the ending in which things rapidly, if surprisingly occur. There are two themes in this book: one is what makes a family; and the other is a picture of Hanoi in the 70's and 80's. At times the book can be confusing as it jumps from the present time to the past without any clear delineation and is certainly not a fast read. The characters, however, are memorable and fully developed and it is a book worth staying with.
Rated of 5
by Debra V. (Kenosha, WI) Odd Title/Good Book
The reason that I requested this book to review was that the story was set in post-war Vietnam. My generation grew up in the shadow of that war and my view of Viet Nam was taken from the nightly news reports, and later from the vets who returned -- many of them emotionally damaged. It is a beautifully written story of the Vietnamese families that were also damaged by this conflict and how they were able to move forward in spite of a repressive and misguided government. A great book for women of my generation who want to know more about the ordinary people of Viet Nam after the war that changed all of our lives.
Rated of 5
by Wendy F. (Kalamazoo, MI) Beauty of Humanity Movement
An interesting look at post-war Vietnam and the perils of living in a Communist country. It is difficult to imagine not being able to express yourself artistically due to the laws of the land however that is what many experienced in Vietnam during war time and beyond. This is an intimate portrait of those who survived the war and their descendants and what they must endure as artists. Character development was a little weak and I had a hard time distinguishing between them in the beginning. Old Man Hung is able to show his own creativity through his meticulously made pho where others have had to express themselves by going underground. His passion for other's work is shown through his memories. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it, especially to those who are blessed to live in our country and can freely communicate through their art without fear of reprisals.
Rated of 5
by Theresa R. (Sierra Madre, CA) Decent Book
I thought this book was ok. Although I really liked the author's writing style and the way she brought her characters to life, I found the book a little slow in the beginning and found it hard to get into. Even though I I thought the story as a whole was just okay, I found myself caring for each and every one of the characters, which can only be credited to the author's ability to make them so real.
I think that I would definitely recommend this as a book club choice because there are A LOT of different topics this book touches on that would make for great discussions.
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of 5
by Freya H. (Phoenix, AZ) 
of 5
by Theresa R. (Sierra Madre, CA) 
