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The Mountains Sing

Winner of the 2020 BookBrowse Debut Novel Award: A multi-generational tale set ...

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Discuss The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Huong believes that, of her grandmother's children, the youngest was the luckiest, and emerged from the war OK. Do you agree with her? Why or why not?

10

Apr. 14, 2021
by rosemaryk

Overall, what do you think of The Mountains Sing? (no spoilers in this thread, please)

35

Apr. 14, 2021
by rosemaryk

The characters pay homage to those they care about who’ve died. What did you think of these rituals? Do you or your family have rituals to remember those who you’ve lost?

7

Apr. 13, 2021
by djcminor

What objects, memories, people, or conversations help each character to endure and recover? If you’ve experienced trauma, do you have similar things you cling to that help you?

3

Apr. 11, 2021
by debra

Sang says he and his comrades risked their lives so Viet Nam would be "free from exploiters and bourgeoisie." Do you think this is true? What would have been different if the US had never intervened?

6

Apr. 11, 2021
by debra

How much did you know about the historical events depicted before you read The Mountains Sing? Did the story show you a new side to any events you were already familiar with?

28

Apr. 11, 2021
by Hulananni

How does Grandma Dieu Lan help her children after their return? What might her relationships with her children reveal about family relationships in Viet Nam?

5

Apr. 11, 2021
by debra

Were there any locations that you would like to visit or have visited? Any foods you would like to try or have tried?

8

Apr. 11, 2021
by debra

How might the novel differ if it had male narrators? Why do you think the author chose to have women and girls tell the story instead?

16

Apr. 11, 2021
by debra

In The Mountains Sing, Vietnamese names and words appear with their full diacritical marks. Did their inclusion affect your reading experience?

17

Apr. 11, 2021
by debra

What stories from your own family could be written into a novel? Do you know of any fictional stories that remind you of your own family story?

3

Apr. 05, 2021
by MimiJo

Reading The Mountain Sings while on vacation visiting my father who was in the Vietnam war was complicated. Did anyone else have a family member in the war?

4

Apr. 05, 2021
by MimiJo

What did you think of Wicked Ghost?

6

Apr. 05, 2021
by bill

How many knew that Laos was bombed during the VN war?

7

Apr. 05, 2021
by bill

According to Huong, proverbs are the essence of Vietnamese wisdom. Did the proverbs resonate with you?

12

Apr. 03, 2021
by PKH

Dieu Lan believes that no matter the circumstances "no one has the right to take away the life of another human being." Do you agree with her statement? What's your take on forgiveness?

10

Apr. 03, 2021
by Windsong

Which character did you feel the most sympathetic toward? The least? Is that different from which character you like the most and least?

5

Apr. 02, 2021
by MHRussell

How important do you think music and poetry are in the Vietnamese culture? How important are they in your own culture?

4

Apr. 01, 2021
by paulagb

Which timeline did you enjoy the most?

6

Mar. 29, 2021
by ColoradoGirl

Huong thinks that if people are willing to learn about other cultures, there will be no war on earth. Do you think Huong feels differently because of her reading? What books have made your world bigger?

7

Mar. 29, 2021
by ireneh

How is the Viet Nam portrayed in The Mountains Sing similar to or different from the Viet Nam you already knew?

5

Mar. 24, 2021
by rosemaryk

What do you think of the choices Huong made – what to take and what to leave? What items would you take with you if you knew you could only take so much with you?

4

Mar. 24, 2021
by kimk

What's your opinion about sharing family history, especially with pre-teens? Should you be honest with children, especially about family tragedy?

6

Mar. 22, 2021
by johnw

Which scene or scenes in the book did you find the most memorable, and why?

7

Mar. 22, 2021
by johnw

Which brother did you relate to the most?

0

Mar. 21, 2021
by jazzming

BookBrowse Online Book Club: Join the discussion of The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai.