REVIEW: Vi by Kim Thúy

Genre: Fiction, Cultural

Publisher: Random House Canada

ISBN: 0735272794

Format: Hardback, Paperback, E-Book

Release Date: 10th April 2018
            (First Released: 5th April 2016)


Translated by: Shelia Fischman


Links: Goodreads, Amazon.com, Indigo



Rating: 6/10


Synopsis:

The youngest of four children and the only girl, Vi was given a name that meant "precious, tiny one," destined to be cosseted and protected, the family's little treasure.


Daughter of an enterprising mother and a wealthy and spoiled father who never had to grow up, the Vietnam war tears their family asunder. While Vi and many of her family members escape, her father stays behind, and her family must fend for themselves in Canada.


While her mother and brothers put down roots, life has different plans for Vi. As a young woman, she finds the world opening up to her. Taken under the wing of Ha, a worldly family friend and diplomat lover, Vi tests personal boundaries and crosses international ones, letting the winds of life buffet her. From Saigon to Montreal, from Suzhou to Boston to the fall of the Berlin Wall, she is witness to the immensity of the world, the intricate fabric of humanity, the complexity of love, the infinite possibilities before her. Ever the quiet observer, somehow she must find a way to finally take her place in the world.

Review:

**I was sent this book by Penguin Random House Canada, in return for my honest review**

This is a book I ended up really enjoying. Vi is about a young Vietnamese woman, and her family moving as refugees to Quebec City. The book is short but covers a long period of time, from their family history in Vietnam, before and after the war, to their move to Quebec City.

The story itself is beautifully written with strong emotions and characters. Vi, the main character, is torn between the expectations of her family and choices that express her individual personality. 

I did find it jumps around in terms of location and time a lot, which at times I found a little confusing. I found myself rereading passages of the book and flipping back through pages to ensure I understood where Vi was and the timeframe. 

The flashbacks, however, did help build more depth to the character of Vi. I felt more personally connected to her character and the events that had happened in her life. There were also some parts I found a little boring but the beautiful language and characters really helped pull the entire book together. 

The chapters are short but the snippets of Vi and her relationships with her friends and families really make this a beautiful book. 

Although I cannot compare it to how it is in its original form, the translated edition is wonderful.  The entirety of the book is Vi making her journey both as a refugee and the journey of truly finding herself, even when it seems like the world is against you. Kim Thúy captures the spirit and innocence of a young girl while paying homage to Vietnamese culture. 

I'd love to read more books like this one and I recommend this one to other readers. If you love being whisked away on a journey with twisting paths, then you will love Vi.