Kim Thúy’s beautiful short story, Vi, is a must read for fiction lovers!
I won’t lie, the fact that this book is so short was what drew me to it. I needed a quick read to keep me occupied while I was in a waiting room and this book was short enough to devour in one sitting. While this book might lack in quantity, it hits a real punch on the quality. I’m honestly surprised Kim is not a bigger author, because this book was mind-blowingly awesome. And yes, I am making mind-blowingly a word.
The cultural impact is probably the best part of this novel. Often, you can see silly cultural stereotypes in novels but this one did it right. You could tell Kim knew what she was talking about with the depth and nature of her words. It didn’t feel cheap or obnoxious, it felt oddly satisfying to read about another culture that was not my own. Watching Vi’s story take place over these pages was a fantastic adventure, since Kim wove her words so beautifully and made this story dance in my mind. I absolutely loved it!
I would have liked a better ending, I found it kind of “blah” compared to the rest of the novel. This book had me hooked and obsessed with Vi’s journey and then the end just fell…well, flat. I would have liked something more. That was my only real issue with this novel. It is a translation (and my copy was an ARC) so there were some weird sentences with the translation but that wasn’t a con for me. I moved passed those issues really easily when reading it.
Overall, this charming read is a great option if you want a story that will move you and impact your understanding of culture. I 100% recommend this book!
Four out of five stars.
I received an ARC of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
If you read this review, use the hashtags #BriarsReviews & #Vi on twitter! @ReviewAlholic
Check out Kim Thúy on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3152466.Kim_Th_y
If you enjoyed this review, check out another you might enjoy! #BookReview A Long Way Back by J. Everett Prewitt
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