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Ms. Few escaped the direct or indirect effects of abuse, imprisonment or persecution by both sides. Hayslip's autobiography makes for fascinating reading, at least for this reader whose exposure to Vietnam is limited to 2 months working in Danang in 2008. It adds a valuable historical and personal perspective on the "American War" (as the Vietnamese refer to our Vietnam War) This is not a happy tale -- she explains unimaginable suffering, loss, sorrow, torture, cruelty, failures, and hardships amidst the struggle to survive in a time of civil war and major upheaval. Hayslip offers a unique perspective having been a young conscript with the communist Viet Cong.Reading her story left me with with a broader perspective of Vietnamese culture and attitudes before, during, and after the war. It's a very useful read for anyone desiring a deeper understand of Vietnam, its people and recent history.
A mini-series would be a better vehicle for illuminating the many travails Ms. It's astounding that her poor, uneducated family members are so remarkably philosophical and caring, especially given the long years of war with the French and U.S.Oliver Stone is due credit for basing a film on this book.
Unfortunately, we learned very little about them during our long misadventure there. Americans knew very little about the Viet Namese before making war with them.
There is no way to positively know if her family is representative of most peasants, but she surmises that it is, and I believe her because her writing is so heartfelt. Ms.
Le Ly Hayslip rectifies that deficit of knowledge.Her autobiograpy eplains the mores, folkways, and spirituality of the Viet Namese peasants. However, this is a rare case where television would be more representative.
Hayslip, her family, and the Viet Namese people indured.
It was a wonderful book with a different viewpoint then what I knew about the Viet Nam War. Plus a vivid description of the country, itself. Just a beautiful book - I loved it.
This book is a page-turner, an amazing non-fictional look at the lives of people caught between the southern regime and the Viet Cong during the Viet Nam conflict. The protagonist herself gives an intimate view of her life that is too strange to believe.
The families would not leave their land as their ancestors are buried there. Recommended by my Vietnamese tour guide in October 2007, this book describes the dreadful plight of those Vietnamese families living on the border between North and South Vietnam in what the Vietnamese term the "American War". During the day, the villagers had to demonstrate allegiance to the South and at night the VC demanded their loyalty. The authors, Le Ly Hayslip and her son James, describe her experiences in surviving the hell imposed upon her family by the opposing forces and her eventual emigration to the USA. The sequel, "Child of War, Woman of Peace", describes the difficulties she experienced as a Vietnamese in the USA.
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