The Sorrow of War
About the book
The veteran Kien revisits a war and a lost love that continue to shape his postwar life.
Original title: Nỗi buồn chiến tranh
Asia · A READING GUIDE
Vietnam
Bảo Ninh served in the North Vietnamese army. His novel approaches war through a survivor’s fragmented memory rather than a chronological account of battles. Nguyễn Du provides a classical verse anchor, while Dương Thu Hương and Nguyễn Huy Thiệp represent twentieth-century prose. Vietnam-born Viet Thanh Nguyen and Ocean Vuong extend this route into English-language diaspora writing.
WHERE TO START
- The Sorrow of WarBao Ninh
- Paradise of the BlindDương Thu Hương
- The Tale of KieuNguyễn Du
Books to begin with
An editorial selection · not rankedNo matches. Try another language or search term.
Paradise of the Blind
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A young Vietnamese woman reconstructs her mother’s and aunt’s lives, shaped by land reform and family obligation.
The Tale of Kieu
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The narrative poem follows Kiều, who sacrifices her freedom to save her family.
Crossing the River: Short Fiction
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Stories juxtapose postwar daily life with fable and a sceptical view of official history.
The Sympathizer
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A double agent escapes Saigon for the United States while remaining caught between conflicting loyalties.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous
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A son’s letter to a mother who cannot read English joins migration, family violence and first love.
The Refugees
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Stories explore refugees, family bonds and memories that cross the borders of new homes.
Time Is a Mother
About the book
A poetry collection explores loss, memory and language for life after a mother’s death.
Context and sources
Sources on authors and their connections to this country. Specific edition details appear beside each book. Polish and English originals are not labelled as translations.
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