If you take elements of Clementine Wamariya’s memoir, THE GIRL WHO SMILED BEADS, and Oliver Stone’s docudrama, HEAVEN & EARTH, then throw in sprinkles of Kevin Kwon’s CRAZY RICH ASIANS, you’ll get Amy M. Le’s debut historical fiction novel, SNOW IN VIETNAM. There are elements of humor, romance and heartache injected throughout these pages of fear and uncertainty. Strength from family and … trust in oneself are at the heart of this book.
Growing up in war-torn Vietnam was normal, even idyllic at times, for Snow, the youngest of seven children in her family. Although her heart belongs to an American GI, she honors her father by marrying a Vietnamese man. Her halcyon life unravels as the Vietnam War ravages her country and the threat of communism culminates with the fall of Saigon. Life in unified Vietnam under the new regime becomes unbearable. Betrayed by her husband and left with a dying child to raise, Snow must set aside her morals and push herself to the limit emotionally, physically and mentally, to buy her way out of the country. Her decision to escape and find sanctuary in America takes her adrift in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand with her daughter, nephew, and other boat refugees. For days, they are at the mercy of pirates, storms, and dire conditions. Ultimately, Snow settles into a refugee camp on the island of Galang in Indonesia, but life there is deplorable. The threat of repatriation and the will to keep her family alive keeps her motivated to hustle for a ticket to freedom.
SNOW IN VIETNAM was written to honor the memory of the author’s mother. The novel was a finalist for the 2018 Pacific Northwest Writers Association literary award. This story is dedicated to the boat people of Vietnam and all the refugees who risked their lives in a desperate search for safety and freedom.
Reviews of the book:
“Well-developed characters, a brave and admirable protagonist, a vivid setting and heartbreaking struggles that felt real combine to make SNOW IN VIETNAM a compelling, unforgettable read.” –Alicia Dean, Award-Winning Author of Heart of the Witch
“Compelling, informative and beautifully written.” –Frances Evlin, author of Circles of Deception
“I stayed up all night reading because I literally could not put it down. This book leaves you hungry for the next chapter and the next chapter and the next chapter. This is the kind of book that you can’t stop thinking about after you read it because the characters just come alive and the descriptions of the settings and the activities are so vivid.” –Diana LeBeau, Beta reader
“I love how I laugh and cry and just find myself lost in your writing.” –Courtenay Brimer, Beta reader
“Love the way you write! Can’t wait to read all your stories and learn from you as well. Web Page is AWESOME!” –Frances Moore
“I loved going on Snow’s emotional journey and learning about the Fall of Saigon through her unique perspective.” –Lisa Schumann, Beta reader
“This novel is epic. It’s a love story. The title character “Snow” falls in love with an American G.I. but also demonstrates love for her child, her family, her village, and her country. She honors her father by accepting a husband he arranged. Honor is a very important thing in Asian cultures. Snow honors the various characters that helped her in her quest to leave Vietnam by calling them honorifics like aunt, uncle, brother, or sister. The author honors her mother by telling her mother’s story. The story gives us a glimpse into the everyday life of a small village and a big city. Snow was born during WW2, witnessed the war against the French, and then communist/American war. War interrupted their tranquil village life and threw people into extraordinary circumstances. Snow adapts and conquers; a great read.” –Michael Harmon, Beta reader
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The books from the authors I meet and become friends with are so very special in my heart!I received “Snow in Vietnam” from Amy Le when I signed up for her newsletter. It was the last copy of her 1st cover design. It’s not my usual genre, women’s fiction, but the story was very engaging. To no surprise, the reader ends up rooting SO hard for Tuyet & her dramatic escape from communism. It’s emotional. It’s dramatic. It’ll definitely pull at your heart-strings. Check out this book and support an indie author!
Phenomenal! The story of Snow, a Vietnamese refugee, who conquers fear and unforeseen obstacles on a journey to find her way to America, all while her daughter’s life is hanging in the balance. One scene involved a blow to the throat for one of the characters which left a lump in mine for the duration of the evening. I consumed the pages, at some points roaring with laughter and others breathing tense while choking back tears. The pages consumed me and I found myself longing for the means to buy a boat, a plan, anything to bring Snow’s entire family to the shores of safety. I was enveloped in the moments, felt part of the culture and, believed every heart-felt moment as it was written. I like to read… a lot. In my life there have been but two books that have lingered leaving me changed, Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes and now Amy Le’s Snow in Vietnam.
Such an interesting story with vivid characters set against a constantly changing background, beautifully told by Amy Le. I could not wait to read her follow up book, “Snow in Seattle” which is also excellent!
Snow in Vietnam is the story of a woman who would not give up in the face of horrific adversity at the fall of Saigon and occupation of South Vietnam by the Vietcong in the late 70’s. The book is beautifully written, the story told with equal amounts of heart and skill and this reader could hardly tear away from the story for real life each day.
The plight of the Vietnamese boat people is told in heartbreaking detail as Snow’s journey to America is continually thwarted.
I loved this book that reminded me of Amy Tan’s richness of story and detail. It was a joy to read and I look forward to the author’s second book.
There are some books that touch the heart and are also packed with pulse-pounding suspense. This is one of them. Snow in Vietnam tells the story of a woman forced to call on every bit of resilience to survive and yet manages to keep her sense of humor and compassion for others intact. Snow must exchange an idyllic childhood, nurtured by the sensual beauty of a tropical paradise where people live close to nature and neighbors trust one another, for a loveless but pragmatic marriage and a country at war with itself. When Saigon falls to the communists, she must find a way to provide medical care for her fragile baby and to help feed a large family of siblings. She masters the art of black-marketeering and tries to save money to escape to America. After several thwarted attempts, she finally boards a fishing trawler with more than 40 other escapees. Their voyage through pirate-infested waters is so convincingly written that I found myself holding my breath as I turned the pages.
The loving attention to detail that Amy M. Le brings to this story makes it sing—even when the reader’s heart is breaking. The first of a trilogy I can’t wait to complete. Highly recommended!
Oh my gosh. I wept so many times in this book. The trials and tribulations these poor people went through was heartbreaking. Yet the strength, bravery and fortitude they displayed was inspiring. The author made everything seem so real. Sometimes too real. It’s apparent she knew a great deal about this topic. I was deeply moved and will not soon forget this story. A compelling, emotional journey for not only the characters but the readers as well.