Mother’s Tale and Other Stories by Khanh Ha-Review

Teddyrose@1

3 years ago

A Mother’s Tale and Other Stories by Khanh Ha

Publisher: C&R Press (October 15, 2021)
Category: Linked Short Stories, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction
Tour dates: October 11-November 24, 2021
ISBN: 978-1949540239
Available in Print and ebook, 150 pages

Description Mother’s Tale and Other Stories by Khanh Ha

A Mother’s Tale is a tale of salvaging one’s soul from received and inherited war-related trauma. Within the titular beautiful story of a mother’s love for her son is the cruelty and senselessness of the Vietnam War, the poignant human connection, and a haunting narrative whose set ting and atmosphere appear at times otherworldly through their land scape and inhabitants.

Captured in the vivid descriptions of Vietnam’s country and culture are a host of characters, tortured and maimed and generous and still empathetic despite many obstacles, including a culture wrecked by losses. Somewhere in this chaos readers will find a tender link between the present-day survivors and those already gone. Rich and yet buoyant with a vision-like quality, this collection shares a common theme of love and loneliness, longing and compassion, where beauty is discovered in the moments of brutality, and agony is felt in ecstasy.

My Thoughts Mother’s Tale and Other Stories by Khanh Ha

It is no secret that I love Khanh Ha’s novels! However, when I was asked if I wanted to read his short stories, I did not hesitate to accept.

Each story is excellent, not a bad one in the bunch. They all touch on the Vietnam war or the aftermath. There are several stories about Mrs. Rossi, her adopted Vietnamese daughter, her son who died in the war, etc. These stories are like companions to the novel. It was so wonderful to see these characters again!

The first story, ‘Uncle Chung’ reels the reader in and lets them know what may be to come. At times sadness, relief, gruesomeness, and shock. All beautifully written by the writing master, Ha! His characters leap off the page and reach out to the reader! You can’t help but be reeled in! The landscape is inviting yet fraught with danger and sadness.

The Vietnam war was devastating for families in the U.S. and Vietnam. There were no winners and the purpose was never really clear, even to the leaders. Men, women and children died senseless deaths! Ha, not only gives a sense of this carnage but also the humanity.

If you have not read Khanh Ha before, ‘A Mother’s Tale and Other Stories’ would be a great book to begin with. Even if you generally don’t care for short stories, these are sure to change you opinion! I also highly recommend Ha’s novels, ‘Flesh’, ‘The Demon Who Peddled Longing’, and ‘Mrs. Rossi’s Dream’! I don’t give out 5-star reviews lightly but I have done so for all of these novels.

I give A Mother’s Tale and Other Stories’ 5 stars as well!

About Khanh Ha

Khanh Ha is the author of Flesh, The Demon Who Peddled Longing, and Mrs. Rossi’s Dream. He is a seven-time Pushcart nominee, finalist for the Mary McCarthy Prize, Many Voices Project, Prairie Schooner Book Prize, and The University of New Orleans Press Lab Prize. He is the recipient of the Sand Hills Prize for Best Fiction, the Robert Watson Literary Prize in Fiction, and the Orison Anthology Award for Fiction. Mrs. Rossi’s Dream, was named Best New Book by Booklist and a 2019 Foreword Reviews INDIES Silver Winner and Bronze Winner. A Mother’s Tale & Other Stories has already won the C&R Press Fiction Prize.

Website: http://www.authorkhanhha.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KhanhHa69784776
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkhanhha

Buy Mother’s Tale and Other Stories by Khanh Ha

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Giveaway Mother’s Tale and Other Stories by Khanh Ha

This giveaway is for 3 print copies, 1 per winner, U.S. only and ends on November 24, 2021, 12 midnight, pacific time. Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only.

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