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

 

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.

Suzie's Review Mother’s Tale and Other Stories by Khanh Ha

“The heat glimmered above the road and the air quivered. You could hear the cicadas singing in the tree tops, pulsing across the air, in the tangles of hummingbird trees, sea almond trees, and palm trees. The ethereal cadence at times died down, then suddenly flared up.”

'A Mother's Tale and Other Stories,' is one of those deeply atmospheric books that make you feel like you are actually experiencing the setting first hand. When reading this short story collection, you can almost feel the heat of the Vietnam sun and taste the detailed descriptions of the food. 

The characters in these stories are varied but all are relatable in their own unique ways. Take the title story of the book, 'A Mother's Tale.' Just as the title would suggest, the story is about a mother who loses her son in the war. 

Mrs. Rossi is an American woman whose son was killed somewhere in the jungles of Vietnam. With no idea how or where he died, Mrs. Rossi eventually decides to take the trip to Vietnam years after the war has ended, in order to find her son's body and bring him home. Seeking the help of a guide named Giang, Mrs. Rossi scours the country in search of her son, but will she be prepared to discover his true fate? 

Each story in this collection is special and each is spellbinding in it's description. Ha's writing is extraordinary. It is easy to see why he has won so many awards for his previous work. The depth of the characters and the sense of place is astounding. I would gladly read more from this author no matter what he decides to write next. 

'A Mother's Tale and Other Stories,' is a standout short story collection that begs to be enjoyed. 

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

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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. a Rafflecopter giveaway

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