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Postcards From Nam Audiobook
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(2.99) - 144 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
International Book Award Finalist, Fiction: Multicultural category.
Mimi (the protagonist of Mimi and Her Mirror) is a successful young Vietnamese immigrant practicing law in Washington, D.C. when the postcards begin to arrive. Postmarked from Thailand, each hand-drawn card is beautifully rendered and signed simply “Nam.” Mimi doesn’t recognize the name, but Nam obviously knows her well, spurring her to launch what will become a decade-long quest to find him. As her search progresses, long-repressed memories begin to bubble to the surface: her childhood in 1970s Vietnam in a small alley in pre-Communist Saigon. Back then, who was her best friend as well as her brother’s playmate, and what did art have anything to do with the alleys of her childhood? What was the dream of these children then? What happened when these children were separated by the end of the Vietnam war, their lives diverged onto different paths: one to freedom and opportunity, the other to tragedy and pain? Now Mimi must uncover the mystery of the postcards, including what might have happened to the people who where less fortunate: those who escaped the ravaged homeland by boat after the fall of Saigon. When the mystery is solved, Mimi has to make a resolution: what can possibly reunite the children from the alley of her childhood even when the alley exists no more?
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"Thoroughly enjoyed the three books I read by this author, It's not a trilogy and they can be read independently, but because we are introduced to the characters in the first book, it was nice to read them in order."
— Lyn (4 out of 5 stars)
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“In nimble prose, the author explores the intractability of the protagonist’s past, as resistant to revision as it is to evasion. Mimi is a memorably drafted character, both emotionally fragile and relentless. This is a brief novella—under 100 pages—but densely layered with poignancy and nuance. A moving, poetically rendered tale of personal pain buried deep in willful self-reinvention.
— Kirkus Reviews
Postcards From Nam Listener Reviews
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" I didn't realize that this was kind of a memoir written by a person who really is not a writer. I liked the book, felt it was well written in some parts and hurried over in others. Seemed like there was a lot more meat that could have been added. The story was sad. "
— Sonja, 2/11/2014 -
" I loved reading this book but the ending was unexpectedly abrupt and somewhat disappointing. I was left wanting more "
— Charlene, 1/27/2014 -
" The book felt rushed. It was a novella, but could have easily been a longer book, with more story development. Three stars because it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. "
— Fastesthamster, 1/5/2014 -
" I;m not finished going to start this one now..... "
— JAnet, 12/23/2013 -
" A beautiful story at the beginning. Mystery mixed with an odd lack of memory. Very disturbing and the ending was too abrupt. "
— Michelle, 12/22/2013 -
" I do not know if the author really was ready to publish this. It seems incomplete. But then, she really has a definitive voice and a poetic way of writing. I am glad I read it. "
— Smith, 12/11/2013 -
" A solid effort, but perhaps one that fell a bit short of the mark. Especially an effort that needs a lit crit post script to try and explain to me what I just read. "
— Colin, 12/4/2013 -
" After reading this I discovered it was part of a trilogy. If I had read the irst two first, it would have made more sense. Basically it tells the story of Vietnamese refugees and adjustment to the US. "
— Edie, 11/24/2013 -
" Totally not what I was expecting. Read it anyway. "
— Perkimom, 11/15/2013 -
" This novella is an extremely quick read (afternoon at the pool + bedtime) that packs a powerful story, beautifully written. It did leave me wanting to learn more about MiMi and Nam's story, but as it was presented, it is a deeply personal and raw story of the Vietnamese experience around the war. "
— Amanda, 10/9/2013 -
" Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this book, but the entire thing felt rushed. I never felt much for the characters and it just seemed to end suddenly. "
— Jess, 9/1/2013 -
" Ok I knew it was a short book when I started but it was too short for me. The story felt incomplete. "
— Marcia, 8/22/2013 -
" I don't really know what to say about this one... "
— Kim, 7/19/2013 -
" What a letdown. This was just a blah book. "
— Megan, 7/14/2013
About Uyen Nicole Duong
Uyen Nicole Duong was born in Vietnam and emigrated to the United States at the age of sixteen, a political refugee from a country torn apart by war. She earned a BS in communication and journalism from Southern Illinois University, a law degree from the University of Houston, and a Master of Laws degree from Harvard. She was also trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena. She has been a journalist, public education administrator, attorney, law professor, and a self-taught painter whose work focuses on l’Art Brut. The author resides in Houston, Texas.
About Leslie Bellair
Leslie Bellair is a voice-over artist, stage and film actor, trained singer, and certified speech-language pathologist. Her voice can be heard on the iPhone application “Diss Crazy!,” the online game “Back to the Cubeture 2,” various audio books published for Audible, Inc., Carina Press, and Oxford Press, as well as the short animated Christmas movie An Elf’s Story. Her professional musical theater work in the Atlanta area has greatly contributed to the characterizations and versatility she brings to the voice-over mic.