62 pages 2 hours read

Eric Nguyen

Things We Lost to the Water

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Things We Lost to the Water by Eric Nguyen follows the lives of Hương and her sons Tuấn and Bình as they emigrate from Vietnam to New Orleans to rebuild their lives. The novel explores their struggles with identity, family, and assimilation, as each member faces distinct challenges and traumas in their journey to carve out a sense of home and belonging in a new country. Includes references to war, trauma, and anti-gay bias.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Eric Nguyen’s Things We Lost to the Water has garnered praise for its evocative storytelling, rich character development, and immersive portrayal of the Vietnamese immigrant experience. However, some reviewers felt the narrative pacing lagged at times. Overall, it is celebrated for its emotional depth and cultural resonance, despite minor structural issues.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Things We Lost to the Water?

Fans of The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen or Pachinko by Min Jin Lee will appreciate Things We Lost to the Water. This work should captivate readers interested in multi-generational immigrant stories, family dynamics, and the Vietnamese diaspora, weaving rich narratives of resilience and identity.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Historical Fiction

Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

Modern Classic Fiction

Topics

LGBTQ

Immigration / Refugee

Bullying

Themes

Self Discovery

Relationships: Family

Society: Immigration