Child of Dust

by Shoba Sadler

[phyllish]

The author of the book contacted me via GoodReads and asked me if I was interested in a free copy of the book.  Though I hesitated because the cover made me think the book would be more sensual than not, I read the synopsis and decided to accept, looking forward to the opportunity to learn more about the struggles faced by those living in Vietnam.  In that respect, I was not disappointed.  The story started with some beautiful similes and I began to anticipate an enjoyable story.  The setting, by my estimate,  was mid 1990s.  The contrast between the rich and the poor was made abundantly clear.  The Nguyen family, shopkeepers, didn't even have a real shower.  And the poor were in even more dire straits, 

Bryan's story was filled with sadness.  Abandoned by his parents when he was 5, cared for by missionaries only to be left behind when they were forced to leave the country, best friend dies of AIDS as a teenager, ***SPOILER ALERT*** wife abandons him and their child.  Oh, and being an outcast because of his mixed race.  Ouch.

While I felt bad for Kim for the circumstances in her life, I never really liked her.  She was certainly a spoiled brat and a snob at the beginning, and though her circumstances changed so she was no longer rich, she never really became that much more likable.

What I enjoyed about the story was learning about Vietnam and the culture.  There were some beautiful similes used and it was fun reading in the British English that was used.  The overall plot was good.  The cover was appropriate for Bryan's story as a Child of the Dust who had to to manual labor in the heat of Vietnam.

What I didn't enjoy about the story is a slightly longer list.  The one thing that stands out the most is that there was much more discussion of lust and sensuality than I care to read.  Bryan's childhood friend, Hoa resorted to prostitution to survive and while there were no descriptions sexual acts, there were mentions of details surrounding those circumstances that made me uncomfortable.  The relationship between Bryan and Kim emphasized the physical attraction  more than I felt it should have as well.  There were also quite a few places in the book that I read and re-read trying to understand exactly what had happened, yet I wasn't quite clear on it.  And some of the plot elements just didn't quite make sense. and the resolution of the details regarding her parents death and her uncle's behavior didn't really add up in my opinion.

Overall, I am glad that I read the story, but can't give it a wholehearted recommendation, especially not for a younger audience.

Reviewed at http://amongthereads.net/2017/08/08/child-of-dust/