Bookwoman | Dust Child (BW23-44)

by Nguyêñ Phan Quê´Mai

Wednesday, August 14

10:00–11:30 am

All women are invited to these discussions to share observations, enthusiasm, insights and the pure enjoyment of reading.

In 1969, sisters Trang and Quỳnh, desperate to help their parents pay off debts, leave their rural village and become “bar girls” in Sài Gòn, drinking, flirting (and more) with American GIs in return for money. As the war moves closer to the city, the once-innocent Trang gets swept up in an irresistible romance with a young and charming American helicopter pilot.

Decades later, an American veteran, Dan, returns to Việt Nam with his wife, Linda, hoping to find a way to heal from his PTSD and, unbeknownst to her, reckon with secrets from his past.

At the same time, Phong—the son of a Black American soldier and a Vietnamese woman—embarks on a search to find both his parents and a way out of Việt Nam. Abandoned in front of an orphanage, Phong grew up being called “the dust of life,” “Black American imperialist,” and “child of the enemy,” and he dreams of a better life for himself and his family in the U.S.

Past and present converge as these characters come together to confront decisions made during a time of war—decisions that force them to look deep within and find common ground across race, generation, culture, and language. Suspenseful, poetic, and perfect for readers of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing, Dust Child tells an unforgettable and immersive story of how those who inherited tragedy can redefine their destinies through love, hard-earned wisdom, compassion, courage, and joy.

Registration REQUIRED by 8/12
Minimum Registration: 4

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Paid enrollment in a Womanspace class must be cancelled in order for the student to be eligible for a refund. A refund (minus a $10 non-refundable deposit, minus the 3% service fee) will be granted according to the following:

• If you cancel up to 7 calendar days prior to a program or event, your payment, less the non-refundable deposit and service fee, will be refunded.
• If you cancel 4 days in advance, you may have your payment, less the non-refundable deposit, transferred to another program.
• In the last 3 days, there are no refunds.
• Womanspace reserves the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment by the registration deadline, in which case, full refunds will be made.