BookBrowse Reviews Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

BookBrowse:

A multigenerational novel about a Vietnamese family reckoning with their secrets and traumas to rediscover one another and themselves.

Our First Impressions readers were delighted with Thao Thai's debut novel Banyan Moon; 32 out of 37 rated the book four or five stars.

What it's about:

This is a captivating tale of three generations of Vietnamese American women, spanning two continents and encompassing the years just before and during the American War (known in the U.S. as the Vietnam War). This beautifully written debut novel begins with the death of the matriarch, Minh, and reflects upon the relationships between her; her daughter, Huơng; and her beloved granddaughter, Ann. The novel unfolds when Ann, as an adult with a promising future, returns to the family home, the crumbling house in the shadow of a large banyan tree, for her grandmother's funeral. Here she is confronted with the strained relationship she has long had with Huơng: "They have run out of things to say a long time ago." The author reveals episodes in the lives of all three women, a tangle of emotions portraying the love, loss, regrets, secrets, misunderstandings and things which can never be repaired (Sheila S).

Many readers remarked on Thai's excellent and layered depictions of her characters, and the mother/daughter relationship between Huơng and Ann.

I loved each character and the way Thao Thai develops them literally and metaphorically. I really liked the way she goes back and forth from each, weaving an intense story of all the emotions humans deal with in life: love, hate, fear and hope. She makes the characters and settings come alive and totally engages the reader (Candace F). The mother-daughter relationships are so powerful, so real—sometimes so beautifully woven and other times so devastatingly fragile—that the book's power was a vital force (Theresa P). I'm happy to report that I've finally come across my first five-star read among the plentiful 2023 new releases. I'm drawn to stories about mother/daughter relationships, partly because I have a complicated relationship with my own mother. I'm constantly on the lookout for books that explore this—particularly between Asian mothers and daughters, as there are usually familiar cultural dynamics involved that inform these relationships, which can hopefully help me make sense of my own. As an indication of how deeply this story resonated with me, during various points as I was reading, I actually had to set the book down in order to wipe away tears (Lee L).

Fans of multigenerational novels were not disappointed.

I recommend Banyan Moon by Thao Thai for its sensitive way of confronting multigenerational issues, the resilience of immigrants, survival instincts, and other universal themes. This is a book that will make you think about the wonder of life and all its possibilities (Milda S). I love complicated, messy family stories which play out over decades and this novel did not disappoint. The characters were wonderfully complex... strong and loyal and even infuriatingly secretive and frustrating (Darlene B). If you enjoy multigenerational novels, then this book is for you (Susan N).

The setting was also noted as a strength.

At the center of the story sits Banyan House, a crumbling Gothic mansion on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Its dilapidated rooms are a repository of grief and longing reflecting back the family's struggles and yearnings. It's the perfect setting for this family saga (Elizabeth T). As a reader, I was transported to Florida and felt as if I was living in the crumbling house with the three generations of Tran women (Beth P).

Overall, Banyan Moon comes highly recommended, and many readers felt it had great potential for book clubs.

Banyan Moon is one of the most poignant, heartwarming books I have read in quite a while (Sheila S). I loved this book! I wish I could give it 10 stars. For me this was the best read of the year! (Candace F). This novel is certainly one that I will recommend to friends and consider for my book club selection (Elizabeth T). Motherhood in all its complexities is a major theme of this book. I highly recommend it. I know my book club will be reading it when it is published (Patricia C). Love, racism, trust, abuse, strength, and weakness are threads that weave into the lives of these three women, in a compelling narrative. A first-class read, meriting a second read as a book club choice (Theresa P). From the beginning chapters I found myself immediately wanting to share the storyline with both my book clubs. Definitely want to engage my bookish friends in discussion over the choices made by Minh, Huơng, and Ann (Juli B).

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in August 2023, and has been updated for the June 2024 edition. Click here to go to this issue.