Audiobook Sample

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  • Title: Mountains Sing
  • Author: Nguyá»…n Phan Quế Mai
  • Narrator: Quyen Ngo
  • Length: 10:44:00
  • Version: Abridged
  • Release Date: 03/03/2020
  • Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
  • Genre: Fiction & Literature, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, War & Military
  • ISBN13: 9.78E+12
Dear fellow literary explorers,

As I settled into my favorite armchair with a cup of jasmine tea – the same ritual I’ve maintained since my days studying at Harvard – I pressed play on “The Mountains Sing” audiobook and was immediately transported to the rice fields of Vietnam. Nguyá»”¦n Phan Quế Mai’s debut English novel, narrated with exquisite cultural authenticity by Quyen Ngo, offers one of the most profound listening experiences I’ve encountered in years of teaching world literature.

What struck me first was how the novel’s dual narrative structure – alternating between grandmother Diá»”¡u Lan’s survival during the Land Reform era and granddaughter HÆ°Æ¡ng’s coming-of-age during the Vietnam War – gains remarkable depth in audio format. This reminded me of teaching “Cloud Atlas” in my Berkeley seminars, where we discovered how temporal shifts become more fluid when heard rather than read. Ngo’s nuanced vocal transitions between the two timelines create an almost musical quality, much like the traditional Vietnamese ca trù singing Mai references throughout the text.

The narration’s brilliance lies in its cultural specificity. Having spent years analyzing cross-cultural narratives, I can attest that Ngo’s pronunciation of Vietnamese words and names (something most English-language narrators struggle with) adds invaluable authenticity. Her ability to capture the lyrical rhythm of Mai’s prose – a quality undoubtedly shaped by the author’s poetic background – makes the listening experience profoundly immersive. I found myself pausing frequently to reflect on particularly beautiful passages, just as I did when first encountering Maxine Hong Kingston’s “The Woman Warrior”.

Mai’s novel shines in its unflinching yet compassionate portrayal of war’s impact on ordinary lives. Through a cultural lens, what fascinates me most is how she balances the epic scope of historical events with intimate family dynamics. The Trần family’s struggles mirror what I observed during my research in post-conflict societies – how trauma reverberates across generations, yet resilience persists through storytelling. The audiobook format amplifies this oral tradition quality, making the grandmother’s tales feel like they’re being shared directly with the listener.

Quyen Ngo’s performance deserves special recognition for its emotional intelligence. She navigates the novel’s harrowing moments (of which there are many) with restrained power, never veering into melodrama. Her portrayal of HÆ°Æ¡ng’s youthful voice maturing through hardship particularly moved me – it reminded me of watching my own students develop wisdom through difficult texts in our war literature seminars.

While the audiobook is technically flawless, I did note that some listeners unfamiliar with Vietnamese history might benefit from supplemental materials. The complex political context of the Land Reform period and Vietnam War isn’t always explicitly explained, which could challenge those coming to the material without background knowledge. However, this very quality makes it perfect for classroom discussion – I’m already planning to include it in my next Asian Diaspora Literature course.

Compared to similar multigenerational war narratives like “Pachinko” or “Homegoing”, “The Mountains Sing” stands out for its distinctly Vietnamese perspective. Where those works excel in breadth, Mai’s novel achieves remarkable depth in its singular cultural focus. The audiobook version enhances this quality through its authentic vocal performance – something I wish more translated works would prioritize.

For potential listeners, I’d recommend allowing time to fully absorb this rich narrative. At nearly 11 hours, it’s not a casual listen, but every minute rewards careful attention. Those interested in Southeast Asian history, family sagas, or poetic prose will find particular value here. And for fellow educators, this audiobook offers wonderful opportunities to discuss narrative structure, historical memory, and cross-cultural storytelling techniques.

As the final chapters played, I found myself thinking back to my Tokyo days, when I first understood how language shapes historical perception. “The Mountains Sing” achieves something similar for Vietnam – presenting history not as distant facts but as lived, breathing experience. The audiobook format makes this connection even more visceral, creating what I can only describe as literary time travel.

With scholarly admiration and a reader’s gratitude,
Prof. Emily Chen