Goodbye, Saigon

I think that a little background is in order before I begin the body of this review. Nina Vida, the author of __LITTLE SAIGON__, was gradually accepted into this close knit, generally closed to outsiders, American Vietnamese community, after her husband had taken over a law practice in the "Little Saigon" area of Los Angeles. The men and women of this community shared many of their personal stories with her and it was the essence of these stories that gave her enough background to write this book. The basic plot can be summed up in a few sentences: Truong Anh survives and supports her unappreciative family, including parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews, by hustling in a local poker parlor. Her main source of income in the period leading up to the start of the novel is an American lawyer named Dennis, whom Anh helps at the Pai Gow table and in return earns very big tips. Jana, an American born Anglo, is Dennis's secretary/paralegal, and supports herself and her son from her earnings at the one man la firm. Dennis has two bad habits, he is a compulsive gambler, and is addicted to expensive, illegal drugs. His gambling addiction causes him to fritter away the better part of a million dollar settlement he received, and his adiction brings on a nearly fatal heart attack. These two things, in combination, cause both Anh and Jana to lose their source of income. After about a month long search, Anh finds Jana, and after some misgivings, they team up to illegally keep Dennis's law firm going with Jana acting as an attorney, and Anh bringing in many, many Vietnamese clients. Their firm is so popular that they come to the attention of a local gang who try to cut themselves into part of the profits, when this fails, they take revenge on Anh and Jana in a myriad of ways including the murder of one of Anh's brothers, and the destruction of their office and all their files. Jana and Anh are left to find redemption and revenge in whatever ways they can. Along the way, we are let into Anh's home, leading to some exposure to the home life and the all important superstitions of this immigrant society. In alternating sections, we see how Anh, at the age of 13 was sold by her father, into prostitution in Vietnam, and how she became stronger, not weaker as a result of this experience. Often she has saved her family from death and total ruin both in Vietnam and America, only to be told by her superstitious parents that she in an unlucky child and a "bad" daughter. She always responds to this rejection with a shrug, and continues to take cre of them. This is a novel which does have it's weaknesses, as described in the editorial reviews, but which is strong in showing the ins and outs of family relations, dynamics in a closed community, and the emotional toughness, and sense of humor needed to cope with a very harsh world. So, in spite of a few weaknesses, I think that __GOODBYE SAIGON__ is a book well worth reading for plot, at least one

I was captivated by the content of this novel from page one. Nina Vida has most definately lived the story she tells. Having lived and worked in Saigon and furhter lived in the little Saigon area, I can understan Nina's description of life there today. For an easy and comical relief in your reading, I highly recommend this book.