Elevator in Saigon by Thuan

An immigrant Vietnamese woman attends her estranged mother's funeral, traveling from Paris to Saigon. When an acquaintance of her mother pays a visit, he relays a story from fifty years ago when she was a liaison girl for the Viet Minh and was held as a political prisoner.

A notebook and a photo of a man named Paul Polotsky, dated 1954, are the only clues she has about her mother. This further investigation is more like a journey through Saigon to Paris. Her mother's life resembles a treasure trove, and she is playing detective to make things clearer. She also learns about her mother's extended family and their roles in Vietnam's Revolution. It's like time traveling back to the place where her mother's side of the story originated.

This is my second mellow and meandering read about Vietnam in a row. Although it's slow-paced, it is thought-provoking.

Anam by Andre Dao

As the son of refugees and the grandson of a political prisoner, the narrator feels that the world owes something to his grandfather. A simple, mournful remembrance is insufficient; he wants to keep the memory of Annam alive by writing a memoir. His grandfather was a lawyer in Vietnam, also known as Anam. After the U.S. was defeated, the communist government took over. He had been imprisoned at Chi Hoa Prison for 10 years without being charged or tried as a revolutionary.

However, after returning from a fact-finding mission in Vietnam, he realizes that he may have become carried away in his quest. He is determined that the suffering of his grandfather at the hands of a repressive regime cannot be forgotten. At the same time, he feels he does not belong everywhere, matter-of-factly.

The narrator's memory of his grandparents, a research trip, fragments of his extended family in Vietnam, extensive reading, internet searches, and the support of his beloved wife and daughter have inspired him to envision a better version of himself. His grandfather believes that forgiveness is necessary for our own good.

Stories of POWs always make me sad. Their PTSD is hard to endure, and finding healing and closure may haunt them for the rest of their lives. Feeling sympathy and guilt may not be enough. This is the debut novel of the author, and it won the 2021 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript.

The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden

Tommy and Kate Puglisi decided to start a new life in Becchina, a small town in Sicily. Moving there was a big step for them, and they saw it as an investment in their future together. It was also a chance to spend time with Tommy's grandparents.

However, their excitement quickly faded. The town experienced frequent tremors, and their new house, which used to be a church, was filled with strange noises. They had never been believers in the supernatural, but the eerie occurrences in their home began to unsettle them.

The story starts with a cliché opening, but I found myself drawn in by the history of the house, Tommy's father's connection to Becchina, and the growing sense of unease. The ending felt rushed and somewhat predictable, but overall, I found the story enjoyable to read.

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

A group of couples joins a reality TV show called "One Perfect Couple." The production will be shooting on a brand-new, secluded island. They feel something shady about the whole thing, particularly the theme, the rules, and a glimpse of internal conflicts.

Their first week was a disaster. After the first challenge leaves everyone rattled and angry, an overnight event takes matters from bad to worse. The island was swept away in a storm! Dozens of trees came down, and the whole shape of the beach was strewn with debris. There's no way they can get off the island with no crew left and no communication devices. The worst-case scenario is that one of the contestants and a crew member are found dead.

And the survival situation begins. It's pretty far from what they had intended. They have very limited food and water, and clearly, they need medical assistance. The fact that they're trapped on this island with people who are prepared to tear each other apart is alarming. There's a radio in case of emergencies, but it doesn't seem to be functioning properly.

Surprisingly, I love this reality show gone wrong. The plot is neat and yet full of drama. It exposes not only the secrets behind horrible media objects and their obsession but also the setup and possible motives of human nature.

Resolution by Irvine Welsh

Mr. Irvine, please don't die!  

It far exceeded my expectations. I find the main topic to be so relatable in today's society, which is paedophiles and PTSD. It's important to note that it can lead to a higher risk of developing health and behavioral challenges when the child becomes an adult. 

This is what happened to Ray Lennox. He and his friend, Les, had a traumatic experience of sexual assault that occurred almost 40 years ago. A scene that played out countless times brings back memories of the terror and torment they experienced during what they called the tunnel incident. Although he is no longer a cop, hunting for the sexual predator remains his only interest. When Matthew Cardingworth crossed his path, he believed Mat was one of the three perpetrators. However, he could find nothing to tie Mat because everyone in the town seemed to be in his pocket due to the great things he had done for the community. 

 I found the first half of the book to be a bit slow-paced and confusing due to the narrators, but it was worth sticking through to the end once I got into their stories. Moreover, the visual effects are vivid despite the obstacles created by the slang.