Title: Ru
Author: Kim Thúy
First published October 1, 2009
154 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9789186480349 (ISBN10: 9186480340)
Rating: 3.79
Overview
The title of Kim Thúy’s autobiographical novel, Ru, means “lullaby” or “to rock” in Vietnamese, as well as “brook” in French. It is a tender and poetic account that weaves a stream of memories from her childhood in war-torn South Vietnam to her life in exile in Canada.
Thúy takes us on a journey through her escape by boat across the Gulf of Thailand, her time in a refugee camp in Malaysia, her return to Vietnam as an adult, and the joys and struggles of motherhood. Rather than following a strict chronology, Thúy allows the melody of her memories to guide the narrative, each fragment leading seamlessly into the next.
Her storytelling is infused with both humor and gravity, and a keen eye for the small details of everyday life that can have profound significance. By the end of this short book, readers will have discovered worlds they never knew existed.
About the Author
Kim Thúy has had quite a journey since arriving in Canada in 1979 at the tender age of ten. She’s tried her hand at various professions, including working as a seamstress, interpreter, lawyer, and restaurant owner.
These days, she calls Montreal home and spends most of her time engrossed in writing.
In 2010, Thúy’s first novel, Ru, won the Governor General’s Award for French language fiction. The English version, translated by Sheila Fischman, came out two years later and made it to the shortlist for the 2012 Scotiabank Giller Prize.
Thúy’s early years were spent in Vietnam before she and her family became boat people and settled in Longueuil, a suburb of Montreal. She holds degrees in law, linguistics, and translation from the Université de Montréal.
Editoral Review
Ru by Kim Thúy: A Haunting and Emotionally Powerful Tale
Kim Thúy’s Ru is a powerful and moving novel that tells the story of a young girl who is forced to flee from her homeland during times of war and oppression. Published in October 2009, the novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and its critical acclaim is well-deserved.
Kim Thúy, the author of Ru, was born in Saigon, Vietnam, and escaped from the country during the fall of Saigon in 1975. She spent time in refugee camps before finally settling in Quebec, Canada, where she now resides.
Her experiences as an immigrant in a new country are reflected in the themes of her novel, which explore the ideas of exile, identity, and belonging. The novel is structured as a series of vignettes, each of which offers a glimpse into the life of the protagonist, a young girl who is forced to flee with her family from war-torn Vietnam.
The vignettes are organized thematically rather than chronologically, and each one focuses on a different aspect of the protagonist’s life, from her childhood in Vietnam to her struggles as an adult in Canada. Kim Thúy’s writing style is poetic and lyrical, and her prose has a haunting quality that stays with the reader long after the last page has been turned.
The novel is both beautiful and heartbreaking, and it offers a deeply visceral, emotional experience that is hard to forget. The characters in Ru are multi-dimensional and complex, and each one of them has a unique perspective on the world.
The protagonist, for example, is a young girl who is forced to grow up quickly and learn to navigate a world that is often cruel and unforgiving. Her struggles to come to terms with her identity, both as a Vietnamese refugee and as a Canadian citizen, are deeply moving, and her journey towards self-discovery is both poignant and powerful.
One of the strengths of Ru is its portrayal of the experiences of refugees and immigrants, and the challenges they face in their new countries. The novel is set in Canada, and Kim Thúy does an excellent job of exploring the complexities of life in a new country, the struggles of language and cultural barriers, and the difficulties of fitting in.
The novel also touches on the themes of family, love, and loss, and it offers a powerful commentary on the human condition. Through the stories of the various characters, Kim Thúy explores the nature of grief, the resilience of the human spirit, and the enduring power of hope in the face of adversity.
One of the weaknesses of the novel, however, is its disjointed structure. The vignettes are not arranged in chronological order, and this can make it difficult for the reader to follow the narrative.
Additionally, some of the vignettes are more compelling than others, and this can detract from the overall impact of the novel. Despite these limitations, Ru is an exceptional work of fiction, and it is not surprising that it has won numerous awards, including the Governor General’s Literary Award in 2010.
It is a haunting and emotionally powerful novel that will stay with readers long after they have finished reading it. In conclusion, Ru is a beautifully crafted novel that tells a deeply moving and emotionally powerful story.
It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of hope in the face of adversity. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in exploring the experiences of refugees and immigrants, and the challenges they face in their new countries.
With its poetic prose and powerful themes, Ru is a must-read for anyone who loves great literature. I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
