The Lotus and the Storm
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 Cover of The Lotus and the Storm | |
| Author | Lan Cao |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Monish Matthias |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction, Literary |
| Publisher | Viking/Penguin Books |
Publication date | 2014 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 400 pp (first edition) |
| ISBN | 978-0-670-01692-1 |
| Preceded by | Monkey Bridge |
The Lotus and the Storm is a 2014 historical fiction novel written by Vietnamese author Lan Cao.
The novel tells the story of a family whose lives are altered by the tragic events that led to the fall of Saigon. The chapters alternate between the life of a once admired soldier, who is now weak and ailing, in his home in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and that of his daughter Mai, who grew up in Saigon's twin city, Cholon.[1]
Minh is a former South Vietnamese commander of the airborne brigade who left his homeland with his daughter, Mai. During the war, their lives became entwined with those of two Americans: James, a soldier, and Cliff, a military adviser. Forty years later, Minh and his daughter Mai live in a close-knit Vietnamese immigrant community in suburban Virginia. As Mai discovers a series of devastating truths about what really happened to her family during those years, Minh reflects upon his life and the story of love and betrayal that has remained locked in his heart since the fall of Saigon.
The Lotus and the Storm is a tale of people who rebuild their lives in the aftermath of war and broken promises. Despite pain and loss, they find an inner strength that restores their capacity to forgive, love, and live.[2]