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A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain | Robert Olen Butler
9 posts | 11 read | 13 to read
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain is Robert Olen Butler’s Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of lyrical and poignant stories about the aftermath of the Vietnam War and its enduring impact on the Vietnamese. Written in a soaring prose, Butler’s haunting and powerful stories blend Vietnamese folklore and contemporary American realities, creating a vibrant panorama that is epic in its scope. This new edition includes two previously uncollected stories—“Missing” and “Salem”—that brilliantly complete the collection’s narrative journey, returning to the jungles of Vietnam to explore the experiences of a former Vietcong soldier and an American MIA.
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Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

I was surprised to find that these stories about the varieties of Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Americans‘ lives after the war ended was written by a white American. The stories were so perfectly crafted and felt so universal even though they were specific to one war‘s impact. I think this is the best book I‘ve ever read where a writer explores another country/people‘s lives - so much variety and heart this is absolutely how it‘s done.

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Kathrin
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Pickpick

Such a surprising collection of stories. Most of them are sad, but a lot have some moments of lightness and humor as well. I very much enjoyed this.

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Kathrin
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This is the best short story that I have read in a while.

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readem_andweep
Mehso-so

Some of these stories bored me to death. Some surprised me, interested me, and intrigued me. It's one of those "take it or leave it" short story collections. All are about the Vietnamese. 3/5 stars

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Loretta
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#AprilBookShowers #TitleWithGood

I have several in my TBR with the word "Good" or "Goods" in it. Like all of my TBR, I'll read them... someday. ??

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SaraBeagle
Mehso-so

Butler is a skilled writer and some of these stories were very poignant. But, I just couldn't get past the cultural appropriation- white man writing from the viewpoint of the Vietnamese.

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teatalksbooks
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Pickpick

This is a book of short stories about Vietnamese living in Louisiana - it's poignant and thoughtful and gently empathetic, and all around excellent. 10/10, would read again.

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teatalksbooks
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His kitchen was full of such smells that you knew you had to understand everything or you would be incomplete forever.

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teatalksbooks
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There were women around Jesus when He died, the two Marys. They couldn't do anything for him. But neither could the men, who had all run away.