Paradise of the Blind

A deep and enriched journey of the senses, Paradise of the Blind explores a world where women come second to men, and communism takes away not only people's land, but also their dreams. Through the eyes of Hang, a young woman who grew up amidst the slums and intermittent beauty of Hanoi, we come to know the tragedies of her family as her village is ripped apart. Only by freeing herself from the past will Hang be able to find dignity and a future. The most remarkable thing is that the author Duong Thu Huong isn't really a novelist, she is a professional screenwriter. In an interview she said she had never planned to write novels. She said it happened "because of the pain." I think the title implies that Vietnam can be a paradise, but only to those who are blind towards what is truly happening around them. Choosing a deeper level of knowledge leads to a complicated life, the life that Hang lives in the novel, and Huang most likely lived before she left the country.

The novel follows Hang as she travels to Moscow to visit her sick uncle. Along the way she reminisces about her life. Hang finds herself torn between two women: the mother she loves, but is continuously disappointed by, and her domineering, paternal aunt. Hang is an inspiration to women, as she rejects the tradition of women who sacrifice themselves for family, and particularly for men. As I read this book I was surprised by how similar Turks and Vietnamese are in their emotions and understandings. I could tell that love, family, respect, revenge and affection are very important, both in my culture and in the Vietnamese world. This novel is essentially a story of three women from two generations whose family is torn apart by a brother who put communist ideology above family loyalty. Hang's mother, Que, and her Aunt Tam, are both extremely strong characters. They portray themselves as women who are willing to endure hardship merely due to their desire to preserve family lineage.

A novel that is banned in its own country would be appealing to most foreigners. This is a factor that makes Paradise of the Blind a must read for anyone who loves world literature. Duong Thu Huong's writing is so haunting, so precise, and it's very clear that she has the perspective of one who has suffered. I can see why this novel was banned in Vietnam; I would imagine that her portrayal of local Communist leaders is not one that would bring a government much pleasure. The result of Huong's achingly beautiful writing is a sad but powerful story of a culture in transition. I enjoyed this book for the rich picture it painted of a culture I knew virtually nothing about. Paradise of the Blind provides a true sense of life in the Vietnam that existed not so long ago. The novel travels a bitter, beautiful road as it depicts the oppression of life permeated by culture and ideology. Huong shows in the hopeful ending that it is possible for determined individuals to resist and transcend these powerful forces.