Vietnamese author Dr. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai says writing her novel The Mountains Sing took her to unexpected places. Her writing about the war and its participants and victims helped her explore the feelings of hatred and a desire for revenge and the transition toward forgiveness and reconciliation. She says, "forgiveness is the biggest gift we can give to the world, ourselves and others. I think if we had more forgiveness in our world we would have less violence and less war.”
The award-winning author spoke with The Progressive Magazine Publisher Norman Stockwell at a book signing in Madison at Leopold’s Books Bar Caffe on May 8th. In this edition of the World View feature we bring you that conversation.
At the event, Norm also mentioned Madison Quakers, Inc. a 30-year-old organization that helps local organizations in Quang Ngai province in Vietnam carry out projects, as they say, to help build homes, schools and communities. http://www.mqivietnam.org
Quế Mai’s Books:
The Mountains Sing http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/que-mai-phan-nguyen/the-mountains-sing/9781643751351/
Dust Child http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/que-mai-phan-nguyen/dust-child/9781643752754/
JUST OUT: The Color of Peace Poems http://www.blackocean.org/catalog1/color-of-peace
The Progressive Magazine: http://progressive.org/
And the bookstore that hosted the event: Leopold’s Books Bar Caffe http://www.leopoldsmadison.com/
