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Where the Wind Leads - a memoir by Vinh Chung (with Tim Downs)






Wow. Just...wow.

That is the first thought that comes to mind when pondering exactly how to write a review for the book Where the Wind Leads. To find a memoir that grabs such hold of the reader that you move seamlessly through it's pages and almost forget that the book will actually have an end is a rarity. I loved this book from the very first page. And while it is most certainly very Christian in nature, it is not primarily focused on the Christian faith of the Chung family. Where the Wind Leads is truly a memoir in the truest sense of the word; it is a historical account given from a personal perspective.

Each chapter is just a few pages in length, which makes it easy to grab the book and read when you have a few extra moments. And the writing is truly top-notch. To some degree, at least in my mind, one mark of a good book is the ability to read without the overt sense that you are reading...and Where the Wind Leads allowed me to sort of "fall" into the Chung family's story. And what a story it is.

While I really don't want to give any of the book away in my review, I do feel I should share some of their story. As a brief overview, I can tell you that the Chung family was Chinese in ethnicity and their family had resided in Vietnam for the last several generations. The book covers the rise of their enormously successful company, through the Vietnam war, their subsequent demise into abject poverty, and their bold attempt to escape their homeland, which was truly no longer a place they could call home. I don't want to give away any details about their escape attempt, but one glance at the book cover will tell you it involved a very small boat on a very large body of water. You'll have to read the book to find out more!

If you are looking for a good read to begin your summer, Where the Wind Leads is an excellent choice. I recommend it highly!

On my "Page Turner Scale" of 1 to 5, I gave this book a 5.

Disclaimer ~ I received this book free of charge for review purposes from BookLook Bloggers (formerly BookSneeze). All opinions shared here are solely my own.

Day 313 done :)

Jan L. Burt
author of The Homeschooling Mothers Bible Study

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