The Sacred Willow Summary

The Sacred Willow (2013) describes the modern history of Vietnam from the 19th to the end of the 20th century through Mai Elliott’s personal experience, as well as stories from four generations of her family. Starting with her great grandfather's struggle to become an imperial government official, the book follows the author’s family’s cycle of fleeing violence and building wealth, almost re-starting from zero every time. It goes further than many books on the French Colonisation of Vietnam and the Vietnam war, taking a closer look at into people of Vietnam, rather than from a geopolitical or military aspect. Since the author and her father worked for the French and then lived in South Vietnam while her sister was with the Viet Minh, the book …show more content…
Instead, through her stories, Mai Elliott was able to express the significance of one’s family in Vietnamese traditional values. Most important decisions that were made by either herself or her family members are the reflection of the emphasis on family. Her father and grandfather, like many other people at the time, were working against their own people, not because of belief in any ideology, but rather to keep their family fed and safe. They made choices on the circumstances, with what is best for their family. Another suggestion that was brought up throughout the book was that everyone was also a nationalist. It shows how many people were fighting to be free from oppression from the foreigners, or for a chance to be equal, not for a political belief. Unfortunately, their ideas on how Vietnam could gain independence or what it will be like are very …show more content…
Leaving everything behind, her family started a new life in Sai Gon. This is the point where the book no longer retells stories from the author’s father or grandfather, but rather herself. After studying in the United States, Mai Elliot returns to Sai Gon to work as an interviewer for an organization which studies Viet Cong’s prisoners and deserters. Through the interaction with these guerrilla fighters, the author, along with us, the readers, was given an in-depth view of their struggle. What the Viet Cong had that the Southern regime didn’t. These people did not only want a Vietnamese independence, but also pushed to join the Viet Cong because of the Southern Government’s oppression and the US’ violence. They were doing what they thought was best for their family and their country, just like the author and her family.

The final chapters of the author’s story provide a detailed depiction of the Fall of Saigon. Though living in the US, she, along with other Vietnamese were trying their best to get their family out of Vietnam. They were fleeing not only to escape persecution from the communist North but also to be united with each other once