Such a Lovely Little War & Saigon Calling
Marcelino Truong’s Such a Lovely Little War and Saigon Calling span four different cultural perspectives of the Vietnam/American war. Truong’s father worked for the Southern Vietnam government, which afforded his family more safety in Saigon. As the violence in the city increases, Truong’s French mother begs to leave the country as the violence has increased her anxiety. The second novel focuses on the time in London after moving from Vietnam. The counterculture protests against the war are complicated for Truong’s family since their relatives still live in fear of the Viet Cong. The texts add complexity to the American version of the Vietnam war by providing a perspective influenced by France, the USA, Vietnam, and England.
Truong maintains a historical perspective by providing a great number of details from newspapers and political maneuvers. He steps outside of his family’s perspectives and is able to represent different segments of the Vietnamese experience of the war. At times the text’s attempt to give a historical view means it overwhelms students as they sift through the details of a complex war that has a variety of causes and multiple countries influencing decisions.
Truong’s mother’s mental health is a current throughout both novels. At times, the text can suggest that he sees his mother as weak and overly anxious. However, in his interviews, he regularly suggests her as inspiration for his artistic movements. His sensitivity towards her depression and anxiety are better fleshed out with compassion in his interviews than in the short scenes of her writing worried letters to her parents in France or fighting with his father about staying in Vietnam through the violence. While somewhat outside of the focus on politics, this thread can be analyzed for how the text represents mental health, especially in women during the era.
The artwork of the text uses colors to draw attention of readers. While typically the art is two-toned, there are several panels that engage with more vibrant colors, giving readers the chance to analyze the visual symbolism in addition to the historical moment and language of the text.
