The intricate details Bui weaves into her writing make readers appreciate the art of expert storytelling. Excerpt from The Best We Could Do depicting Bui’s father’s experience in Thái Bình. Bui’s meandering of time reminds readers that the chronology of memories is personal. This detail was something I overlooked initially, but when I noticed it, the book became rawer. When writing about her parents’ lives, some events are not in chronological order. Instead, her parents and their experiences growing up during Việt Nam’s attempt at liberation is the focus of the memoir.
While this is Bui’s memoir, she appears to only be the narrator and a recurring character. Her family’s struggles depicted in the memoir reflect the ongoing turmoil within Vietnam and the pain it brought to citizens, from French imperialism to communism. An American Book Award winner, Eisner Award finalist, and National Book Critics Award finalist, The Best We Could Do is a book about war and immigration at its core. Published in 2017, Bui’s illustrated memoir follows her family’s upbringing in Việt Nam, their escape from the country following the Fall of Saigon, and the rebuilding of their lives in America. However, after I discovered the premise of the book, I decided to save it for the end of February – around the time my parents immigrated from Việt Nam to America 30 years ago. I had originally intended to read it over the summer. Among Ali Wong’s six summer book picks was Thi Bui’s The Best We Could Do. I am a rather simple reader if my favorite comedian recommends a book, I will read it. Thi Bui’s debut graphic novel documents the life of her family during the Vietnam War and their eventual move to America.
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