Vietnam is one of the most intriguing places in the world. It has an abundance of different cultures from past historical events, and it is very beautiful. The country has endured so much conflict, its past needs to be taught to everyone. The Eaves of Heaven, written by Thong Van Pham, is an autobiographical experience through his eyes of the French occupation of Indochina, the Japanese invasion during WWII, and the Vietnam War. His entire life has seen Vietnam in conflict, from teenager to adult. He was also stationed in the war effort, so he also had a very traumatic time fighting against the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese. He witnessed the final United States’ issued helicopter leave Vietnam after the US decided to undergo the process of Vietnamization or removing troops from Vietnam. Perhaps the worst of it all was when he had to serve time in a prisoner of war camp for a long period of time in harsh conditions. Pham’s story is one that needs to be told to the entire world because it reflects how persistence and strength can also triumph.

            One very profound idea in the book is the loss of innocence. Pham’s father owned a prostitution house where French soldiers would often go to during their time stationed in Vietnam. Pham experiences many personal horrors there. To begin with, he saw how the soldiers treated the women, who were often minors. Many of the women were forced against their wills to be there and Pham even knew one of them. The soldiers’ behavior scarred Pham for life and he had no right to witness any events there as an innocent child.

            Another widely discussed idea is the horrors of war. Pham was on the front lines against the North Vietnamese. Guerilla warfare was used as a strategy of battle in the Vietnam War in which soldiers would ambush their opponent in concealed environments. Pham was one of the victims of this and saw his fellow soldiers die in the line of battle. When it was nighttime, the Vietcong would attack US and South Vietnamese forces with surprise and no one suspected a thing. In addition, Pham spent a lot of his time as a prisoner of war. All his freedoms were stripped because of his inability to escape Vietnam. He worked long hours and terrible conditions. His experience has a prisoner of war is the most profound event in the book and his eventual freedom shows how his grit and persistence allowed him to keep his spirits high and triumph in harsh conditions.

            The Eaves of Heaven is a must-read autobiography. It is one of the best autobiographical novels I have ever written, and I highly recommend it. It offers very specific details of Vietnam and how innocent civilians felt during times of conflict. Pham experiences a lot of growth throughout his life in the novel as well. This novel is a clear example of why everyone should aspire to learn about different cultures around the world and the history of different countries. This is a remarkable story with a feel-good ending, so go buy this book right now!