Plot Summary

We Play a Game

Duy Doan
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We Play a Game

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2018

Book Brief

Duy Doan

We Play a Game

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2018
Book Details
Pages

104

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Topic
Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

We Play a Game by Duy Doan is a collection of poetry exploring the author's Vietnamese-American identity, feelings of displacement, and daily life experiences in both Vietnam and America. The poems, written in both Vietnamese and English, touch on themes like language barriers, social and literal games, transformation, violence, and religion. Some poems deal with sensitive topics, including violence and wartime trauma.

Nostalgic

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Emotional

Heartwarming

Reviews & Readership

4.3

81 ratings

53%

Loved it

31%

Mixed feelings

16%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

We Play a Game by Duy Doan garners mixed reviews. Critics praise its lyrical language and innovative structure, highlighting Doan's skillful blend of humor and poignancy. However, some find the thematic depth lacking and the experimental style occasionally confusing. On balance, it offers a fresh, if sometimes uneven, poetic experience.

Who should read this

Who Should Read We Play a Game?

Readers who relish linguistically playful and culturally rich poetry akin to Ocean Vuong's Night Sky with Exit Wounds or Tracy K. Smith's Life on Mars will find Duy Doan's We Play a Game captivating. It appeals to those who appreciate explorations of identity, heritage, and the nuances of language.

4.3

81 ratings

53%

Loved it

31%

Mixed feelings

16%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

104

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Topic
Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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