When Heaven and Earth Changed Places: A Vietnamese Woman's Journey from War to Peace

How did the labels of communism and capitalism figure into the motivations of the Vietnamese people? Did the tension between Buddhism and Catholicism impact alignments? How does Hayslip conceptualize different groups’ motivations for the war, and what does she make of these differing motivations?

How did the Viet Cong win the sympathies of the peasants? To what extent did they betray the peasants? Was the experience of Hayslip and her family a typical one?

Which person in Hayslip’s life best embodies the complexity of human beings, a theme that Hayslip emphasizes? For what reasons did you choose that person?

Why did Hayslip’s father, so grounded in a peaceful philosophy, die by suicide? How big of a problem was suicide among the Vietnamese in the war years?

Analyze Hayslip’s discussion of gender-based violence during the war. What unique dangers did Vietnamese women face in the war years? How did Hayslip’s experiences showcase these dangers? How did she survive them?

How was Hayslip victimized by both sides in the war? What options did peasants have in such circumstances to survive?

Provide examples of how the cycle of vengeance and distrust was harmful to Hayslip and other Vietnamese people during and after the war. Why is breaking this cycle so important to Hayslip?

Why were Hayslip’s family members afraid to associate too publicly with her on her return visit in 1986? What were the potential dangers and repercussions? What did that say about Vietnam at that time?