From internationally acclaimed and bestselling author vincent lam comes a superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting novel set. I love this book s vivid realization and its deft weave of conspiracies. The headmaster s wager tells the story of chen pie sou. This is a novel of the chinese in vietnam, at the time of the vietnam war. If there was ever a book club selection that crosses ages, gender, and reading interests, this is the. Read the headmasters wager by vincent lam available from rakuten kobo. Apr 27, 2012 the latest example is the headmasters wager by vincent lam. The headmasters wager longlisted for 20 andrew carnegie medals for excellence in fiction american library association, april 23, 20. The headmasters wager by vincent lam published august 2012 by crown publishing group source. The end of your life book club by will schwalbe this is a fantastic book. The headmasters wager, by vincent lam the globe and mail.
Lee, author of the new york times bestseller the piano teacher. Chen, the protagonist of this novel set during the vietnam war, is a. Other medical jobs have included international air evacuation and expedition medicine on arctic and antarctic ships. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one.
The headmasters wager book club kit strathcona county. Inspired by lams own family history, the headmasters wager tells the story. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Hot off the presses the headmasters wager, my latest book and my debut novel, is about percival chen, a chinese compulsive gambler and headmaster of an english school in saigon during the vietnam war. The headmasters wager is shortlisted for 20 commonwealth book prize commonwealth writers, april 09, 20. I cant stop talking or thinking about this novel, set. From left to write november 15, 2012 book club days, literary fiction no comments america started because people left their country to seek a better life. It is a story of one man s tragic misunderstandings, and his acts of. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one mans loyalty to his country, his family and his heritage percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english academy in 1960s saigon, and he is well accustomed to bribing a foreverchanging list of govern. A colourful, suspenseful depiction of chinese living in vietnam during the war. The latest example is the headmasters wager by vincent lam. The globe and mail a novel of many twists and turns, full of people who arent what they appear to belam has created a hypnotically tragic tale, epic in scope. The headmasters wager by vincent lam percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english academy in 1960s saigon, and he is well accustomed to bribing a foreverchanging list of government officials in order to maintain the elite status of his school.
The headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon, percival chen is also a bon vivant, a compulsive gambler and an incorrigible womanizer. The book is inspired by the experiences of lams grandfather. By vincent lam there are several love stories in vincent lams extraordinary novel, the headmasters wager, a book set principally in saigon in the 1960s. One, a group of old friends who had lived through the vietnam war years or as they say in vietnam, the. The headmasters wager book surrey libraries bibliocommons. Read it if youve ever wanted to pretend everything worked out fine in vietnam. The headmasters wager, book by vincent lam paperback. Vincent lams the headmasters wager is a top choice among bookbrowse readers. Born in london, ontario and raised in ottawa, his parents came to canada from the chinese expatriate community in vietnam. Hot off the presses the headmaster s wager, my latest book and my debut novel, is about percival chen, a chinese compulsive gambler and headmaster of an english school in saigon during the vietnam war.
Fiercely proud of his chinese heritage, and quick to spot the business opportunities rife in a divided country, percival devotedly ignores all news of the fighting that swirls. Feodor chin percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon. The author takes full advantage of the inherent suspense as the fall of saigon looms and chen finally realizes that he and his family may not survive the violence of the viet cong. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affectin. A first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty, the headmasters wager conjures up a dizzyingly evocative wartime saigon in the story of percival chen, a chinese schoolmaster in vietnam. Set in saigon during the leadup to the vietnam war, its not an easy book some of the details of the torture and atrocities during this time are quite harrowing, as are the main characters memories of events that happened during the years of. From giller prize winner, internationally acclaimed, and bestselling author vincent lam comes a superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting novel set against the turmoil of the vietnam war. We meet at 7pm in the church parlour at trinity united church. The headmasters wager high plains library district.
The headmasters wager by vincent lam is a great page turner. The headmasters wager is a wellcrafted, deeply engaging book one that i read in only two sittings because it was that hard to put it downits my favorite book of the summer jen w. Set in saigon during the leadup to the vietnam war, its not an easy book some of the details of the torture and atrocities during this time are quite harrowing, as are the main characters memories of events that happened during the years of japanese occupation in world war 2. In the headmasters wager, lam has created a genuine pageturner. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Lam writes tellingly about intrigue, political collusion and the clash of cultures. From internationally acclaimed and bestselling author vincent lam comes a superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting novel set against the turmoil of the vietnam war. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The book is inspired by the experiences of lam s grandfather.
Percivals father left china for vietnam to earn money for his family and percival followed suit. The headmasters wager by vincent lam published by doubleday canada publication date. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one mans loyalty to his country, his family and his heritage percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english academy in 1960s saigon, and he is well accustomed to bribing a foreverchanging list of government officials in order to maintain the elite status of his school. A profoundly moving memoir of caregiving, mourning, and lovethe end of your life book club is also about the joy of reading, and the ways that joy is multiplied when we share it with others.
The protagonist is well developed with many characteristics, a dutiful son and loving father, an educator who believes in fate and worships ancestral spirits. Sep 21, 2012 the headmasters wager by vincent lam published by doubleday canada publication date. Vincent lam is a canadian writer and medical doctor. The headmasters wager has the makings of a masterpiece.
The headmasters wager, by vincent lam national post. I especially admire lams ability to transport a reader. What has been your own greatest wager in life so far. A favorite at queen anne book co the headmasters wager. Percival is inspired by my grandfather, though the book is a work of fiction. The headmasters wager ebook by vincent lam rakuten kobo. Sep 22, 20 local scene current bestsellers at queen anne book company, 1811 queen anne ave. The headmasters wager takes us through all the historical developments that lead up to the vietnam war from the perspective of percival chen, a chinese headmaster of saigons most prestigious english language academy, and the view isnt flattering. Vincent lam goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. He is also a bon vivant, a compulsive gambler and an. And as significant it is that the characters are flawed, the success of the headmasters wager as a book is that it is a richly, plotdriven story. While vietnam might not be a westerners vision of prosperity and success, it was the land of dreams for percival, the headmaster in vincent lams the headmasters wager hogarth. Buy the paperback book the headmaster s wager by vincent lam at indigo.
The headmaster s wager longlisted for 20 andrew carnegie medals for excellence in fiction american library association, april 23, 20. Percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon. The headmasters wager kindle edition by lam, vincent. Any page references refer to a usa edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Reading guide for the headmasters wager by vincent lam discussion guide for book clubs. The narrator was very skilled at reading what could have been a very complicated book. Buy the paperback book the headmasters wager by vincent lam at indigo. We are an informal group that enjoys reading and discussing books. Lam is another giller prize winner, albeit for a very different kind of book, a short story collection. The enjoyment of the book is found in the tension that explodes as further truths are revealed by the surprising plot. Percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english academy in 1960s saigon, and he is well accustomed to bribing a foreverchanging list of. America started because people left their country to seek a better life. The headmasters wager is a novel full of surprises and excitement.
What lengths will one go to, to protect all that he holds dear. It is a story of one mans tragic misunderstandings, and his acts of. Trinity united church has been holding book club for almost 20 years. Goodreads members who liked the headmasters wager also liked. The headmasters wager and millions of other books are available for instant access. Book club trinity united church smiths falls, ontario. I recently read the end of your life book club by will schwalbe, which is a tender, beautiful, lifeaffirming book that all book lovers will embrace. The end of your life book club vintage by will schwalbe. The story of percival chen, an expatriate chinese, the headmaster of the best english academy in viet name, is fascinating. Vincent lam is a page turner project bookmark canada, april 10, 20. Nov 15, 2012 i read the headmasters wager as a member of the from left to write book club. Percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon, and a compulsive gambler. Welcome to all of my fellow book club continue reading. Different vietnam war perspective where does the headmasters wager rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far.
Nov 15, 2012 america started because people left their country to seek a better life. In your opinion, which is the most significant of the headmasters wagers. The headmasters wager gives us a picture of life for the common people in and around saigon during the war. A profoundly moving memoir of caregiving, mourning, and lovethe end of your life book club is also about the joy of reading. Although lam did not grow up in vietnam, his parents were born there, and his grandfather lived and worked there. Cultural, fiction, historical in 1930 percival chens father left him and his mother in mainland china to go to vietnam and seek his fortune. The headmasters wager hardcover garden district book shop. Cultural, fiction, historical in 1930 percival chens father left him and his mother in. The headmaster s wager is shortlisted for 20 commonwealth book prize commonwealth writers, april 09, 20. When his son is suddenly placed in mortal danger, percival must risk everything to save him. Reading guide for the headmasters wager by vincent lam. There was a lot of money to be made as a result of the war, but the stakes were high, and certain classes of people were destined to lose regardless of who won the war.
Bringing up bebe pride and prejudice death comes to pemberley the cats table state of wonder steve jobs the headmasters wager the marriage plot the virgin cure sweet tooth if a member is unable to attend, please let the hostesses know so they know how many guests to prepare for. But the one that affected me most was the story of the love of the main character, percival chan, for his son. The headmasters wager tells the story of chen pie sou. Welcome to all of my fellow book club members or anyone coming here for the first time. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one mans loyalty to his country, his fam. Headmasters wager by vincent lam percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english academy in 1960s saigon, and he is well accustomed to bribing a foreverchanging list of government officials in order to maintain the elite status of his school.
I love this books vivid realization and its deft weave of conspiracies. He was able to keep my interest and helped me enjoy the book even more. I read the headmasters wager as a member of the from left to write book club. What is the price to be paid for family pride and cultural heritage. Hot off the presses the headmasters wager, my latest book and my debut novel, is about percival chen, a chinese compulsive gambler and headmaster of. Sep 12, 2012 the headmaster s wager by vincent lam published august 2012 by crown publishing group source. He is also a bon vivant, a compulsive gambler and an incorrigible womanizer. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the headmasters wager. The orchardist, by amanda coplin, and more the new york times. Find books like the headmasters wager from the worlds largest community of readers. The headmasters wager by vincent lam penguin random house. The headmasters wager by vincent lam, paperback barnes. In your opinion, which is the most significant of the headmaster s wagers. If there was ever a book club selection that crosses ages, gender, and reading interests, this is the book.
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