Well I finally finished "Saigon" by Anthony Grey. It was worth it for me as it gave me historical background for the upcoming trip. It would be a good movie as it is very plot driven but obviously it hasn't been picked up by the big players. I can see someone like Brad Pitt as main character who has to age from about 15 years to 60. I am probably thinking of him in Benjamin Buttons when I say this. It is one of those books that is not a waste of time to read but there are other books you should read first.
My neighbour has given me an autobiography titled "When Heaven and earth Changed Places" by Le Li Mayslip. It traces her journey from a twelve year old in rural Vietnam when the US troops landed in her village through the next twenty years of her life. I will let you know what I think of it.
Cheers
Marilyn

Lost Voices - Christopher Koch

A triptych of a novel - set in 1950s Tasmania, then the same location 100 years earlier then back to the1950s. Koch writes so beautifully and the strongest section is in the middle when he talks about the light and the beautiful country side. The story is fantastic too - the characters are so lifelike and compelling.
Hugh Dixon is the main character and we follow him from school to his career working for a newspaper, but nursing an ambition and keen talent as an artist. In the middle, we go back in time to his ancestors. It's one of those "parallel lives" experiences but not as contrived as they sometimes are.
Koch wrote "The Year of Living Dangerously" and I can see this novel becoming a film.