Review of When the Tamarind Tree Blooms

[Amber McKee 2]

[Following is a volunteer review of "When the Tamarind Tree Blooms" by Elaine Russell.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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I felt instant empathy for the main character, as she was intelligent, kind, and vulnerable. I felt an emotional bond with the character and found it hard to put the book down. The writing in this book was visually descriptive. As the main character was of both French and Lao descent, both the French and Laotian languages are used throughout the book. This book is set post-World War II, in the 1930s, in French-occupied Vientiane, as part of French Indochina. The city was heavily influenced by French colonialism, but also by traditional Lao Buddhist culture.
When the Tamarind Tree Blooms captures the culture of that era. Children of mixed descent were neither fully accepted by French nor traditional Lao society. Many of these mixed children ended up in orphanages, and many young women became prostitutes because of the lack of job opportunities available to them. The main character, Vivi, is one such lost child. Vivi has an advantage in that her father claimed her, so she has French citizenship. After aging out of the orphanage, Vivi searches for her family. What she discovers throughout this book is how hard it is for a young person of mixed descent to find a job and be accepted into French society. She is discriminated against for being mixed race and taken advantage of by men who look down on her. Vivi ultimately finds love, friendship, family, and, finally, herself, along with the strength and determination to get an education and help those less fortunate.
When the Tamarind Tree Blooms is a work of historical fiction, with references to Roman Catholicism and Buddhism. I believe this book should come with a trigger warning, as it contains depictions of physical, sexual, and emotional assault that may cause distress to some readers. However, I did not see a warning on the copyright or contents page.
This book is well edited. It is an enjoyable read. I give this book a 4 out of 5 rating.

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When the Tamarind Tree Blooms
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