Publisher's Synopsis
The mystery and beauty of modern-day Vietnam is skillfully unveiled in The Beauty of Humanity Movement, a fourth novel by Camilla Gibb, which takes its title from a short-lived group of artists and intellectuals who spoke out against Ho Chi Minh s policies, following the liberation of Vietnam from colonial rule. Set in the recent past, amidst the vibrancy of Hanoi, and with a cast of young characters who long for the status of American consumer products and the fame of Vietnamese Idol, The Beauty of Humanity Movement tells the story of a country undergoing extraordinary change. Gibb also weaves together a tale of love, loss and redemption, while exploring the legacy of art and the meaning of family - defined, not always by bloodlines but by the heart. At the heart of the story is Old Man Hung, one of the few remaining witnesses to the circle of outspoken artists and intellectuals who congregated in the cafà © he inherited, and lost, many years before. With a failing memory and the great love of his life lost, Hung s day seems almost over until a chance encounter with Maggie, a young Vietnamese-American art curator who comes to Hanoi in search of clues to the life of her father, an artist who disappeared during the Fall of Saigon. For the 80-year-old Hung, Maggie s appearance evokes painful memories of the woman he turned his back on 40 years ago, but whose curious beauty and betrayal still haunt him. Included in the discussion guide is an exclusive Bookclub-in-a-Box interview with Camilla Gibb. Every Bookclub-in-a-Box discussion guide includes complete coverage of the themes and symbols, writing style and interesting background information on the novel and the author, as well as a complementary RAG (Read-Along-Guide), a quick reference pamphlet offering interesting facts and questions to consider while reading the novel.
