Pain and Grace: A Journey Through Vietnam (Photos of Vietnam)

Original Title in English: Pain and Grace
By Authors: Jim Gensheimer, Kristin Huckshorn and Mark McDonald

Book Review by Allison Martin

In Pain and Grace - A Journey Through Vietnam, the outstanding photography of photojournalist Jim Gensheimer illustrate the contrasts that make up modern day Vietnamese life. Gensheimer capture the beauty and quiet intensity of a country in the midst of dramatic change - where the struggles of the past and and hopes of the future are met with courage and pride. Each photograph dramatizes a poignant moment in the lives of the Vietnamese people - a lotus glows in a dusty Koi pond; gentle light on the wise face of an elderly Vietnamese gentleman at tea, children playing in an orphanage in Danang, the meeting of a brother and sister separated for 19 years... These images portray an emotional impact that is familiar to visitors to Vietnam, with a poignancy that is hard to forget.
The artistic quality and clarity of the photographs in this "coffee table" book are exceptional. Vibrant colors emerge from a somber background as archetypal moments of time are caught forever in each image.
This isn't a book for very young children (although older children will enjoy many of the photographs), instead it is a rewarding resource for adults who enjoy a thoughtful study of Vietnam and its people. If you are looking for a photographic journal of Vietnam, beyond the ordinary, which explores the emotional and physical contrasts of this multifaceted land, this book will be one you pick up time and time again.


Read Interview with Author
Order book from Amazon


About YourVietbooks.com
YourVietBooks is a collection of books on Vietnam for Readers who are interested in Vietnam's History, Culture, Language, Business & Management. Titles are available in English, French, German and Vietnamese.

Find out more about our translation and consulting services under YourVietnamExpert.com