The music fish trung me nguen is a unique cultural tradition of the Cham people in Vietnam. The Cham people have a strong connection to the sea, and this tradition reflects their reliance on fishing for their livelihood. The term "trung me nguen" roughly translates to "fish that flies over the water." It is a type of snakehead fish that is known for its ability to jump out of the water. The Cham people believe that this fish has the power to bring good luck and prosperity. During the music fish trung me nguen festival, fishermen gather on the riverbanks with their traditional fishing gear.
In this gorgeous debut graphic novel, fairy tales are the only way one boy can communicate with his Vietnamese immigrant parents. But how will he find the words to tell them that he’s gay? A powerful read about family, identity and the enduring magic of stories.
“One of the most astounding graphic novels of the year" –Entertainment Weekly
Tien and his mother may come from different cultures—she’s an immigrant from Vietnam still struggling with English; he’s been raised in America—but through the fairy tales he checks out from the local library, those differences are erased.
But as much as Tien’s mother’s English continues to improve as he reads her tales of love, loss, and travel across distant shores, there’s one conversation that still eludes him—how to come out to her and his father. Is there even a way to explain what he’s going through in Vietnamese? And without a way to reveal his hidden self, how will his parents ever accept him?
This beautifully illustrated graphic novel speaks to the complexity of family and how stories can bring us together even when we don’t know the words.
“A lyrical masterpiece.” –BuzzFeed
Ask Trung Le Nguyen, who seamlessly blends family history, fairy tales, and a 1998 coming-out tale in this remarkable intergenerational graphic novel. The magic happens here on every page , the perfection personified by debut author artist Nguyen s autobiographical homage to the infinite power of storytelling.
During the music fish trung me nguen festival, fishermen gather on the riverbanks with their traditional fishing gear. The festival begins with a procession led by a group of musicians playing traditional instruments such as drums, gongs, and the đàn tranh, a Vietnamese zither. As the music plays, the fishermen enter the water and start fishing for the trung me nguen using traditional techniques.
Kate’s Review: “The Magic Fish”
Where Did I Get This Book: The library!
Book Description: Tiến loves his family and his friends…but Tiến has a secret he’s been keeping from them, and it might change everything. An amazing YA graphic novel that deals with the complexity of family and how stories can bring us together.
Real life isn’t a fairytale. But Tiến still enjoys reading his favorite stories with his parents from the books he borrows from the local library. It’s hard enough trying to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tiến, he doesn’t even have the right words because his parents are struggling with their English. Is there a Vietnamese word for what he’s going through?
Is there a way to tell them he’s gay?
A beautifully illustrated story by Trung Le Nguyen that follows a young boy as he tries to navigate life through fairytales, an instant classic that shows us how we are all connected. The Magic Fish tackles tough subjects in a way that accessible with readers of all ages, and teaches us that no matter what—we can all have our own happy endings.
Review: I will be the first to admit that outside of my re-read of “The Sandman”, I’ve been slacking on the graphic novels as of late. But after dropping the ball on that, I have promised myself that I will try to be better, and make an effort to get some more in the review rotation. And let me tell you, I have a good one to start with, by a local author no less! I hadn’t heard of “The Magic Fish” by Trung Le Nguyen until I saw it pop up on my Goodreads feed, and once I felt comfortable getting physical library books again after our Fall/early Winter surge I requested it. I went in with little knowledge and expectations, and was thoroughly impressed with what I found.
“The Magic Fish” has a number of themes that swirl in its pages, and all of them connect through the importance and power of stories, namely fairy tales. The plot follows Tiến, a middle school boy who is the son of Vietnamese immigrants who left Viet Nam as refugees, and who don’t speak much English. To practice mother Hiền will have Tiến check out fairy tales from the library and they will read them together. We follow Tiến as he starts to accept his sexuality, and as he wonders and worries about what his parents will think when he tells them that he’s gay. This takes place in the 1990s, and while Tiền’s friends seem to be accepting, people at school, and society at large, is not as much, which makes him feel Othered. Meanwhile, Hiền left her home in the aftermath of the Viet Nam War, and hasn’t returned to see her family in many years. She and her husband are doing their best to raise their son in Minnesota, but being away from the home he had to leave is hard, and when she does go back it’s due to a very significant loss. I liked seeing both the themes of identity and immigration being addressed in the ways that they were, through some subtle and bittersweet longings, anxiety, and hope.
And then, the fairy tales. Both Hiền and Tiền bond through and are drawn to fairy tales, which intersperse within the narrative. The first two are various takes on the “Cinderella” story, one being the German “Allerleirauh”, and the other being the Vietnamese “Tấm Cám”. Story one is shared between Hiền and Tiền at their home, while the second is one that Hiền is revisiting while she is back in Vietnam. Both interpretations and presentations play into what we’re seeing in the moment, be it Tiền hiding his true self from his mother, or Hiền being reminded that sometimes fairy tales don’t have the happily ever afters that everyone seeks. But it’s the re-telling of “The Little Mermaid” that I liked the best, another shared between Hiền and Tiền, and subverted in a way that shows that we tell our own stories, and that we get to choose how they end. It’s all so seamless and lovely, and I greatly enjoyed it.
And the artwork. THE ARTWORK. Different stories have different designs, and again, they tie into what is going on in the moment on the surface and beneath it. For example, the three fairy tales all had different aesthetic designs for the art styles (my personal favorite was “Tấm Cám”, influenced by a 1950s Viet Nam French Colonial style), while moments in reality may have different colors depending on time and place. It always works, and all of it is beautiful.
“The Magic Fish” is a charming story that reads and feels like a modern fairy tale. I highly recommend that you read it if you love graphic novels.
Rating 8: A lovely coming of age story with magical moments and gorgeous artwork, “The Magic Fish” is a joyful and emotional tale of family and the power of stories.
Reader’s Advisory:
“The Magic Fish” is included on the Goodreads lists “Queer Graphic Novels”, and “Comic Book Club Recommendations”.
Find “The Magic Fish” at your library using WorldCat, or a local independent bookstore using IndieBound!
A beautifully illustrated story by Trung Le Nguyen that follows a young boy as he tries to navigate life through fairytales, an instant classic that shows us how we are all connected. The Magic Fish tackles tough subjects in a way that accessible with readers of all ages, and teaches us that no matter what—we can all have our own happy endings.
The fishermen believe that the presence of the music will attract the fish and make them jump out of the water. The jumping fish are then caught by the fishermen and brought back to shore. Once the fishing is complete, the trung me nguen are cooked and shared among the fishermen and the community. It is believed that consuming the fish will bring good luck and abundance for the coming year. The music fish trung me nguen festival is not only a celebration of the Cham people's fishing traditions but also a way to honor their ancestors and preserve their cultural heritage. It is a colorful and lively event that showcases the Cham people's deep connection to the sea and their reliance on fishing for their survival. In recent years, the festival has gained popularity among tourists, who are fascinated by the unique cultural experience and the chance to witness the traditional fishing techniques of the Cham people. However, the festival also faces challenges due to pollution and overfishing, which have led to a decline in the number of trung me nguen in the rivers. Efforts are being made to conserve this species and promote sustainable fishing practices to ensure the continuity of this treasured tradition. Overall, the music fish trung me nguen festival is a significant event for the Cham people and a testament to their close relationship with the sea. It is a cultural tradition that showcases their fishing skills, musical talents, and spiritual beliefs, making it a truly captivating experience for all who witness it..
Reviews for "The Influence of Anthropogenic Noise on Music Fish Sonar Abilities"
1. Emily - 2 stars - While I wanted to enjoy "The Music Fish Trung Me Ngueuen" due to all the hype, I found it to be incredibly confusing and hard to follow. The plot seemed disjointed and the characters were poorly developed. The constant jump between different time periods and perspectives made it even more difficult to understand what was going on. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Ethan - 1 star - I don't understand what all the fuss is about "The Music Fish Trung Me Ngueuen". The writing style was pretentious and overly complicated, making it a chore to read. The characters were unlikable and lacked depth, making it impossible for me to connect with any of them. The plot was convoluted and made little sense. I feel like the author was trying too hard to be profound and ended up creating a confusing mess instead.
3. Sofia - 2 stars - I really struggled to get through "The Music Fish Trung Me Ngueuen". The language used was overly flowery and poetic, making it hard to understand the actual story. The pacing was slow and the book felt unnecessarily long. The author seemed more concerned with showing off their writing skills than actually creating an engaging and enjoyable story. I found myself constantly bored and disinterested, wishing I hadn't wasted my time on this book.