Vincent lam is a page turner project bookmark canada, april 10, 20. The headmasters wager by vincent lam penguin random house. A first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty, the headmasters wager conjures up a dizzyingly evocative wartime saigon in the story of percival chen, a chinese schoolmaster in vietnam. The headmasters wager, by vincent lam kevinfromcanada.
You wrote this novel about the experience of the chinese community in saigon. Headmaster s wager by vincent lam percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english academy in 1960s saigon, and he is well accustomed to bribing a foreverchanging list of government officials in order to maintain the elite status of his school. Review the headmasters wager by vincent lam random book. Percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon. Author vincent lam poses for a portrait on gerrard st.
The narrator was very skilled at reading what could have been a very complicated book. Well accustomed to bribing government officials, he is quick to spot the business opportunities rife in a divided country. If there was ever a book club selection that crosses ages, gender, and reading interests, this is the book. The headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon, percival chen is also a bon vivant, a. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of hogarth books. Any page references refer to a usa edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other. It covers a story of an ethnic chinese gentleman in vietnam beginning his joining his father during wwii until the victory of the north vietnamese in 1978. Where does the headmasters wager rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far.
A colourful, suspenseful depiction of chinese living in vietnam during the war. While vietnam might not be a westerners vision of prosperity and success, it was the land of dreams for percival, the headmaster in vincent lams the headmaster s wager hogarth. The toronto star a novel of many twists and turns, full of people who arent what they appear to be. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Looming always in the background is his fellow expatriot mak, an ambiguous figure who is everresourceful but who has secrets of. The headmasters wager is a wellcrafted, deeply engaging book one that i read in only two sittings because it was that hard to put it downits my favorite book of the summer jen w. Praise for the headmaster s wager a sumptuously plotted first novel. The headmasters wager book hamilton public library. The headmasters wager this was an outstanding book. He is also a bon vivant, a compulsive gambler and an. Download ebook the headmasters wager vincent lam the headmasters wager vincent lam the headmaster s wager by vincent lam. The headmasters wager, book by vincent lam paperback. He was able to keep my interest and helped me enjoy the book even more.
The globe and mail a novel of many twists and turns, full of people who arent what they appear to belam has created a hypnotically tragic tale, epic in scope. In the headmasters wager, lam has created a genuine pageturner. The headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon, percival chen is also a bon vivant, a compulsive gambler and an incorrigible womanizer. Read free book excerpt from the headmasters wager by vincent lam, page 1 of 8.
The headmasters wager ebook by vincent lam rakuten kobo. Cultural, fiction, historical in 1930 percival chens father left him and his mother in. The headmaster s wager is shortlisted for 20 commonwealth book prize commonwealth writers, april 09, 20. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Read it if youve ever wanted to pretend everything worked out fine in vietnam. A first novel of astonishing force, craft and beauty, the headmaster s wager conjures up a dizzyingly evocative wartime saigon in the story of percival chen, a chinese schoolmaster in vietnam. The present tense of vincent lams the headmaster s wager opens in 1966, the most recent vietnam war already under way and american involvement beginning to increase. From internationally acclaimed and bestselling author vincent lam comes a superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting novel set against the turmoil of the vietnam war. Buy the paperback book the headmasters wager by vincent lam at indigo. Vincent lam, author of bloodletting and miraculous cures, says yes.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the headmasters wager. I recently read the end of your life book club by will schwalbe, which is a tender, beautiful, lifeaffirming book that all book lovers will embrace. Lee the headmaster s wager por vincent lam disponible en rakuten kobo. The headmasters wager book club kit strathcona county.
Percival is accustomed to bribing government officials, but he faces the limits of his connections and wealth when his son gets into trouble with the vietnamese authorities and percival is. The headmasters wager hardcover garden district book shop. Reading guide for the headmasters wager by vincent lam discussion guide for book clubs. He enjoys the citys pleasures, gambling and visiting the local brothels. I especially admire lams ability to transport a reader. Print copies of the books are available one month before each meeting. Never wager more than you can afford to lose, chen is admonished at the table. You can also borrow books from the library to start your own book club.
Despite his flaws, hes a compelling character, and caring about what happens to percival makes the reader keep reading, despite the difficulty of some of the events in the. In your opinion, which is the most significant of the headmaster s wagers. The chinese headmaster of an english language academy tries to keep body, soul and school together in saigon during the vietnam war. The headmaster s wife is about love, class, family, and expectations, but it is ultimately a story about how people grieve. The headmasters wager by vincent lam published by doubleday canada publication date. A superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting debut novel about one mans loyalty to his country, his fam. If there was ever a book club selection that crosses ages, gender, and reading interests, this is the. The wager will also affect his exwife, cecilia, his lover, the beautiful halffrench halfvietnamese jacqueline and her son, laing chi. The headmaster s wager, by vincent lam open this photo in gallery. The book s protagonist, percival chen, is headmaster of a respected english school in saigon. Graced with intriguingly flawed but wonderfully human characters moving through a richly drawn historical landscape, the headmaster s wager is an unforgettable story of love, betrayal and sacrifice. The headmasters wager by vincent lam, paperback barnes. Bringing up bebe pride and prejudice death comes to pemberley the cats table state of wonder steve jobs the headmaster s wager the marriage plot the virgin cure sweet tooth if a member is unable to attend. Compulsive gambler and womanizer percival chen is the headmaster of the most respected english school in saigon and fiercely proud of his chinese heritage.
The author takes full advantage of the inherent suspense as the fall of saigon looms and chen finally realizes that he and his family may not survive the violence of the viet cong. Read the headmasters wager by vincent lam available from rakuten kobo. Book club trinity united church smiths falls, ontario. You grew up in canada, but your parents are of chinese descent and emigrated from vietnam. What has been your own greatest wager in life so far. The headmasters wager is a novel full of surprises and excitement. Book clubs meet for 90 minute sessions to discuss a different book every month in an informal and relaxed setting. Reading guide for the headmasters wager by vincent lam. A novel in three parts, the first part is told from the point of view of arthur winthrop, headmaster of an elite prep school in vermont called lancaster. From its founding in 1893, the headmasters association was intended to be a unique amalgam of the different kinds of secondary schools that have served the nation. The headmasters wager kindle edition by lam, vincent.
The orchardist, by amanda coplin, and more the new. From giller prize winner, internationally acclaimed, and bestselling author vincent lam comes a. Vincent lams the headmasters wager is a top choice among bookbrowse readers. Ask library staff if you need help with digital or accessible formats. One, a group of old friends who had lived through the vietnam war years or as they say in vietnam, the. In bloodletting and miraculous cures, vincent lam holds in delicate and skillful tension black humour, investigations of both common and extraordinary moral dilemmas, and a sometimes shockingly realistic and matteroffact portrait of todays medical profession. The headmasters wager has the makings of a masterpiece. The headmasters wager, by vincent lam the globe and mail. The globe and mail canada hugely impressive powerful and engrossing. The headmaster s wager longlisted for 20 andrew carnegie medals for excellence in fiction american library association, april 23, 20. From giller prize winner, internationally acclaimed, and bestselling author vincent lam comes a superbly crafted, highly suspenseful, and deeply affecting novel set against the turmoil of the vietnam war. The reader knows what is going to happen but somehow the story forces you to keep reading on the offchance that it may indeed be different.