Anh Do

This is one of the best books I've read in ages.
I was a little put off by the title - thinking it might be a schmaltzy white-wash of a tale, but it's much better than that. The books tells the story of Anh Dos live - from the refugee boat journey from Vietnam when he was 3, through settlement and schooling in Australia, with his parents financial ups and downs (mostly downs) to his successful adult life as a comedian and public figure.
I laughed and I cried. But most of all I enjoyed the ride.

What a great book to start the year with! Anh Do’s infectious optimism throughout this memoir put us all at our happiest. We loved his positive nature and willingness to see the funny side of such an extraordinary life. The honesty in which he portrayed his family’s early days in their new country was a delight and we all felt anyone who had reservations about refugees would do well to read this book. In fact, some of us believe you wouldn’t be human if you were not moved by Do’s show more story. Some believe it was mostly a testament to his mother and father and we all found ourselves very interested in the whole Do clan. Cathy would have liked to hear more about Anh’s sister, and everyone found favour with his father’s philosophical view of time – ‘There are only two types of time … now and too late.’

The many tales, both humorous and heartbreaking, gave the book balance and Ann felt the book well written/edited with the tragic being offset by humour in just the right measure. Anh’s comedic talent definitely shines through in his writing …
we all had our favourites, such as the fish tanks, the old combie breakdown, the RSL gig and his mother’s roast pig dinner, so our discussion was mostly on the merry side recalling each of these anecdotes.
However, we did touch on some of the more serious aspects, such as the upheaval refugees and immigrants experience, how it effects childhood and of course the racism. We all wondered if the xenophobic traits that seem so focused on refugees today has always been there and what will it take to create a more welcoming and accepting Australia. All very important questions that Anh’s story was never meant to answer, but in our view certainly generated an essential conversation.

In closing, it is fair to say that we all got something from this book. Do’s conversational, light-hearted patter made this vital story a pure pleasure to read.
Do yourself a favour and pick it up soon! show less

“There are only two times. Now and too late.”

With humour, warmth and spirit, Anh Do shares his journey from a refugee boat fleeing Vietnam to a successful and well known comedian in Australia. The Happiest Refugee won multiple Australian book awards in 2011 and captured the heart of the nation.

When Anh was a small child, his family gambled everything in their desire to escape the crippling poverty in Vietnam on a barely seaworthy boat crowded with 40 others. Twice attacked by pirates and show more on the verge of starvation and dehydration, he and his family were rescued from the middle of the ocean, and via Malaysia, were granted refugee status in Australia. Ahn’s family were delighted with their new country, grateful for its kindness and undreamed of opportunities. In a series of anecdotes that are both funny and sad, Anh shares his family’s triumphs and failures as they make Australia their home. It is impossible not to admire their willingness to work hard, their love for family and respect for education. Today, the issue of ‘boat people’ is a political hot potato in Australia, Anh’s story puts a face on those nameless desperate souls who risk everything to cross the vast ocean.
I was surprised to discover the Anh qualified as a lawyer before taking a chance on a career in comedy, though it is startlingly common amongst male comedians in this country (i.e. Charlie Pickering, Shaun Micallef. Tony Wilson, Steve Vizard). This memoir supports Anh’s image as a decent, down to earth man who adores his family and believes in being his best, for himself and others.

The Happiest Refuge is an extraordinary story of hope, resilience and triumph in an ordinary man’s life. I was thoroughly entertained, fought back a tear or two and sighed happily as I turned the final page, though Anh has a lot of life yet to live. show less

{My thoughts} – Weir Do is a rather interesting character. His mom and dad decided to name him using family names, which resulted in an incredibly strange yet funny name for him.

Weir Do is the new kid in school and he always dreads when he has to stand up and tell someone his name. I am sure if I had a name as silly as his I would feel the same way. However, he also seems to be a bit strange as does his family. In my opinion his name is a perfect fit for him.

He didn’t stay the new kid show more for long though. And soon everything that was thought to be exciting, strange, unusual about him was soon forgotten while the peers in his class moved onto to the next new student.

I really liked this book. It helps to show children that it’s okay to be themselves. That they can find friends that like them just the way they are, even if most of their peers think they are strange. I think this is a great book to read on the night before any child’s first day of school. It has the potential to help them see that even though they think things might have a bad outcome, that more then likely everything will be alright. show less