I really hate that I didn't like this. And I don't want to dismiss it as 'another refugee story' because all refugee stories deserve to be heard.

This is a narrative based on 'The Boat People ' of Vietnam, and focuses on a family's tragic attempts to leave Vietnam in the 1970s. Anh and her brothers make it to London and the novel explores that journey.

The issue I had was that it didn't feel one thing or another. In part it's a straightforward chronological story moving from Vietnam, to Hong Kong to London. Interspersed are articles, letters and reflections. These are light touch political or philosophical in tone. But it didn't really add that much to the story and these are ideas that those of us interested in such issues are familiar with.

There were long stretches of this that didn't feel like it was saying anything, but was merely written to have it written down. The domestic story was one that is peppered with tragedy and disappointment but it didn't feel like it was doing or saying anything about it, other than recording it. But maybe that was just the point.

There were some thoughtful connections made - between the idea of the rootless ghosts of Anh's family and Anh's feeling of not belonging. The closure at the end was satisfying and tied in with the settling of the ghosts and the idea of 'the wandering soul'.

Disappointed not to have enjoyed this more as it is the kind of subject matter that is right up my street, but I think more could have been made of it.