The Circle of Hanh: A Memoir

Reading more like a new form of poetry than a biography, The Circle of Hanh is a mesmerizing blend of past and present, of actual events and never-expressed feelings and memories about those events. Beginning with the present and the author's adoption process of a Vietnamese orphan, the story zaps suddenly back to Weigl's childhood and then moves slowly onward--through toddler accidents, adolescent gropings, and the painful return to America after fighting in Vietnam. Chronological order is not important here: the emotions spurred by an occurrence in adulthood will lead in to a chapter about his grandfather; returning from war, he describes a Christmas from his childhood. This blended style, ignoring the traditional flow of time, is fascinating to read and difficult to put down. The narrative becomes clearer when Weigl is writing specifically about the adoption, and you share everything from visa problems to a kidney stone with the author during his journey to Hanoi. This is also the happiest part of the book, where Weigl's commitment to his new daughter comes through clearly, as does his understanding of Vietnamese language and culture (he has assisted in the translation of several books of Vietnamese poetry in recent years). A personally revealing book, The Circle of Hanh ends with a combination of emotions present throughout the story--joy and hope, nostalgia and regret--all blended into Weigl's beautiful prose. --Jill Lightner