Nam Le brings together a mood of bleak dispair with his collection of short stories. The seven stories that comprise The Boat, although in different cultural settings and in countries as diverse as Australia to Columbia, USA to Iran and Japan to Vietnan are dark with themes of death, despair, isolation and with characters who seem to be abandoned and forgotten by, at a micro level, their family, or at a much larger level, by society.

Each of the main characters seem to be adrift of a life which lacks meaning, a meaning either of their own making or more broadly of societies making. Although the concept of the boat appears to be a metaphor for this, the last story focuses on Vietnamese refugees cramped together on a rickety fishing boat attempting to escape persecution in their home country and of how fragile life can be and how it seems to loose all value. Underneath it all though the human spirit prevails.

These are very well written poignant tales that would position many a reader outside their comfort zone. Don't read this if you are looking for happy endings. Be prepared for the dark side of life where emotions plummet the depths and all seems desperate.