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The Sympathizer,
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Eugene Smolenskiy
I took much longer with this book than I probably should have, but it wasn't due to lack of enjoyment. Instead, it allowed me more time to reflect on what I had just read. The book is filled with really beautifully-written passages that are worth giving some breathing room to, so it's not always a bad thing to take the pages in piecemeal.
Carol
Yes, I agree with you. It really dragged for me for quite awhile. I loved the writing and the look at the cultures and Vietnam war years.
I also struggled with the lack of conversation quotation marks and/or using new lines for different speakers. That really slowed me down for the first 2/3 of the novel.
He did use spacing and labels towards the end of the book.
I also struggled with the lack of conversation quotation marks and/or using new lines for different speakers. That really slowed me down for the first 2/3 of the novel.
He did use spacing and labels towards the end of the book.
Lorri
I felt the same way. Fifty pages into the book, I was wondering, "How did this get the Pulitzer?" Soon, I was pulled into it; now I understand the acclaim. :-)
Virginia
Take your time. Lots to digest. I was also doing 10pp at a time for at least the first 100pp. The main character takes time to grow on you. Meanwhile his sardonic commentary & sketches of those around him keep you in there, gradually accumulating into a grasp of his voice, his motives. By then plot is moving. Definitely worth it.
Sm
Don't waste any more time.
Elizabeth
Your experience is the opposite of mine, as I could not put this book down. It enabled me to see a totally different experience than my own. This is a book that I feel should be required high school reading in the US, and I have recommended it to many people in my life.
Lindsay
I had no trouble getting into the book and found it refreshing and startling all at the same time. I loved the lack of conversation quotation marks as I knew all the time who was speaking and could follow very easily. It is worth it to put in the time and savour it like a very fine wine.
Shachi
Agreed, it is not one of those books that makes you pull an all-nighter, but it is definitely worth it in the end.
Harry
I disagree... but I found his prose to be really worth the time. He's not just telling a story here - he's painting a portrait of America, Vietnam and himself. I say stick with it.
Karen
I'm up to Chapter 4 and bored. There's nothing about the protagonist that I find engaging - well, maybe his dark humour but it is not enough. The writing is dense and at times awkward. There's nothing new here that I can see. However, I lived through the Vietnam era, I live in a place with a huge Vietnamese population and I'm not American. Maybe I'm just not the target audience.
rob
Not at all. I found it a very quick read because it is such a well-written, engrossing story and it is laced with wry and sometimes black humour. The central character's observation on American society of the late 1970s had be almost laughing out loud at times.
David
The book just gets worse and worse until you give up half way through !
Sally Powers
I lasted to page 172 and finally decided to quit. Life is too short to hate a book and continue reading.
Dee
I’m with you Joe. Wondering if its worth my time to continue reading. Thats why I checked into this site today, to read some reviews.
Kelly Andrew
I tried on two different occasions and read the first 100 pages twice before giving up.
Catherine Gauldin
Yes, definitely finish the book and take the extra time to absorb all of the subtle points you might miss if you rush through it. There is so much beneath the surface in this novel and it is well deserved of the Pulitzer.
Toni
Although this book was well written, I could not get into it, and I ended up not finishing it.
Dilisha
I am in the same position now, by now I would have finished a book of this length yet I am dragging my eyes at 30% in.. is it worth the push through?
Sharon
I too was interrupted by life and my connection to the book was broken many times, but I think it is worth pushing through. Ten pages at a time is fine -- sometimes, I only finished a few paragraphs. Enter it as you would delirium. It gains momentum in the last third and then you'll be glad you stayed the course.
Nicholas Barisone
I couldn't agree more. Obviously, Nguyen is a talented writer, but this story is dull and lacks intrigue. I am not sure why it won awards. I started this book on vacation and really dedicated some time to absorb myself into it. It just didn't work, I picked it up a few times when I returned home and then I relegated it to my stack of partially-read books...
Maria
It really is worth it. It gives a different perspective on what we think we know about that absurd war, and also the way others might feel about the American dream.
William
Couldn't do it. The first 40 pages were such a slog, I gave up.
Lisa Sandler
I'm so glad you asked this question. I am having the same issue and was about to put the book down...but then I read some of the answers. I guess I'll persevere. Did you finish and, if so, was it worth it?
Suzanne Montgomery
I think it's definitely worth the time to get to the end. I struggled in the middle as well, but by the end thought it was brilliant.
Katherine
Persevere, recognizing that this is a densely written book about an unfamiliar culture. I struggled through the middle of the book but the end was worth the effort.
John Nichol
It’s very readable and I enjoyed it. A first person narrative drawing on a number of resources. It’s not autobiographical. It has a good dramatic tension and some fine sections of sustained interesting expression.
It explores the area of cultural and intercultural relationships which are more defined by criticising stereotyping and cultural identities are more delineated implicitly through immersion with a few shocking interfaces ( especially scenes where his literal bastardry emerge)
The political narrative does not surprise me as I have already read some books on this subject. Similarly with a religious theme which of course intersects with the question of genuine morality. The male psyche is pretty much dominant in romantic forays.
The last fifty pages are intentionally disturbing as it relates to torture and I supposed he could be excused from being prurient as he appears to try to weave the above aspects into dabbling in mind theory.
Discussion question for half way through the first glass of wine: Incorporate the above themes in explaining “ why do you do what you do?”
It explores the area of cultural and intercultural relationships which are more defined by criticising stereotyping and cultural identities are more delineated implicitly through immersion with a few shocking interfaces ( especially scenes where his literal bastardry emerge)
The political narrative does not surprise me as I have already read some books on this subject. Similarly with a religious theme which of course intersects with the question of genuine morality. The male psyche is pretty much dominant in romantic forays.
The last fifty pages are intentionally disturbing as it relates to torture and I supposed he could be excused from being prurient as he appears to try to weave the above aspects into dabbling in mind theory.
Discussion question for half way through the first glass of wine: Incorporate the above themes in explaining “ why do you do what you do?”
Patrick White
I just finished reading this book and I never got into it, not even for a second.
GS
I certainly felt this way for the first 50 pages or so. The writing wasn’t gripping enough and the style felt off. But I was drawn after that and my reading really picked up pace after about 40% of the book. Overall, it is a good book and worth a read.
Anna
I actually struggled to get into this book. To be honest, I'm still struggling. I stopped reading it for a while, continued with it later on, read another book.. It's a really interesting story (that's why I'm not giving up on this book), but it honestly depends on what you usually read.
Pink Frankenstein
I joined Goodreads specifically to get this answer and comment.
I'm having the same issue at page 35. It reads easy in a way but I feel it has no context so I'm not really driven to keep reading.
I'll go to page 100 or so and report back.
I'm having the same issue at page 35. It reads easy in a way but I feel it has no context so I'm not really driven to keep reading.
I'll go to page 100 or so and report back.
Amber Khan
Love his wit and writing but the missing quotation marks are a pain, makes it a taxing read.
Sue Warner
Agree! I have read 2 books since I started it
Gary Grubb
Tammy, you're not alone. Although I had vision issues during the first half of this book, even after my vision got corrected I still felt like I was really missing something in this book. And for some very odd reason I'm not quite able to understand, I felt like this book was a different version of a book I read about 25-30 years ago. That book was "Ishmael". The story of a gorilla trying to teach a human how to save the world. How I tied those together I really can't say. It's as vague as my reason for feeling like I was missing something in "The Sympathizer". Glad I'm done with it.
Johnny
I had a really hard time with it. Long, long read.
lungisa
i felt the same. I dropped and read something else but will get back to it, with fresh eyes.
Nicole
Definitely not a beach or binge read. I ended up reading it on the train which was perfect. I could handle the language for short periods of time, like most other people here not because it wasn't great, but because it was complex (and lack of punctuation!)
Joe Teklits
10 pages at a time worked for me... well, well worth it. By page 400, I could not stop after 10 pgs.
Meredith
I found it dense and difficult but ultimately rewarding.
Kathy
I gave up early on - I couldn't tell where the author was going with it (was it satire? Was the reader to take it seriously?)
Isolde Dittrich
I'm struggling too...probably need a 2 hour slot to sit down and get into it, before I continue reading a little bit every evening.
c2 cole
I think it is a bit more difficult to read than the average book if only due to the large blocks of text. It was definitely a top book of the year for me, if not a top book ever.
Lori Jenkins
I felt that way too but I did finish, just took a whole evening to finish the last 100 pages. I think it is worth it.
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