Discussion: The Sympathizer

[Rebecca]

I did as well. For me this is probably where the "brilliance" comes in for me. I think I was confused in the beginning by some of the redundancy of some things like him being a bastard. There also seems to be a lot of overt sexual comment. Chapter 5 almost made me give up. I agree that it does pick up after the crapulent majors death. I am over half done but wonder if when it ends I will be satisfied with the ending or saying WTH.

[George]

well, I'm curious to how it wraps up as well. It seems like he returned and was picked up. it seems much of what he's saying is in the form of a confession to his jailer. could easily be wrong of course.

[Beverly]

George wrote: "I have to say I really liked the scenes with the film company."

Me too. The author (and narrator) take no prisoners when revealing the warts that are out there and exposes how certain stereotypes have become known as truth.

If nothing else this book exposes how certain countries are often pawns to those bigger powers and each side will tell the "truth" to advance their pov.

[Missy J]

I finished the book and am still processing everything in my head.

However, I have a question about one part in the book.
In chapter 15: when the narrator and the general attend a dinner party hosted by the congress man. There the narrator finds himself in a racist discussion with Dr. Hedd about "Orientals."
The narrator says (quote) "...while life is only valuable to us [...] life is invaluable to the Westerner."

I don't understand what he is saying.
There is a very racist undertone to this and I think the narrator just said it to please Dr. Hedd, who agreed with him.
But what do others make of this phrase?

[Rebecca]

I finished yesterday. I am still thinking about the book as well Missy. Maybe I missed the idea intended. For me regarding the racist comment I was looking at it more as the price that each culture pays for their life or for living under communism vs no communism.

[George]

Well, I see it more as a way to contradict Dr. Hedd without totally alienating the good Dr. and the rest of the American listeners in the room, like the congressman, whom the general is totally dependent on to support his resistance group. The aide can't undermine the general's benefactors to their face and no one in the room truly cares what he thinks. He's like the child who should be seen and not heard and not worthy of an opinion. So, he becomes a clever child by finessing his unwanted opinion in contradicting the Dr's cliched and tired response on life being cheap in Asia, by rephrasing it and making it more acceptable in playing to the presumed superior intellect of the Dr. and the superior values of the West.

[ColumbusReads]

No spoilers. We're now discussing the entire book!

[Rebecca]

I am really looking forward to what others say about this one.

[ColumbusReads]

Rebecca wrote: "I am really looking forward to what others say about this one."

Rebecca, I'm curious as to your thoughts on this one. You gave it 2 stars so are we to assume you didn't care for it too much? I started this book twice and twice it was a DNF for me. First time I got through 30% of the book and the second time about 55%. I wasn't enjoying it at all. That being said I'm requesting it again from my library so I can at least say I finished it. I just hate not finishing books. This book just dragged for me and I didn't feel any of the enthusiasm that others seem to have about it.

Those that enjoyed it raise your hand...

[George]

Well, I don't think it's a secret that I liked it.

[Beverly]

I am one of those who liked this book.
While I will admit at times I thought the stream-of-consciousness technique at times was a little too much.

I was thinking that one of the reasons that I liked The Sympathizer is because it seemed liked the next book to read in my reading of fiction books regarding Vietnam over the past year and a half written from the Vietnamese perspective.

First I had read:
The Headmaster's Wager by Vincent Lam
then
The Lotus and the Storm by Lan Cao

And in-between reading these book I did research of Vietnamese history and spoke with Vietnamese friends about what I read and what I thought.

I have also visited Vietnam (both the North & South) .

What I learned from all of this is how complex and often how individual an experience can be and how it often differed from what the common knowledge was about the Vietnam War from an American perspective.

And then I read The Sympathizer and it brought it all together for me.

[Missy J]

George wrote: "Well, I see it more as a way to contradict Dr. Hedd without totally alienating the good Dr. and the rest of the American listeners in the room, like the congressman, whom the general is totally dep..."
Thanks George for this. You described the situation perfectly!
My main takeaway from the book is how we view history. History can be told in so many ways. Often we only hear the official version, which is in favour of whoever is in power. But then there's also unofficial history, personal memories of the people and also revisionist history...
While I was reading the Sympathizer, I couldn't help but think about the situation in the Middle East and the crazy things that have been happening lately in the news. Did anyone also have this experience?

[George]

Missy, thanks. It sounds like you should read Umberto Eco's books, if you haven't already. The question of how we view history and whether or not what is commonly accept as historical fact is completely true or even mostly true is the central theme of his book Bordalino and pops up repeatedly in other novels, including his last one, Numero Zero.

[ColumbusReads]

New article: what it's been like winning the Pulitzer

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

[Rebecca]

Columbus, I didn't care for it to much. It took a lot of effort for me to keep reading it. I did find the storyline against the play back drop interesting and brilliant. For me there just didn't seem to be a lot of content that was consistently compelling for me to enjoy it. I also became quite bored and frustrated with the bastard child subject mater. The sexuality in it was quite vulgar for me.
I did appreciate learning more about the Vietnam crisis since previously I had not so I can say I was pleased for the exposure but beyond that I cant say much more that is positive.

[ColumbusReads]

Thanks to all who participated in the discussion. Feel free to add any comments or questions you have about the book for the thread will remain open.

Any other thoughts on The Sympathizer? A recommended read or not?

[Louise]

Columbus wrote: "Thanks to all who participated in the discussion. Feel free to add any comments or questions you have about the book for the thread will remain open.

Any other thoughts on The Sympathizer? A reco..."

I would not recommend it. I found it a chore to get through.

[Rebecca]

I would not recommend it for one to read.

[Myron]

I would recommend it but bear in mind it is not a fast read and it spends a lot of time in the central character's head but there is no obvious payoff. For those who want an overt payoff and more likable characters this book is not for them.

[Beverly]

I know I am in the minority but I would recommend this book to the right person (as I do with any book).

I liked that the book was presented from a Vietnamese point-of-view and didn't hide from the ugliness of the times and actions taken by those involved in the war.

[George]

I'd certainly recommend it to anyone with interest in the subject. I already have with several people I worked with in the refugee program. I'm not sure how much folks without more specific interest would get into it.

I also found it very interesting to see it portrayed not only from a Vietnamen point of view but more specifically from the other side's POV. Of course, the protagonist sees everything from both sides, mostly because he doesn't completely identify with anyone. He's from the north but became a refugee to the south and is Eurasian born out of wedlock with a priest as a father. He's very alienated in almost every aspect. I found it very interesting in that in reality, there is no place for him in Vietnam even after his side won and that in the end his only possible future lies back in the West as he beomes a refugee once again for the 3rd time.

[Oscar]

The Sympathizer is a very peculiar book. It deals with the horror of a real war, not just fiction, so your stomach has to be prepared for that. It features just the main character's point of view, loaded with his very human flaws and therefore not linear. Nguyen's writing style requires reader's attention. Having said that, it makes us think on several different levels, it is a good thriller and several scenes are just hilarious despite the book's subject. I gave it five stars and agree with the prizes it has won.