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The Sympathizer
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The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen 4 stars
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I have been meaning to read this for a while. Need to move it up the list.
I love this book so much I've read it twice! I agree, the mini-series was really good. I think it was very faithful to the book.
I just noticed the author has a sequel The Committed which takes place in Paris, following the events from the first book.Definitely will keep this in mind if the compass sends me in the direction of Paris this year!
This is one I'm considering and was recommended to me for my Play Harder Prompt - read a book set in Vietnam. Your review has tweaked my interest for sure. So many good options were recommended for Vietnam! I'll be using them for many prompts in many challenges going forward. Maybe the randomizer for the monthly tag will cough up an option that stimulate reading several of them in a month.
I thought it was a very powerful book. I can’t remember though if any of the characters/governments came out looking very sympathetic.
Perhaps a certain irony in the title?
I am linking Nguyen's review of Spike Lee's Da Five Bloods because I think this really taps into the heart of his intended commentary in his book. A fascinating read that I found personally illuminating. It really changed how I view the American representation of the Vietnam War. I enjoyed Da Five Bloods, but was able to understand his critiques of the American-made / focused Vietnam War movie.
I think the title can have multiple meanings.
For one, our narrator is straddling both worlds and sympathizing with both sides.
At the same time, his role as "sympathizer" further highlights the good/bad that exists on either side.
I think neither side being sympathetic is integral to his message... it's complicated.
I get so obsessed with this book! It makes me think and ponder and I just love it 😊
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/mo...
The main character is essentially a mix of many of the dominant elements present in Vietnam of the era. He had a Vietnamese mother and a French father, born during the French colonial day of Vietnam. He was from the north, but grew up in the south. American educated, he returned to Vietnam in sympathy with the communist north.
In short, he was the perfect spy, able to blend into the culture of southern Vietnam while maintaining connections in northern Vietnam. His American education and subsequent American accent allowed him to blend in with the CIA (omnipresent in Vietnam during that time).
I really enjoyed this book. I watched, and loved, the mini-series rendition on Max. I almost never say this - but the mini series may have been better than the book.