Reviews

Flyktingar by Viet Thanh Nguyen

lostinfrance's review against another edition

3.0

I have seen this book about and added it to my list because I always want to learn more about refugees coming into the US--- but also I wanted to better understand (is that even possible!) /get to know the Vietnamese culture. When I saw I need to read a book with a refugee/immigrant, I decided it was finally time to grab this book from the library...
Unfortunately, I did not realize it was a collection of short stories (not a fan), but this year, this reading challenge is supposed to be dragging me outside my comfort zone, so I decided to go ahead and give it a chance. I was pleasantly surprised in how creative and original the collection was--- the theme was obvious--- Viet nam and refugees, but outside of that, each story had me looking at these topics from a different angle and reexamining what it means to be a refugee. I was surprised to read of the different experiences and how each story rang a new truth for me to think about.
Read: if you enjoy short stories and want to think about life as a refugee (whether to the US or to Viet nam)

jennswan's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

pamiverson's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

4.25

jaclyncrupi's review against another edition

4.0

The Sympathizer was one of my fave novels of 2015. It doesn't then necessarily follow that Nguyen will be a strong short story writer but he truly is. These stories are so good and so varied.

lizzardbeth99's review against another edition

4.75

read for diversity in american literature class - such a wonderful anthology and the way that the characters are so different but encompass the same values is so special to them as a whole. favorite story was the black eyed woman or someone else besides you

laurenisallbooked's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars. LOVED IT but the symbolism was a little interfered sometimes and some stories were slow.

mariahhanley's review against another edition

3.0

This book was good, but I didn’t connect with any of the stories in the way I thought I would.

therkive's review against another edition

4.0

What a phenomenal collection. The effects of the Vietnam War - specifically the lasting negative effects the American country left upon Vietnam are ever-present. The struggles refugees and immigrants face from finding their footing in a new country with wildly different cultures and beliefs to dealing with racism and contradictions to their own beliefs, is one that is relatable, though it was my parents who immigrated from a different country, not me.

maddvillain's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.5

marcosbedbooks's review against another edition

4.0

While a lot half of these short stories were just ok in my eyes, the stories that I did like were so amazing and made the mediocre ones worth it! Here are my ratings of each story:

Black Eyed Women: 5/5 Stars
The Other Man: 3/5 Stars
War Years: 4/5 Stars
The Transplant: 3/5 Stars
I'd Want You To Love Me: 5/5 Stars
The Americans: 3/5 Stars
Someone Else Besides You: 2/5 Stars
Fatherland: 4/5 Stars