Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

151 reviews

aducharme4's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Homophobia and Infidelity

perpetually_isolated_being's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

A man with two faces, divided by conflicting ideologies and beliefs, and a country once torn apart, must now confront the bitter struggle for reconciliation and acceptance. The novel highlights the struggles of the Vietnamese diaspora after the Vietnam War, the cultural clashes with the West, and America’s attempts to romanticize the war to fit its own narrative. Though the war has officially ended, both the country and the main character—still divided—continue to grapple with inner turmoil. As the story progresses, it delves deeper into the narrator’s psyche, revealing darker layers with each chapter.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and War

ninetyninecats's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Torture, Murder, and War

kcjulia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Gets horrible towards the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, and War

prideandparchment's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Torture, and Murder

Moderate: Blood

rutabagab's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Excrement, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and War

I loved this book UP until the last 3-5 chapters. Finishing it was difficult bc it threw me for a disturbing AF loop.

thaotle's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Police brutality, Colonisation, and War

dreadpiraterudis's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

Such a breathtaking read. Engaging, painful, poignant and just a fucking good book. It engages with politics, philosophy, history and media through a protagonist who felt so alive. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

girljames's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Fascinating insight into Vietnamese politics, and the war and its fallout from a Vietnamese perspective. Compelling, sympathetic main character. Pretty horrific ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Rape, and Torture

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Alcoholism

Minor: Colonisation

lanna2000's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Wow I’m just getting into literary historical fiction and this is my first book on the Vietnam War. Been a minute since I took a while to finish a book but this one was DENSE. Had no idea where this book was going the entire time but I was hooked. It went thru so many different story arcs and when the ending hit i was surprised how dark everything was revealed. Very hard to rate bc while I enjoyed the majority of the novel, the end threw me for a loop and I didn’t enjoy the graphic and long r*** scene but I understand the relevance. I personally prefer content without those graphic scenes especially when the writer is too good with their descriptions. Def going to sit with this one for a bit and develop more opinions. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Torture, Violence, and War