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jennymwoo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
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
This novel is hard to review because it's so many different books in one. There's the war novel, the refugee novel, and the social critique. The tone veers from serious to hilarious in the blink of an eye, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. The first part of the novel reminds me of South Park in both its satire and its crudeness (Exhibit A: the squid scene). Then we take a detour into Apocalypse Now territory before concluding with an ending reminiscent of 1984. It's a lot, and not all of it works as well as it could
However, at its heart is a powerful tale of three best friends and the secrets and sacrifices that bind them together. That novel is five stars all the way.
(Did I reduce my rating because of the lack of quotation marks? No, but it was very confusing in the beginning figuring out the difference between dialogue and narration. If a grammar snob like me can get past that, it must be a book worth reading.)
However, at its heart is a powerful tale of three best friends and the secrets and sacrifices that bind them together. That novel is five stars all the way.
(Did I reduce my rating because of the lack of quotation marks? No, but it was very confusing in the beginning figuring out the difference between dialogue and narration. If a grammar snob like me can get past that, it must be a book worth reading.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Torture
Moderate: Body horror, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Alcoholism
Content Warning: The end of the book contains graphic depictions of torture and rape. While not gratuitous, it is disturbing.annachristy's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Torture
stalfos's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism and Death of parent
teacherseth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked this book, but at times it was hard to get through. I appreciated it greatly for what it was most intended: a reeducation of the Vietnam war, one that I did not live through but always heard about from an American perspective. The darkly comedic tone was good, but the writing was a bit overdone at times.
Trigger warning: the torture scenes are intense.
Trigger warning: the torture scenes are intense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Torture, Violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War
jessica_lam's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
3.25
This was a challenging read, and perhaps because of it, I'm giving it a lower rating than it deserves. It's beautifully written but truly overtook my entire summer in terms of reading. The last fifth, in particular, was tough to get through and left a bitter taste in my mouth.
The main character is an exploration of being stuck between two worlds - being a person of mixed race, working undercover, away from his home country... The book is written entirely from his perspective as an extremely unreliable narrator. Events unfold in largely chronological order, with a detailed scene at the end that, frankly, was not as shocking perhaps for me because, well, I think all women have a very implicit understanding of what happens to women in war. To the point where it felt more gratuitous than impactful.
As much a psychological drama as it is historical fiction, The Sympathizer feels simultaneously like an important read but also empty. Or perhaps it made me feel empty. I'm glad I read it, but I wouldn't consider it a pleasant experience.
The main character is an exploration of being stuck between two worlds - being a person of mixed race, working undercover, away from his home country... The book is written entirely from his perspective as an extremely unreliable narrator. Events unfold in largely chronological order, with a detailed scene at the end that, frankly, was not as shocking perhaps for me because, well, I think all women have a very implicit understanding of what happens to women in war. To the point where it felt more gratuitous than impactful.
As much a psychological drama as it is historical fiction, The Sympathizer feels simultaneously like an important read but also empty. Or perhaps it made me feel empty. I'm glad I read it, but I wouldn't consider it a pleasant experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder
entommoore's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Torture
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Alcoholism and Vomit
syshore's review against another edition
This book is very heavy both physically and emotionally. War and resistance are so intertwined with one another that it is a tragedy both must exist and that it is the most vulnerable that experience the repercussions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
linthemountains's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Classism
samanthasimonsen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I was set to give this 4.75 or 5 stars until the last few chapters. The ultimate take-away is very cool, but also heavy-handed. Otherwise, this book is funny, smart, and thought-provoking. I would read the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
oban's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape