Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Il simpatizzante by Viet Thanh Nguyen

26 reviews

kellylover86's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

This book was engaging. A look at the Vietnam War from the perspective of a Vietnamese soldier, a double agent working for the communists and informing on the South Vietnamese soldiers. Lots happened in this book, and it was interestingly written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

catebutler's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

MENG 6510 Eminent Writers: Lahiri & Nguyen Fall Semester 2023

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, and War

pich's review against another edition

my teacher got in trouble for assigning us this book oops 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, and War

voxlunae's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

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

3.25

I think there's some great writing in here, even if I didn't connect with the narrator or the narration for the majority of it. However, I think it's far too verbose, and I'd find my attention drifting frequently during the many lengthy descriptions of things. My largest problem, though, is in this book's treatment of women. Every female character is reduced to a sexual object, even the narrator's mother to an extent, and Nguyen luxuriates needlessly in scenes of rape and detailed descriptions of pubescent masturbation, which felt gratuitous for no gain. This is similar in the depictions of violence. It just wasn't for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual content

veronicats's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

dark funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

it's extraordinary that this is nguyen's first novel, for the sympathizer is a blistering tale that examines dual worlds and perspectives, while also being a memorable story about friendship, all helmed by an unforgettable narrative voice.

tbh i dont feel qualified to critique this book, for it's obvious that its story, construction, ideas, and author operate on a higher plane entirely. i cant offer sh!t to it, only it to me, and boy it certainly does. what truly distinguishes the novel is its incisive dissection of identity and politics, as well as its ability to read america - w/ its contradictions, hypocrisy, iniquitous superiority - to absolute filth. i literally lost count of the quotes i like, so unstoppably the book barrels on from one thing to another, giving voice to truths most american readers harbor only in their subconscious or are overly accustomed to as to now be oblivious to them. 

aside from its themes and msgs, the story also stands well on its own. im surprised by how touching the self-labeled three musketeers' friendship is, and i cant rmb the last time male friendship moves me this much, this one bc of its devotion and mental sacrifice. my fav thing abt this book, however, def has got to be the unnamed narrator's voice, so genuinely funny yet oft dark. the way he says, describes, compares things are simply humorous, while also offering a deeper look into his character. it might not be a LOL kinda humor, but it's endlessly snort- and chuckle-inducing for sure, which is quite a feat in such a dark novel.

this novel isnt for those averse to serious subject matter, and some are advised to stay far away bc it can veer into macabre territory very quickly esp towards the end. but for those who can stomach the aforementioned, the book will reward u w/ a thought-provoking and truth-spilling story told thru an oft humorous and equally melancholic voice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Murder, Colonisation, and War

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide attempt and Death of parent

yvespiders's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, and War

kingsamong's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Xenophobia, Murder, and War

Minor: Sexual content

kelseyleigh_h's review against another edition

dark informative reflective slow-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence

aidrielle's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious reflective tense 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

[lots of thoughts i won't be able to expound] all i can say right now is i wish all asian american literature were like this (critical of the imperialist US that forcibly displaced many of them from their countries of origin in the first place) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail