hockneybutt's review
dark
funny
reflective
tense
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
3.0
nataliedeadname's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
exdebris's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
jrowe93's review
challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
btab's review
challenging
dark
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
rollinsals's review
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
5.0
bettyvd's review
3.0
Hoewel veel interessante beschouwingen over imperialisme en kolonialisme, kon dit vervolg op The Sympathizer minder boeien, omwille van minder Spy en meer Crime.
nanometers's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
mosacreman's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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
3.5
evelyn261999's review against another edition
4.0
The idea of a sequel to ‘The Sympathizer’ seemed bizarre at first, too self-contained, too eloquent to be able to pull off a sequel. Having now read ‘The Commitments’, I see that Nguyen’s decision does not merely seem bizarre, but is, in fact, fucking insane.
Every other page seemed to have some reference to communist philosophers or absurdist playwrights or French novelists (Bon’s fate as the incorrigible Javert of the novel being a particularly nice touch) or immaculate opinions on French music, along with copious references to fucking and shit. But of course! Of course, as Nguyen demonstrates through the symbols of kopi luwak and foie gras, violence and art, muck and philosophy are inextricable. Of course the narrator had to go on to another book, because it wouldn’t be real for his life to end after the first. Of course the whole enterprise of human existence is messy and absurd, so of course Nguyen has to break apart the taut plotting of his first political thriller for this risible, ridiculous book which has its climax presented as the script to an absurdist play. Of course Nguyen has to name-drop Fanon and then have a character literally wear a White mask, because what else is to be done? Of course barely anybody gets an actual name, but are instead referred to as ‘the eschatological muscle’, ‘the luscious secretary’, because this is a world of postmodern types, who are, nonetheless, people.
As a teenager, I was convinced that the world was built on irreconcilable contradictions and that the only resolution available to any individual was to commit suicide. At times, it felt like this was what Nguyen’s narrator was advocating too, but thankfully it went further, the conclusion, it seems, being that the only thing thing to be done is to die and the only thing to be done is to live, of which the narrator, having twice survived an attempt at suicide, and proclaiming himself to be dead is an excellent representative. If ‘The Sympathizer’ was a confession, then ‘The Committed’, as the Maoist PhD says, is a suicide note. What is to be done, indeed?
Every other page seemed to have some reference to communist philosophers or absurdist playwrights or French novelists (Bon’s fate as the incorrigible Javert of the novel being a particularly nice touch) or immaculate opinions on French music, along with copious references to fucking and shit. But of course! Of course, as Nguyen demonstrates through the symbols of kopi luwak and foie gras, violence and art, muck and philosophy are inextricable. Of course the narrator had to go on to another book, because it wouldn’t be real for his life to end after the first. Of course the whole enterprise of human existence is messy and absurd, so of course Nguyen has to break apart the taut plotting of his first political thriller for this risible, ridiculous book which has its climax presented as the script to an absurdist play. Of course Nguyen has to name-drop Fanon and then have a character literally wear a White mask, because what else is to be done? Of course barely anybody gets an actual name, but are instead referred to as ‘the eschatological muscle’, ‘the luscious secretary’, because this is a world of postmodern types, who are, nonetheless, people.
As a teenager, I was convinced that the world was built on irreconcilable contradictions and that the only resolution available to any individual was to commit suicide. At times, it felt like this was what Nguyen’s narrator was advocating too, but thankfully it went further, the conclusion, it seems, being that the only thing thing to be done is to die and the only thing to be done is to live, of which the narrator, having twice survived an attempt at suicide, and proclaiming himself to be dead is an excellent representative. If ‘The Sympathizer’ was a confession, then ‘The Committed’, as the Maoist PhD says, is a suicide note. What is to be done, indeed?