Reviews

Loved the early part of the novel, but struggled through the last portion. I was way too young to remember the Vietnam war while it was going on, but this book did a good job to give me a glimpse into the Vietnamese perspective.

jpmindful50's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I made the mistake of starting this book when I wasn't really in the mood for it. I'm glad I came back to it later. It is not an easy read, the satire can be complex, and the comparisons to Catch-22 are definitely on target. It was a very eye-opening book, and interesting perspective of someone who is playing both sides. I've never read anything quite like it. My version had an essay by the author after the book, read it if you can.

bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Rough at times and funny at times, this is a very good book about a spy from the Communist Party and his life after the war. There are some insightful quotes and the book has some masterful imagery.

For readers under 40, it's helpful to have a background of the Vietnam War before reading. A few times I got confused, and I had to ask my husband for background information that I was missing.

chbrooks11's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny informative 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? Yes

3.0

lrnrose's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I was not sure I was smart enough to read this but i did it and I love it

More...