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A review by jessica_lam
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
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