A review by bookthia
The Headmaster's Wager by Vincent Lam

3.0

I cannot deny that Vincent Lam is a gifted writer. But while I appreciated the story itself, even enjoyed it in parts, I struggled. The main character of Percival Chen was difficult for me to like, because of his wilful ignorance. How could he not have known what was happening all around him? His weak nature allowed everyone to take advantage of him. His apathy towards the political realities of his community, coupled with his greed, meant thst he lost everything that mattered to him. And I had a hard time finding empathy. Still, the story itself, set in Vietnam during and just after the US invasion when North and South Vietnam are embroiled in civil war, is gripping and a chilling glimpse at the realities faced by the people of Saigon during that period. And for that glimpse, this book is worth reading.