The Sympathizer, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Grove Press, 2015, 367 pp
Summary from Goodreads: It is April 1975, and
Saigon is in chaos. At his villa, a general of the South Vietnamese army
is drinking whiskey and, with the help of his trusted captain, drawing
up a list of those who will be given passage aboard the last flights out
of the country. The general and his compatriots start a new life in Los
Angeles, unaware that one among their number, the captain, is secretly
observing and reporting on the group to a higher-up in the Viet Cong. The Sympathizer
is the story of this captain: a man brought up by an absent French
father and a poor Vietnamese mother, a man who went to university in
America, but returned to Vietnam to fight for the Communist cause. A
gripping spy novel, an astute exploration of extreme politics, and a
moving love story, The Sympathizer explores a life between two worlds and examines the legacy of the Vietnam War in literature, film, and the wars we fight today.
My review:
This is the best novel I have read so far in 2016. It is super smart, employs excellent satire, contains huge amounts of empathic emotion, has sections that read like a John le Carre spy thriller...I could go on and on.
The author was born in Vietnam and fled with his family in 1975 during the fall of Saigon at the age of four. He spun that trauma into an intricate story about a Vietnamese double agent, spying for the North Vietnamese while working as a CIA-trained spy inside the South Vietnamese Army.
Most literature about the Vietnam War has been written by American, British, or French authors. While Viet Nguyen grew up as a deeply Americanized immigrant, he was also immersed in his extended Vietnamese family and community. He seems to have internalized the conflict, the sense of loss of country, and the feeling that for these immigrants, the war never ended.
If you grew up or were an American young person during that war, especially if you were against the war, but maybe even if you weren't, I think you need to read this novel. It is the other side of the story, the one we never got in the news, but a big part of the reason we protested.
The author also examines conscience, friendship, effects of being a mixed race child in Vietnam, love of family, and coming of age as an immigrant in America. Highly, highly recommended.
The book made it through two rounds of The Tournament of Books and while I felt fine about The Sellout (review coming soon) winning, I would have loved it had The Sympathizer won. It is out in paperback next week.
(The Sympathizer is available in hardcover and paperback by order from Once Upon A Time Bookstore.)
I am so glad you enjoyed this book. It was one of my favorites of 2015. So well-written and a very interesting perspective of those tumultuous times, which I do remember well.
ReplyDeleteI just looked up your review and commented. The novel is one we really needed in America.
DeleteExcellent review Judy. I plan to read it too this year. I'm psyched about it especially from your words on it.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that!
DeleteGreat review, Judy. It's good that the author provides the other side of the coin as every conflict has at least two sides.
ReplyDeleteSorry for my belated reply, Judy. I haven't checked my blog during my holiday.
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting me know about Jorge Amado, I can’t wait to read your book reviews. He is one of my favourite Brazilian authors. Last November I reviewed "Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon".
Finally, yes dear, I really enjoyed our trip to the country of your and my ancestors, Germany.
BTW, another excellent review...I'm glad you enjoyed this book. Have a lovely weekend. ;-))))
So Germany! I have never been there. Maybe someday. Nice to know we share ancestors. I will go check out your review of G,C&C!
DeleteYes from mum side ; -) You will adore Germany, Judy
DeleteI'm glad you liked this book ; -)
ReplyDeleteSo was I!
DeleteThanks for visiting today and catching up on all my posts. You are the best!
DeleteNoooo you are the best...I adoooore you reviews dear ; -)
DeleteGreat review, Judy, thank you for visiting mine earlier.
ReplyDeleteAs I already said there, I totally agree, this is the other side of the story, the one we never got in the news. That's what I love about books, we can always see so many different sides to every story.
Happy Reading,
Marianne from
Let's Read
Somehow it makes me feel happy that someone from another country found this book good. It reinforces my belief that literature is the great international communicator.
DeleteIt truly is. I know a lot of people who widen their horizons just by "travelling" with their books. It's the easiest way to get other people's perspectives, to get to know the world.
DeleteHave a great day,
Marianne