Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

42 reviews

gabapentin's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, War, Rape, Racism, Violence, and Racial slurs

eslsilver's review against another edition

challenging dark funny informative tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, War, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism

Minor: Pedophilia

floriankogler's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, War, Racial slurs, Rape, and Torture

catebutler's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

MENG 6510 Eminent Writers: Lahiri & Nguyen Fall Semester 2023

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Death, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Genocide, Sexual content, and War

randomman0880's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.5

This book occupies a very interesting part of literature in that it's an expectionally written book that handles Asian American identity and it's complexities well, exploring the historical and political contexts of the demographic without lecturing. However, occupying a niche that seemingly confronts Invisible Man and Miss Saigon, the book wields its own form of casual misogyny and unwieldy narrative that builds the main characters personality but seems unnecessarily excessive at times. The book sometimes uses its own brand of cruelty to demonstrate tragedy in contrast to the epic senseless violence that other Vietnam War stories often embrace, and I wish that this was less impactful on the story. The general treatment of several other side characters in the interest of atmospheric setting are in my opinion somewhat excessive.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Grief, War, Murder, Sexual assault, and Torture

Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, and Racial slurs

deals heavily with post traumatic stress and trauma generally

hannah_solly17's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Blood, War, Adult/minor relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death and Racial slurs

naomiestaller's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny tense 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? Yes

4.5

An important read for understanding the American/Vietnam war and the tension between democracy, authoritarianism, and what happens when revolutions succeed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, Torture, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, War, and Murder

danielnewberry's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, War, and Torture

Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs

iellv's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Again I wish I had profound things to say about extremely important books. But here we are. It took me forever to finish reading The Sympathizer, but that’s because I always prefer to consume satire through film and TV. Just read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Rape, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Violence, Fatphobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War

itismebruna's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, War, Alcohol, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Racial slurs