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maryryan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs
dyannareads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I was worried about this one because to be honest, my dad is a Vietnam war veteran so many of my feelings about the war were associated with his history with it. (*Those feelings being about HIS suffering and sacrifices, nothing more). That being said, the author wanted to give a different perspective than we are use to, a voice to the Vietnamese during this time. It was very moving for me to see what “The American War” felt like to those in Vietnam and refugees in America afterward. It was definitely a perspective I didn’t know I needed.
This one is dark and witty and the main character was often sarcastic with his harsh truths. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this story but it was truly insightful and compelling, forcing me to think past the tunnel vision I’ve had regarding American veterans of this war. It also forced me to look up a lot of Vietnamese history as well as both Vietnam’s and America’s role in the war.
We talk a lot about identities on here and especially books where you can relate to the identity of the main character. Well, the main character of this one is filled with dualities. Imagine being a North Vietnam mole in the South Vietnam army. Imagine on top of that being both French and Vietnamese, raised in Vietnam and schooled in America. On top of that, imagine being friends and aids to the American CIA and moving to America after the fall of Saigon in a war where you were a secretly a sympathizer to the American “enemy.”
“I was ever always divided, although it was only partially my fault. While I chose to live two lives and be a man of two minds, it was hard not to, given how people always called me a bastard.”
The back plot serves as kind of a confession, to things on all sides of the coin for the main character. Throughout the story you get a sense of how he both betrayed all of his identities and how he showed his loyalty to them as well.
This one is dark and witty and the main character was often sarcastic with his harsh truths. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this story but it was truly insightful and compelling, forcing me to think past the tunnel vision I’ve had regarding American veterans of this war. It also forced me to look up a lot of Vietnamese history as well as both Vietnam’s and America’s role in the war.
We talk a lot about identities on here and especially books where you can relate to the identity of the main character. Well, the main character of this one is filled with dualities. Imagine being a North Vietnam mole in the South Vietnam army. Imagine on top of that being both French and Vietnamese, raised in Vietnam and schooled in America. On top of that, imagine being friends and aids to the American CIA and moving to America after the fall of Saigon in a war where you were a secretly a sympathizer to the American “enemy.”
“I was ever always divided, although it was only partially my fault. While I chose to live two lives and be a man of two minds, it was hard not to, given how people always called me a bastard.”
The back plot serves as kind of a confession, to things on all sides of the coin for the main character. Throughout the story you get a sense of how he both betrayed all of his identities and how he showed his loyalty to them as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Torture, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Gore, and Death
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