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omkarkuber1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sam0hopkins's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kbholzman's review against another edition
5.0
A fascinating exploration on the lasting repercussions of colonialism. Although this story contains many elements I often avoid (violence, drug gang rivalries), it rises above them with profound meditations on their causes and impacts. Heavy on philosophical meditations but beautifully written.
juburstein's review against another edition
3.0
The writing is smart and funny, but this did not grip me the same way the Sympathizer did
rachelbohlen's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, I just did not care for the narrative style, and it made it difficult for me to follow the story. I get why people like this book, but it wasn’t for me.
st_vasil's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I had high hopes for the sequel, as I thought The Sympathizer was the best fiction book I had read in years. Unfortunately The Committed felt nowhere near as compelling or enjoyable as the first.
Nguyen tries to get a little too clever with the protagonist’s constant monologues, and in the process the writing comes off self-satisfied and pretentious. It’s the Catch 22 trap — the first couple times it feels witty, but by the 20th time a joke is repeated it’s gotten to be a dull chore.
My other issue is the plot itself was disappointing. Comes off like a bad action movie full of cliches.
There are definitely worthwhile parts of the story. But I feel I could have read just the first 50 pages and last 30 pages to get all the positive of it.
Nguyen tries to get a little too clever with the protagonist’s constant monologues, and in the process the writing comes off self-satisfied and pretentious. It’s the Catch 22 trap — the first couple times it feels witty, but by the 20th time a joke is repeated it’s gotten to be a dull chore.
My other issue is the plot itself was disappointing. Comes off like a bad action movie full of cliches.
There are definitely worthwhile parts of the story. But I feel I could have read just the first 50 pages and last 30 pages to get all the positive of it.
booksaremypeople's review against another edition
5.0
Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Committed is spectacular. “Captain” has just immigrated to Paris, France, the birthplace of his father along with his friend, Bon. It’s 1981. What not many people know is that “Captain” is a spy and a communist sympathizer who was recently in a reeducation and then a refugee camp in America. “Captain” is caught between two identities and faces rampant racism in a post-Vietnam War society and he does whatever it takes to survive, including becoming a hash dealer. But under the main plot is a wonderful history lesson about the French colonization of Vietnam and the widespread ramifications. This is a novel about identity, loyalty and though all its complexities, it’s about survival. Thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the advanced review copy of this book.
over60's review against another edition
3.0
This was a horror story to me. It must be because I have not enough knowledge of the Vietnamese history and ideology to connect to the characters, but as human beings their stories are a horror. Maybe that was the intent, to tell a story and have the reader know their terrible struggle - it worked. I didn't feel there was hope at the end, but there were insights that were perhaps too deep for the culturally ignorant (me). There was some personal education for me, but at a complex cost.
mhorton510's review against another edition
4.0
Very good follow up to The Sympathizer. Super interesting in its analyses of colonized vs colonizer. Very graphic in parts and goes wild at the end but it serves the narrative.
aevynlan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0