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crystaljohnsonb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: War, Torture, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Rape, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
iellv's review
- 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
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Rape, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Violence, Fatphobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War
natazabala's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Torture, Blood, Xenophobia, Rape, War, Murder, Gun violence, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcoholism
drewfead's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: War, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Colonisation, Torture, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Vomit, Xenophobia, Murder, Blood, Confinement, and Suicidal thoughts
itismebruna's review
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, War, Alcohol, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racial slurs
veronicats's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, Gore, Racism, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, War, Sexual content, Slavery, Misogyny, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Alcoholism, Colonisation, Sexual violence, Vomit, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Torture
marmybarmy's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence and Torture
thewordsdevourer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
tbh i dont feel qualified to critique this book, for it's obvious that its story, construction, ideas, and author operate on a higher plane entirely. i cant offer sh!t to it, only it to me, and boy it certainly does. what truly distinguishes the novel is its incisive dissection of identity and politics, as well as its ability to read america - w/ its contradictions, hypocrisy, iniquitous superiority - to absolute filth. i literally lost count of the quotes i like, so unstoppably the book barrels on from one thing to another, giving voice to truths most american readers harbor only in their subconscious or are overly accustomed to as to now be oblivious to them.
aside from its themes and msgs, the story also stands well on its own. im surprised by how touching the self-labeled three musketeers' friendship is, and i cant rmb the last time male friendship moves me this much, this one bc of its devotion and mental sacrifice. my fav thing abt this book, however, def has got to be the unnamed narrator's voice, so genuinely funny yet oft dark. the way he says, describes, compares things are simply humorous, while also offering a deeper look into his character. it might not be a LOL kinda humor, but it's endlessly snort- and chuckle-inducing for sure, which is quite a feat in such a dark novel.
this novel isnt for those averse to serious subject matter, and some are advised to stay far away bc it can veer into macabre territory very quickly esp towards the end. but for those who can stomach the aforementioned, the book will reward u w/ a thought-provoking and truth-spilling story told thru an oft humorous and equally melancholic voice.
Graphic: War, Racism, Sexual violence, Body horror, Rape, Violence, Death, Torture, Murder, Colonisation, and Confinement
Moderate: Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Gun violence, Bullying, Racial slurs, Child death, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide attempt and Death of parent
luciuh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i think it’s necessary to mention that you should def check trigger warnings especially for the last chunk of the book, especially for the rape scene.
edit: it’s interesting because it’s more on the aftermath of the vietnam war from the perspective of someone not quite vietnamese but also certainly not american
edit again: forgot to mention, it is so sexist.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Child death, Death, Murder, Racism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Racial slurs, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
emergencily's review
5.0
About a North Vietnamese communist mole in the South Vietnamese army during the war, starting with the fall of Saigon and following his migration to America. A really long book but I appreciated its explicit and uncompromising criticism of US imperialism and warmongering. I appreciated the humour and satire in it as well.
Have to warn that while there's graphic war, torture and violence throughout, the SA scene at the end is particularly explicit and terrible to read. Which makes sense, considering its alluded to ominously throughout the book as part of the protag's repressed memories.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Sexual violence, and War