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maramergens's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
I can respect a lot of this book, especially the parts about the Asian American experience, but it was gruesome and sad and not very enjoyable to read. I honestly am confused why reviews have it listed as funny, even as a fan of dark humor I didn’t find anything in this book funny at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Murder
emgulph's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Don't get me wrong, I loved this book. It was a stunning visual into the intricacies of the Vietnam war, with a refreshing focus on the crimes of all the powers involved, not taking sides. The refuges and victims of the Vietnam War are allowed to be both angry with their so-called American saviors and with their home country in disrepair.
That being said, much of the content in this work is shocking and not for the faint of heart. It's a book about war. Fresh out of finishing this, I'm sure there are content warnings I forgot to list below. There were many moments where I needed to pause and catch my breath.
That being said, much of the content in this work is shocking and not for the faint of heart. It's a book about war. Fresh out of finishing this, I'm sure there are content warnings I forgot to list below. There were many moments where I needed to pause and catch my breath.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Rape, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Mental illness, and Xenophobia
Minor: Homophobia and Sexual content
leah_alexandra's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Nearly 5 stars if not for some spoiler content below. The writing is phenomenal. The narrative is gripping and really creates a sense of forward momentum that makes it hard to put the book down.
This book was 5 stars for me until the scene where the female agent is raped at the end. I fully understand that rape and sexual torture are unfortunately not an uncommon part of military activity, and do not object to depicting that content in books. However, this scene was used as the pivotal event in "helping" the narrator complete his "reeducation," and I am uncomfortable with the use of rape/sexual torture as primarily a device that moves another (male) character's story forward.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
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: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Rape, Torture, and Xenophobia
ctyikcf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
entertaning in a "this is terrible but I can't look away"-kind of way. also, made me think that maybe I should work on expanding my english vocabulary.
the blurb on my version included the word “funny” but rest assured, I sure did not laugh
the blurb on my version included the word “funny” but rest assured, I sure did not laugh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, and Rape
sarahsthoughtsonbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
I don't know which books it was competing against, it deserves the Pulitzer and any other awards it won.
Also satire goes over my head, so I might have missed things.
This book made me put down the book then go down a rabbit hole of Wikipedia to learn more about the Vietnam War (or as it's also known, The American War). Love how Viet Thanh Nguyen wasn't pulling any punches, and he was not necessarily writing to the white audience or those without a working knowledge about the war.
Two themes that I picked up that on - not all on screen representation is good (parody/fictionalisation of Apocalypse Now), and belonging (will probably explore more of this in my IG caption).
Also, while the author has likely done many podcasts interviews, I highly recommend listening to Asian Enough, Season 1, Episode 2. It's my absolute favorite season 1 episode (and John Cho was the guest in the first episode, so that's a high bar in my eyes)
Also satire goes over my head, so I might have missed things.
This book made me put down the book then go down a rabbit hole of Wikipedia to learn more about the Vietnam War (or as it's also known, The American War). Love how Viet Thanh Nguyen wasn't pulling any punches, and he was not necessarily writing to the white audience or those without a working knowledge about the war.
Two themes that I picked up that on - not all on screen representation is good (parody/fictionalisation of Apocalypse Now), and belonging (will probably explore more of this in my IG caption).
Also, while the author has likely done many podcasts interviews, I highly recommend listening to Asian Enough, Season 1, Episode 2. It's my absolute favorite season 1 episode (and John Cho was the guest in the first episode, so that's a high bar in my eyes)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Grief, and Religious bigotry
harry's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Blood