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edgiles4's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
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
3.5
8797999's review against another edition
4.0
Superb, fantastic plot and characters. My first Graham Greene novel and not my last.
A short but enjoyable read. Hoping that Our Man in Havana is as good.
A short but enjoyable read. Hoping that Our Man in Havana is as good.
schmee_again's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
muppets's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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
3.5
em1246's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Found it a bit confusing a first but onnce I got into it, I found it fantastic. Did not see the ending coming
susanatherly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Violence, Infidelity, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Colonisation
msilkwolfe's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, this book seemed to embody everything that I love about literature. It made you think, it made you emotional, it twisted and turned, it came alive. I loved the setting of the Vietnam war because that is so often taken out of the literature we read over here. This was my second Graham Greene novel I’ve read, and both have been 5 stars from me!
reuben_books's review against another edition
This book is incredibly racist and misogynistic, especially in the way it portrays and treats Phuong. She is only there to make a point of tension between the two male main characters. She's infantilised so much, and xenophobically othered. They talk about her as if she's not there, even when she's sat at the table with them. She's purely an object to be won and serve the men. The book isn't making commentary on how badly she's treated, the author is just writing as if he believes this is the right way to treat women.
The quote that was the final straw and made me DNF:
- Pyle - "But she loves you, doesn’t she?"
- Fowler - "Not like that. It isn't in their nature... It's a cliche to call them children... They love you in return for kindness, security, the presents you give them - they hate you for a blow or an injustice."
Also, all of the Vietnamese are portrayed as having zero intelligence, like they are animals rather than humans. The only people the foreigners deem to be fit to be talked to as peers are other white foreigners.
This book is technically well written, but Greene's disgraceful portrayal of the Vietnamese people, and women in particular, meant I couldn't continue reading. I wasn't enjoying it, and I don't really care about war stories anyway.
annasar's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
3.5