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caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, War, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Abandonment, Blood, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Child death, Cursing, Grief, Rape, Violence, Gore, and Murder
brucy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, and Gun violence
kellylover86's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Police brutality, Murder, Death, War, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Violence, and Colonisation
eher1305's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Murder, Police brutality, Rape, War, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Death, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
pich's review against another edition
Graphic: War, Gun violence, Death, Violence, and Sexual content
jillaay_h's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Gun violence, Xenophobia, and Racism
natazabala's review against another edition
- 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
itismebruna's review against another edition
- 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 against another edition
- 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
stanro's review against another edition
5.0
The plot is interesting enough. A Eurasian intelligence officer (and communist spy) on the staff of a South Vietnam general. As Saigon falls they escape, eventually to the USA, where he continues to report to his handler.
The book is about friendship, betrayal, politics and the revolutionary mind.
Though I thoroughly recommend this, I warn that there is some troubling reading of violence, in war, in intelligence and in torture.
A friend wrote this to me about it.
The Sympathiser was a fascinating story. The notion of being able to live two lives, one inside your head and another you project to the world was fascinating. I found the protagonist's capacity to rationalise his decisions to betray and murder sadly familiar as it seems to be a common characteristic of true believers of any cause. Frighteningly I think we’re all capable of it given the right circumstances
Graphic: Gun violence and Torture