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matts07's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
dreamscape42's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
scarlettc_'s review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chazzal's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
really enjoyed how this was written, minus 0.5 stars because of cold war alevel flashbacks 😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞
yesterdayyellow's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
fwrench's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
bergsteiger's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first Graham Greene novel and I loved it. It was like Camus meets Dostoevsky with a dash of Hemingway thrown in. I bought a couple more of his books and am looking forward to seeing if I enjoy them all as much as this one.
The narrator, in his cynical, opium flavored haze comes across as firmly existentialist. However, there is enough of a man there, that he also agonizes about moral decisions. The blunt, authentic dialogue of all the characters really drives the story and helps shape them as the tale unfolds. Add the setting of Vietnam during the French-Viet War and you have the perfect cocktail for this murder mystery.
The ending itself was superb and I felt like this was one of the most well crafted books I've read in a while. It's short--pick it up off the shelf. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
The narrator, in his cynical, opium flavored haze comes across as firmly existentialist. However, there is enough of a man there, that he also agonizes about moral decisions. The blunt, authentic dialogue of all the characters really drives the story and helps shape them as the tale unfolds. Add the setting of Vietnam during the French-Viet War and you have the perfect cocktail for this murder mystery.
The ending itself was superb and I felt like this was one of the most well crafted books I've read in a while. It's short--pick it up off the shelf. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
tomleetang's review against another edition
4.0
I started off very unengaged by the whole love-triangle-meets-colonialism setup, but Graham Greene is a slippery customer who often presents a facade of banal simplicity to cover up his subtly devastating musings.
sheriep's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25