A review by whatthehelle
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book somehow manages to pull off two totally contrasting styles simultaneously. On the one hand, it’s this intense political spy novel about a north Vietnamese man who is trying to follow orders for the sake of his country. On the other hand, it’s a hilarious social satire that critiques both the way that Americans view the Vietnamese (and immigrants in general). In short, I found this book to be hilarious, and it was intense and thrilling enough to keep my focus all the way through to the finish.