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twilsonovi 's review for:
The Sorrow Of War: A Novel of North Vietnam
by Bảo Ninh
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very moving, at times pretty brutal although not quite as relentlessly graphic as I expected it might be. Nice to hear a Vietnamese voice about the Vietnam War for a change rather than relentless American self-pity. Interesting structure of flitting between the psychology of three eras (start of war, end of war, 10 years after the war), no chapters gave it a sense of unbounded reflection which I liked. Beautifully captures the deadening weight of the experience of war on an entire generation, and the hollowness left behind. The story of the deserter and his mother's letter at the start is harrowing.
Dodgy translation at times though (never really believed the dialogue, bit immersion breaking and sounded a bit like Cockney van drivers mouthing off) and not really sure about the handling of Phuong (or indeed any other female character).
It's a miracle Vietnam is anywhere near as successful as it is right now
Dodgy translation at times though (never really believed the dialogue, bit immersion breaking and sounded a bit like Cockney van drivers mouthing off) and not really sure about the handling of Phuong (or indeed any other female character).
It's a miracle Vietnam is anywhere near as successful as it is right now