Title: The Sympathizer
Publication Year: 2015
Plot: The novel follows the story of a Vietnamese communist spy who works as a mole in the South Vietnamese army during the Vietnam War. The protagonist navigates the complexities of war, espionage, and identity as he grapples with his allegiances and sense of self amidst the turmoil of the conflict. The novel delves into the moral complexities of war, espionage, and the struggle for identity amidst political turmoil, providing a critical examination of both Vietnamese and American involvement in the Vietnam War.
Trivia: The novel has been adapted by A24 and HBO as a miniseries. Here’s the trailer.
Off the bat, one reader said this is the best book we have read this semester. He loved the narrative, the narrator, and how many different genres were in the story. “There was a spy story, a love story, and it was funny!” Some readers liked it quite a but, but they weren’t sure it was their favorite. Another reader thought it was “too wordy.” All of these reactions made for a good discussion!
We talked about the part of the story where the unnamed narrator works with an American movie production. Readers speculated that it was an interesting way to explore not only Asia-America relationships, but perceptions America might have towards Vietnam as well. We talked a lot about the role the Vietnam war has played in the American psyche and how war often feels “manufactured” like it does in the movies.
In talking about the narrator, the group felt like he has a chip on his shoulder. And while that might bother us with some narrators, the group felt like it was necessary. He was straddling multiple identities across multiple countries. He had to forge his own path! And in order to do so, he had to protect himself. The group appreciated his sense of humor, which not only made it fun to read, but added another layer to his idea of “self-defense” and how humor can be used for such purposes.
The readers enjoyed the confessional aspect of the novel. They liked going into the past and connecting the dots up to the present. One reader said it “made him very human.” The confessional aspect also allowed the narrator to change tones, genres, and bring in parts of his personal history, as well as more public histories. The fact that the narrator was nameless allowed him to take a different shape in the minds of our readers.
Overall, the group liked the novel quite a bit. We got off on a tangent about war and the reasons we go for war and the reasons we are told we go to war. We had to reign in the conversation and get back on track a few times. But that’s okay. It’s great when books connect to our world and provoke discussion. I think the author would enjoy that.
That’s it for this week’s discussion. The next discussion will be around Exit West. We hope you’re reading something good.
Until then,
E.
If you would like to read The Sympathizer, here are some links: