The Sympathizer (2015) by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Stephanie Whetstone2018-05-01T09:00:13-04:00Critical Evaluation "In films like 'Apocalypse Now' and 'Platoon,' the Vietnamese (often other Asians portraying Vietnamese) are never more than walk-ons whose principal roles seem to be to die or wail in the ashes of incinerated villages. Which brings me to Viet Thanh Nguyen’s remarkable debut novel, 'The Sympathizer.' Nguyen, born in Vietnam but raised in the United States, brings a distinct perspective to the war and its aftermath. His book fills a void in the literature, giving voice to the previously voiceless while it compels the rest of us to look at the events of 40 years ago in a [...]