THE SYMPATHIZER: A NOVEL

THE SYMPATHIZER: A NOVEL by VIET THANH NGUYEN

The author of “The Sympathizer” novel has been compared to Graham Greene, Denis Johnson, and George Orwell. Once Viet Thanh Nguyen wrote a political story and raised the issue of identity's exploration and America's life, he had become the real legend. Why did the writer's creation become so popular among the readers worldwide? The secret hides in its plot.

The main character has mixed blood: his roots go to Vietnamese and French cultures. Maybe this fact caused the narrator's behavior and world view. It seems like every day he is in the war not only with enemies but with himself too. As well as The Sympathizer's author did, the main character moved to the USA and taught there for a while. But with his returning to the motherland, the narrator becomes a part of an army. He takes an ambiguous position. While spying for the communist revolution the man struggles with feeling that he is betraying his friends.

The clarity and understanding of war come are destroying a wool that had been over his eyes for years. The more he fights, the wider his eyes open. Maybe, there's no right side in this bad blood? And maybe all the terrific things that happened with him isn't the worst part of it all? Maybe the real problem is that the captain takes his part in the war's violence as well as others do? Are there any ways to help to make these stone hearts full of love and peace again?

The ones who have read Viet Thanh Nguyen's book confirmed it is complicated and hard to read, but at the same time, it is worth it. Often compared with “Catch-22” by critics, “The Sympathizer”, as well as its sworn brother, dares to drive topics of losing and finding, of betraying and supporting, of disregarding and sympathizing...