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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWho Has Read "The Sympathizer" by Viet Thanh Nguyen, This Year's Pulitzer Winner For Fiction?
Viet Thanh Nguyen wins the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for 'The Sympathizer'http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-viet-thanh-nguyen-pulitzer-prize-fiction-sympathizer-20160418-story.html
"...
The Pulitzer committee lauded "The Sympathizer" as "a layered immigrant tale told in the wry, confessional voice of a 'man of two minds' -- and two countries, Vietnam and the United States."
Nguyen, who lives in Los Angeles, was born in Vietnam; his family came to the U.S. as refugees in 1975. "The Sympathizer," which follows a wickedly smart double-agent for South Vietnam, begins at the end of the Vietnam War, moves to Southern California and eventually winds up on a film set not unlike "Apocalypse Now." Part thriller, part political satire, "The Sympathizer" is sharp-edged fiction.
...
Nguyen explained, "The book is confession from one Vietnamese person to another it was always designed to be addressed to Vietnamese people anyone else whos reading they are not the intended audience, at least not in the novel. I thought I was writing the book for myself, but to reach a larger audience it would have to speak to multiple audiences from the feedback Ive received, theyve responded very positively to the book too."
Talking to the Times in 2015, Nguyen explained his perspective in creating the character. "You have a much happier life if you just see things from one point of view. You have no ambiguity," he says. The protagonist of "The Sympathizer" -- who goes unnamed throughout the book -- has to see two sides, constantly judging others and himself in a moral morass.
..."
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And a short interview with the author:
Pulitzer fiction prize winner: 'People fear refugees'
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36088984
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I'm about half-way through, and it's amazing, so far. So many issues dear to the hearts of DUers are explored.
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Who Has Read "The Sympathizer" by Viet Thanh Nguyen, This Year's Pulitzer Winner For Fiction? (Original Post)
HuckleB
May 2016
OP
Haven't read it, but I am going to go pick up a copy. Thanks fire the head's up! Nt
AgadorSparticus
May 2016
#10
HuckleB
(35,773 posts)1. Anyone? Anyone?
This is the first I've heard of the book. Sounds interesting.
panader0
(25,816 posts)3. I will. It sounds great. Thanks.
LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)4. It's the next book down in my pile.
I live in a majority Vietnamese neighborhood, so I'm particularly interested.
I'd love to hear your feedback when you finish!
Paladin
(28,264 posts)6. I read it a short time ago. It is outstanding.
A great and much-needed portrayal of Vietnamese immigrant life. Nguyen's command of descriptive language and creation of memorable characters is genuinely impressive. Highly recommended.
HuckleB
(35,773 posts)7. Indeed. He's a great writer. I look forward to his next offering, too!
Thanks for the thoughts!
AgadorSparticus
(7,963 posts)10. Haven't read it, but I am going to go pick up a copy. Thanks fire the head's up! Nt
HuckleB
(35,773 posts)11. Absolutely! I would love to hear/read what you think!