Reviews

Vietnamees in Parijs by Viet Thanh Nguyen

fionaengelson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

charadreemurrs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

What does “the furnace of her ovaries” supposed to mean? 

christianaxoxo's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

1. It's predecessor was very intense and I think I need some more time before I start this follow-up.
2. Also, when I restart, I'll be switching to the audiobook edition.

neitereads's review against another edition

5.0

Absolute masterpiece. Loved it so much

karinacheah17's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

jfit400's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

hannahcmwright's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

jess_mango's review against another edition

4.0

The Committed is a sequel to [b:The Sympathizer|23168277|The Sympathizer|Viet Thanh Nguyen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1423543886l/23168277._SY75_.jpg|42713530], which I haven't read, but has been on my TBR. But, I was told that you can read The Committed without first reading The Sympathizer and I found that to be COMPLETELY TRUE! Now I am going to go back and read everything by Viet Thanh Nguyen.

The Committed stars the same protagonist as The Sympathizer, a Vietnamese man who has survived the Re-education camps during the Vietnam War , worked as a spy, escaped to America and now, in this book, relocates to Paris, France. It's the 1970's and our un-named protagonist starts working for a crime boss who runs a Chinese restaurant as a front for his criminal activities. In the seedy underbelly of Paris, immigrants from former French colonies such as Vietnam and Algeria make their lives. There's sex & drugs, guns & action. But at the same time there's plenty of pondering about France's colonization of Vietnam and America's involvement in the war. There is also a lot of clever contemplation about race and identity. It's a high action, philosophical, literary read. Two thumbs up.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

funnelfiasco's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25