The Committed is a 2021 novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen. It is his second novel and the sequel to his debut novel The Sympathizer (2015), which sold over one million copies and was awarded the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The Committed was published by Grove Press on March 2, 2021.[3]
.png) First edition cover | |
| Author | Viet Thanh Nguyen |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Francois Chau[1] |
| Cover artist | Christopher Moisan[2] |
| Language | English |
| Genre | |
| Set in | Paris in the 1980s |
| Publisher | Grove Press |
Publication date | March 2, 2021 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardback), e-book, audiobook |
| Pages | 368 |
| ISBN | 978-0-8021-5706-5 (hardcover) |
| OCLC | 1224586967 |
| 813/.6 | |
| LC Class | PS3614.G97 C66 2021 |
| Preceded by | The Sympathizer |
Plot
editThe novel begins with the protagonist's arrival in Paris, haunted by memories of the Vietnam War and struggling to find his place in the world. He adopts the guise of a French intellectual to navigate the complexities of Parisian society and the underworld.
Under the guidance of Bon, the protagonist becomes embroiled in the drug trade, navigating alliances and betrayals while grappling with his moral compass. As he delves deeper into the criminal underworld, he confronts his past traumas and questions his motivations.
Throughout the novel, the protagonist engages in philosophical discussions with Bon and Yunior, exploring existential themes and the nature of identity. He forms complex relationships with Man and other characters, each representing different facets of his journey towards self-discovery.
As political tensions rise in Paris, the protagonist becomes entangled in revolutionary activities and confronts the legacy of colonialism. He is forced to confront his own complicity in perpetuating violence and oppression, leading to a reckoning with his past and his future.
Reception
editThe Committed received favorable reviews. According to Book Marks, the book received "positive" reviews based on 36 critic reviews with 19 being "rave" and 12 being "positive" and four being "mixed" and one being "pan".[4][5][6]
In its starred review, Kirkus Reviews wrote, "Nguyen is deft at balancing his hero's existential despair with the lurid glow of a crime saga."[7] Publishers Weekly, in its starred review, praised "the narrator’s hair-raising escapes, descriptions of the Boss's hokey bar, and thoughtful references to Fanon and Césaire."[8] The New York Times praised the first hundred pages of The Committed as "better than anything in the first novel," while regarding the second half as, "shaggy, shaggy, shaggy."[9]
References
edit- ^ "The Committed (Audiobook) by Viet Thanh Nguyen". Audible (store).
- ^ Temple, Emily (March 31, 2021). "The 19 Best Book Covers of March". Literary Hub. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ "The Committed". Grove Atlantic. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "The Committed". Book Marks. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "The Committed". Bookmarks. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "The Committed". Bibliosurf (in French). 2023-10-04. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen". Kirkus Reviews. October 27, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Fiction Book Review: The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen". Publishers Weekly. January 6, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Viet Thanh Nguyen Packs Plenty of Action and Outrage Into 'The Committed'". The New York Times. February 22, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
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