56 pages • 1 hour read
Bảo NinhThe Sorrow of War: A Novel of North Vietnam
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1987A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Bảo Ninh's The Sorrow of War, Kien, a war veteran, grapples with the pervasive sorrow and trauma inflicted by the Vietnam War, both through recollections from his time in combat and his post-war experiences as he attempts to write a novel about his and others’ losses. Please be aware that the book addresses sensitive topics such as death, sexual violence, and the psychological impacts of war.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Bảo Ninh's The Sorrow of War is heralded for its poignant and haunting portrayal of a Vietnamese soldier's post-war life, capturing the trauma and emotional fallout of conflict. Critics praise its raw narrative and lyrical prose but note its nonlinear structure may be challenging. Overall, it’s seen as a powerful, albeit complex, reflection on the human cost of war.
Who Should Read The Sorrow of War?
Readers who appreciate deeply moving and poignant war literature akin to The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien or All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque will find solace in The Sorrow of War by Bảo Ninh. This novel blends haunting narrative with the grim realities of conflict, perfect for those intrigued by human endurance amid devastation.
240
Novel • Fiction
Vietnam • 1960s-1980s
1987
Adult
18+ years
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