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The Sorrow of War: A Novel of North Vietnam

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1987

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Book Brief

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Bảo Ninh

The Sorrow of War

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1987
Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Vietnam • 1960s-1980s

Theme
Publication Year

1987

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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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.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Dark

Mysterious

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.2

11,072 ratings

78%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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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 this

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.

4.2

11,072 ratings

78%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Vietnam • 1960s-1980s

Theme
Publication Year

1987

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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