The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen 
 The Sympathizer is an insightful, and at times extortionately raw, account of the tragic end to the Vietnam war and the impact of it had on the fragmented remains of the south Vietnamese military families who struggled to create a new life in America. Viet Thanh Nguyen artfully tells the tale through the eyes of a Captain who must simultaneously learn to live in a new country and adopt new social values, continue to serve his south Vietnamese general who is trying to re-organize his army on American soil, and to be a spy for the North Vietnamese. The conflict between the countries at hand is reflected directly in the conflict that is rising within the Captain's soul. No one can serve multiple masters without suffering a loss of self and the Captain is no exception. The book draws you in and you'll find yourself hoping against the odds for happier conclusion for the Captain. 
 Author: Viet Thanh Nguyen 
 Originally Published: Grove Atlantic, April 2, 2015 
 Genre: Historical Fiction 
 Awards: 
 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 
 2016 Edgar Award for Best First novel by an American Author 
 2016 Dayton Literary Peace Prize 
 2016 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction 
 2016 First Novel Prize from the Center for Fiction 
 2016 Gold Medal in First Fiction from the California Book Awards 
 2016 Asian/Pacific American Literature 
 Nominations: 
 2016 PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Fiction 
 Available Formats: 
 Hardcover, paperback, ebook, & audiobook 
 Audiobook narrated by Francois Chau, 13 hours and 53 minutes 
 Readability: 
 The Sympathizer, while a twisted tail of patriotism and mixed loyalties, is a straightforward read.