I must admit perhaps I had my hopes a set a little high before reading this. There were a lot of fascinating themes in this work and the protagonist dealt with a unique dichotomy of existence (both internally and how the world saw him). After the first two chapters I was completely hooked. However after leaving Saigon, the tone and writing style of the story remained rigid. While there were some beautifully constructed sentences it felt at times the author was more interested in demonstrating his mastery of language than telling the story. Many parts of the book were overwritten in an effort in sure to conjure a specific emotion but I felt far more connected to scenes full of tangible actions. 
 I'm glad I read this book but I don't think I will be reading it again.