A deep, shocking debut is the book "The Sympathizer" by Viet Thanh Nguyen, it is the story of a man in conflict, someone whose political beliefs are at odds with his personal beliefs.

In dialogue but also diametrically opposed to the narratives of the Vietnam War that preceded it, this novel offers an important and new perspective on the war: that of the divided pro-communist. "The Sympathizer" won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for literature, as well as numerous other awards, and is a great and groundbreaking work.

With the pace and suspense of a thriller and language akin to Graham Greene and Saul Bellow, it is an "epic" about love and betrayal. The narrator - a double agent - is a man divided, caught between two selves. The Franco-Vietnamese captain who arrives in America after the fall of Vietnam (Saigon 1975), builds a new life while secretly reporting to his communist superiors back in his homeland.

"The Sympathizer" is a deep and harsh story that explores identity and - ultimately - existence, a great spy novel and a heartbreaking tale of love and friendship. International Bestseller!

"A dark and captivating fictional debut… The pages drip with black humor." Sam Sacks, Wall Street Journal

"A great debut… both a thriller and a social satire." Philip Caputo, New York Times Book Review

"An astonishing first novel… it brings to life the discussion of history and human nature, and its narrator has a biting often self-aware voice." Publishers Weekly

"Incredible!! I haven’t read anything since Orwell’s 1984 that shows so vividly how tyrants dismantle the minds of their subjects." Ron Charles, The Washington Post

"Its satire is astonishing!!" New Yorker

"I can’t remember the last time I read a novel where I liked the protagonist so much. Intelligent, funny, and self-critical, with a keen sense of when to let the story speak for itself… Nguyen proves to be a talented and daring writer." Barnes & Noble Review

"Bold, intelligent, and holistic reconstruction of the Vietnam War and its associated private and public legacies." Randy Boyagoda, The Guardian