Sympathy, salvation, and destruction: APSI's summer 2026 book club examined works by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Viet Thanh Nguyen is widely recognized as a leading figure in contemporary Asian-American literature. His published works feature a significant focus on identity and solidarity. In addition to his novels and non-fiction writing, Viet Nguyen's contributions to the literary field include co-founding the Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network. 

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This summer, anticipating Nguyen’s fall 2026 visit to Duke for the APSI distinguished keynote talk, our online book club featured Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning first book, The Sympathizer, along with his most recent publication, To Save and to Destroy.

In July, Professor Marguerite Nguyen led discussion of The Sympathizer, emphasizing its unique perspective on the Vietnam War and the complexities of Vietnamese American identity. 

She noted how Viet Nguyen aimed to address critical literary gaps through this book, highlighting his statement to the Asian American Writers Workshop that, despite the Vietnamese literature about the war and Vietnam that is now available in translation: 

I felt that there still wasn't a novel that directly confronts the history of the American war in Vietnam from the Vietnamese American point of view.” 
—Viet Thanh Nguyen

The plot of The Sympathizer features a conflicted narrator—a double or even triple agent—reflecting the multifaceted identities and moral ambiguities among diasporic Vietnamese as well as those who remained. Professor Nguyen noted how one of the author’s goals in writing the book was to address the lack of Vietnamese American narratives and perspectives in popular culture about the Vietnam War. She highlighted his critiques of the dominant Hollywood narratives, particularly the film Apocalypse Now, for portraying a distorted version of Vietnam's story and the experience of refugees.

During the discussion, attendees acknowledged the context surrounding the book’s writing and reception. Although The Sympathizer actively endeavors to illustrate the skewed cultural narratives surrounding the war and the stories of refugees, it also offers a nuanced critique of Marxism and post-colonialism, highlighting historical tensions and contradictions amid the ideals of freedom and independence. The novel elicited mixed reactions; some readers in the group found it a page-turner, while others struggled to finish it due to its intensity and complexity.

One of the student participants shared personal reflections, noting they had first read it during their middle school years. Through this second reading, they found they related more strongly to the themes of familial displacement and identity. Another attendee, a member of Duke Health’s AAPI Affinity Group, shared insights on the impact of the novel’s recent television adaptation, noting how visualizing the content aided their understanding.

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The second and final meeting in August was facilitated by Professor Eileen Chow and featured Nguyen's To Save and to Destroy. During her opening remarks, she drew attention to Nguyen's impact as a contemporary Asian-American author, the significance of his selection to present the Norton Lectures at Harvard University, and the complexities of his narrative style and themes, particularly regarding identity and solidarity. 

Professor Chow pointed out Nguyen's unique approach to these talks in that he directly addressed contemporary issues and their context, illustrating Nguyen's commitment to merging literature and activism, a marked contrast with past lecturers in the series. She also noted how Nguyen’s stature in the field often invites both admiration and critique.

One of the first points raised by the attendees was how Nguyen's exploration of expansive solidarity raises questions about the inclusion of diverse groups and identities within activist communities. Throughout his lectures, Nguyen navigated complex identities and relationships between marginalized groups, emphasizing that solidarity requires continuous engagement and reflection. 

More specifically, Nguyen has strongly advocated for increased attention within the Asian American community to the challenges faced by Palestinians in the diaspora as well as their homeland. Discussants also pointed out the need for ongoing dialogues about representation and how educators can bring greater attention to minority voices when teaching students how to navigate the literary landscape.

Professor Chow characterized Nguyen's style as one that seeks narrative plenitude, allowing for complex characterizations beyond victimization. His use of autobiographical tones in both his lectures and writings reflect his personal experiences as a member of the Vietnamese diaspora in the U.S., allowing for a deeper exploration of identity and his complex relationship with the term “Asian American.”

The group expressed enthusiasm about incorporating Nguyen's perspectives into their teaching and studies. The experience from both instances of the APSI summer book club show that Nguyen's works are clearly capable of provoking thought and discussion among students about identity, culture, and global politics. 

Nguyen's insights enrich our understanding of literature and challenge readers to think critically about the intersections of culture and identity in their own communities. As Professor Chow noted when concluding the final session, “I look forward to this being an ongoing conversation.”

The discussion will indeed continue on November 12 when Viet Thanh Nguyen comes to Duke.