Reader’s Choice: The Sympathizer
May 27, 2025 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Reader’s Choice: Sally McConnell
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
MILS catalog record
“The Sympathizer is a blistering, award-winning exploration of identity, politics, and America, wrought in electric prose. The narrator, a Vietnamese army captain, is a man of two minds and divided loyalties, a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist sleeper agent in America after the end of the Vietnam War. A powerful story of love and friendship, and a gripping espionage novel, The Sympathizer examines the legacy of the Vietnam War in literature, film, and the wars we fight today.” – From back cover
About Sally
Hometown: Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Current residence: Williamsburg, Virginia and Stonington, Maine.
Connection to the island: Our connection to the island dates to 1985 when we visited Deer Isle for the first time and rented a cottage belonging to Robert McCloskey. We’ve spent time here every summer since then and now reside in Stonington from April through November.
Why do you read? Reading is the greatest gift!! I used to read fiction almost exclusively, but now that I’m retired, I read more non-fiction and memoirs.
What genre do you hate to read? I can’t tolerate superficial or poorly researched biographies.
Last book you LOVED: The last book I LOVED was The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck.
Currently reading: I just finished reading These Precious Days by Ann Patchett, and I’m now reading The Hours by Michael Cunningham.
Why did you choose The Sympathizer? I chose The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen, because the author creates a character with a dual identity who defies American stereotyping.