56 pages 1 hour read

Bảo Ninh

The Sorrow of War: A Novel of North Vietnam

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1987

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Bảo Ninh's The Sorrow of War is heralded for its poignant and haunting portrayal of a Vietnamese soldier's post-war life, capturing the trauma and emotional fallout of conflict. Critics praise its raw narrative and lyrical prose but note its nonlinear structure may be challenging. Overall, it’s seen as a powerful, albeit complex, reflection on the human cost of war.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Sorrow of War?

Readers who appreciate deeply moving and poignant war literature akin to The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien or All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque will find solace in The Sorrow of War by Bảo Ninh. This novel blends haunting narrative with the grim realities of conflict, perfect for those intrigued by human endurance amid devastation.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Themes
Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Society: War
Topics
Military / War