38 pages • 1 hour read
Thu Huong DuongNovel Without a Name
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1991A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Novel Without a Name by Duong Thu Huong follows Quan, a young North Vietnamese soldier, who embarks on a physical and emotional journey through the war-torn countryside. Sent to find a childhood friend who has gone mad, Quan faces numerous challenges, including near-starvation, ideological confrontations, and personal loss. Throughout, he grapples with the harsh realities of warfare and his disillusionment with Marxism. The narrative is interspersed with italicized sections that delve into Quan’s thoughts and dreams. The book addresses themes of war, psychological trauma, and existential despair.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Thu Huong Duong's Novel Without a Name resonates for its lyrical portrayal of the Vietnam War from a Vietnamese perspective, offering profound, vivid characterizations and gripping narrative. Some readers criticizes its bleakness and heavy-handedness. Overall, it provides a unique, thought-provoking insight into war's complexities and human cost.
Who Should Read Novel Without a Name?
Readers who appreciate eloquent narratives about war and its personal impacts, similar to Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front or Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, will find Novel Without a Name by Thu Huong Duong compelling. The book's vivid portrayal of the Vietnam War's emotional toll offers profound insights into human resilience and suffering.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
590L