The World Played Chess

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• War literature is a rich and extensive genre. Vietnam war literature from an American perspective includes books like The Women, The Things They Carried, and Watchmen. Books about the conflict from a Vietnamese perspective include The Sympathizer, Dust Child, and The Sorrow of War. How does this novel compare to others in its genre? Does it offer more or less nuance than other books from an American perspective?
• Though Vincent tries to reunite with William in the 2010s, they just miss each other. Why do you think the author made the choice not to have them reunite in person?
• Were any parts of the book, particularly the wartime violence, difficult to read? Why? Did anything about William’s depiction of the war and Vincent’s reactions surprise you?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• What did you know about the Vietnam War before reading this book? Has your perspective on the war changed after finishing it?
• Two years after initially receiving