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Going After Cacciato
Going After Cacciato
Author: Tim O'Brien
"To call Going After Cacciato a novel about war is like calling Moby Dick a novel about whales."  — So wrote The New York Times of Tim O'Brien's now classic novel of Vietnam. Winner of the 1979 National Book Award, Going After Cacciato captures the peculiar blend of ...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780385283496
ISBN-10: 0385283490
Publication Date: 2/1/1979
Pages: 320
Edition: Reissue
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 15

4.1 stars, based on 15 ratings
Publisher: Delta
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

kentuckygirl avatar reviewed Going After Cacciato on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
VERY good!
Read All 7 Book Reviews of "Going After Cacciato"

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reviewed Going After Cacciato on + 495 more book reviews
One of the best Vietnam war novels I've read.
reviewed Going After Cacciato on + 3 more book reviews
An interesting Vietnam War tale by acclaimed author Tim O'Brien (Author of The Things They Carried.) I'm not that into war stories, but I enjoyed this one because of the unique manner in which it was written and the descriptions about the different characters who weave their way into Soldier Paul Berlin's life. A perfect mix of reality and fantasy.
reviewed Going After Cacciato on + 1452 more book reviews
ometimes I choose a book by its cover, sometimes by the reviews I've read or recommendations from others, even if the book won an award. This one did but I don't rccall which method I used to put it on my TBR. I do know that every time I looked at the cover I asked if I wanted to read a war book. Well, this one isn't a war book. It's a book about those involved in war. While the tale begins in Viet Nam it could be any war.

The narrator Paul Berlin, a young man who doesn't really know what he wants to do with his life so he drops out of college and is drafted. He doesn't really want to be a solder but he becomes one.

I like the author's writing, and approach about death. There are no embellishments. They simply die. Firghtened to death. Shot through the throat. Stepped on a land mine. Nothing more so the reader can get into the heads of the men in the story, especially that of Paul Berlin.

It's based on a ridiculous premise. That a man named Cacciato who deserts can walk to Paris. So can those who pursue him. It's humorous, tragic at times and just plain interesting. perhaps I should say fun. The reader knows that such a trek is impossible but the author pulls him forward. It's not a great story but it's so well done that I kept reading - all the way to the surprising conclusion. Yes, I recommend this one. Tim O'Brien is such a fine writer that I put his name on my author list. Good, good book.
reviewed Going After Cacciato on + 1452 more book reviews
Sometimes I choose a book by its cover, sometimes by the reviews I've read or recommendations from others, even if the book won an award. This one did but I don't rccall which method I used to put it on my TBR. I do know that every time I looked at the cover I asked if I wanted to read a war book. Well, this one isn't a war book. It's a book about those involved in war. While the tale begins in Viet Nam it could be any war.

The narrator is Paul Berlin, a young man who doesn't really know what he wants to do with his life so he drops out of college and is drafted. He doesn't really want to be a solder but he becomes one.

I like the author's writing, and approach about death. There are no embellishments. They simply die. Firghtened to death. Shot through the throat. Stepped on a land mine. Nothing more so the reader can get into the heads of the men in the story, especially that of Paul Berlin.

It's based on a ridiculous premise. That a man named Cacciato who deserts can walk to Paris. So can those who pursue him. It's humorous, tragic at times and just plain interesting. perhaps I should say fun. The reader knows that such a trek is impossible but the author pulls him forward. It's not a great story but it's so well done that I kept reading - all the way to the surprising conclusion. Yes, I recommend this one. Tim O'Brien is such a fine writer that I put his name on my author list. Good, good book.

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