One of the best Vietnam war novels I've read.
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.
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.
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.