July July Author:Tim O'Brien As he did with In the Lake of the Woods, National Book Award winner Tim O'Brien strikes at the emotional nerve center of our lives with this ambitious, compassionate, and terrifically compelling new novel that tells the remarkable story of the generation molded and defined by the 1960s. At the thirtieth anniversary of Minnesota's Darton H... more »all College class of 1969, ten old friends reassemble for a July weekend of dancing, drinking, flirting, reminiscing, and regretting. The three decades since their graduation have seen marriage and divorce, children and careers, dreams deferred and disappointed-many memories and many ghosts. Together their individual stories create a portrait of a generation launched into adulthood at the moment when their country, too, lost its innocence. Imbued with his signature themes of passion, memory, and yearning, July, July is Tim O'Brien's most fully realized work.« less
I really enjoyed "The things they Carried" and figured I couldn't lose with this book. Boy, was I wrong. O'Brien continues his nostalgia-laden writing style, looking back to the days of (his?) youth. It seems the entire story is about infidelity and mid life crisis. I found myself not caring about the endless parade of characters that I couldn't begin to keep up with.
I love Tim O'Brien. This book takes place at a college reunion, flashing back to each main character's life "then" and coming back to present day. It is done in a very clever manner. It is also exceedingly honest and realistic. O'Brien is a gem.