Posted by L2L on December 04, 2014 at 11:23:01:
In Reply to: Two Vietnam Books: Tree of Smoke Versus My Vitenam War posted by WJH on November 23, 2014 at 13:19:59:
: I’m interested in the Vietnam War, so after Denis Johnson’s book, “Tree of Smoke” won the National Book Award, I had to read it. What a disappointment. The book is totally boring, overly long, and it lacks any passion or plot (read the review at the Atlantic Monthly). Then, last year, another book about the Vietnam War came out, “My Vietnam War,” by E.E. “doc” Murdock. What a difference: the story is powerfully told and totally engrossing from the first page to the last. Truly a great book. Read them both and decide for yourself: which one of these books about the Vietnam War should have won the National Book Award.
Okay, after I read your post, I went to Amazon and read the first chapter of "My Vietnam War" by E.E "Doc" Murdock using their LOOK INSIDE option. Didn't feel like your usual war novel. More like a hot romance in the middle of a war. But that first chapter got me interested (very good writing). So I ordered the Kindle version to read on my laptop. And wow! Did I say I doesn't feel much like a war novel? It soon does. It takes you out into the Vietnam jungle, and you know right away it's not a place you want to be. Real live war as seen through the eyes of a sensitive young man (it makes it clear that sensitive young men should not be anywhere near what goes on in a war). Bottom line, you are absolutely right, it is a great novel. In fact, I would say if you only read one war novel in your life, believe me, this is the one you should read.