Posted by Phil2 on May 02, 2015 at 11:59:07:
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.
Another war novel has won the National Book Award, Redeployment by Phil Klay. Seems like ever since or country has been engaged in constant ongoing war, these war novels have been winning all the awards. Makes sense, I guess.