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Liked It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “Denis Johnson’s seventh novel is his masterpiece and perhaps one of the most powerful novels published in the last several years. |
Didn’t Like It “I didn't actually finish this book, but it took me so long to get half way through the book that I just didn't care to finish it. There were too many characters to keep up with and nothing really happened. I wasn't intrigued at all.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“There is an epic sweep to this tale, that begins in the Philippines in the early 1960s and moves on to Vietnam. An old spook and veteran of Chenault's Flying Tigers from the Burma campaign in World War II engages his nephew in his own personal campaign against the VC and the stultifying bureaucracy running the war. Johnson is a master of the English language and the subtle nuances of Asia. Beautifully written. The audio book is fantastically well read. I went back and forth between both editions, sorry when I finally came to the end of this epic tale. ”
Scott Wallace wrote this review Friday, March 30, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A brutal yet compelling story. Rich with history, anguish, raw emotion. The futility of war. Deserving of it's Pulitzer finalist status. ”
Marathon Man wrote this review Friday, February 10, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Need to read a couple more times to get it fully.”
Justine Burchell wrote this review Sunday, January 29, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I didn't actually finish this book, but it took me so long to get half way through the book that I just didn't care to finish it. There were too many characters to keep up with and nothing really happened. I wasn't intrigued at all. ”
MissMeggo wrote this review Sunday, December 11, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Boring!!!! I tried and tried, but the story of some young dude passing time in Vietnam before Tet offensive felt very inconsequential. Other characters - US and Vietnamese alike - I didn't much care for. Even the story was pointless. I don't see how this became National Book Award runner up. Moving on. ”
David K wrote this review Wednesday, October 19, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Entertaining read. What probably stuck most with me is that in a war like that one, in the end nobody knows any more who is with whom, and who is who's enemy, and in the end, who comes out of all of this as a winner ???”
PerritoBlanco wrote this review Tuesday, September 6, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Denis Johnson delves into a peripherally-related tale set on the fringes of the Vietnam War. Soldiers and colonels and secret agents and double agents and Vietcong vie amongst and within themselves to salvage some semblance of life from the ashes of the fray ravaging.
Davey J wrote this review Friday, June 3, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
At this point I can safely venture this singular assertion: enough has been said about Vietnam in movies in books in stories in speeches in pictures in missing or mangled appendages. . . We've heard it already. I've heard it already. Johson's tale would break magnificent if not for the fact that the tale of Vietnam has become trite to our weary ears and over-played and nigh-cliche.
Johnson's style carries the book, and nothing of originality or novelty or trademark secrets. Unfortunately, since you know it's about Vietnam, you likely already know what most of the book is about.”
“I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who just couldn't get a handle on this book.”
Breeze wrote this review Saturday, February 19, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Very slow. Not much action. Am I expecting a lot?”
read a lot wrote this review Saturday, January 29, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
